UVC Disinfection — What Is It? What Does It Do? How Can You Use It?
Amidst the global pandemic, Businesses and government institutions have been scrambling to find ways of combatting diseases. Companies are installing mandatory sanitation stations for all employees and customers, they’re telling people to keep a safe distance from one-another, and workplaces are being disinfected far more often.
Despite these valiant efforts, the pandemic still rages on and businesses are looking for a new solution to sanitize work areas. That’s where revolutionary innovations in UVC disinfection come into play.
What Is UVC Disinfection?
UVC disinfection is a way of killing bacteria and viruses. It uses a form of ultra-violet radiation — something naturally found in sunlight.
The radiation contains a lot of energy, so it destroys the bacteria or viruses’ DNA the moment it comes into contact with them. Without the DNA, the creatures’ cells — which perform vital functions — will deteriorate and the pathogen will soon die.
Most of the ultraviolet light that comes from the sun is categorized as UVA or UVB radiation. This is the kind that’s often used in tanning beds, and it’s not very effective at killing germs.
UVC radiation, on the other hand, is a far more powerful category. This ultra-violet light can kill the pathogens on a surface in just a few seconds. Studies even show that UVC disinfection is effective at killing SARS-COV-2 — the virus responsible for COVID-19. It’s been reported that the technology kills all the viruses in just a few seconds.
How Is UVC Disinfection Used?
Killing germs with radiation may seem like a novel idea, but it’s been safely used for several decades. The technology is commonly utilized in hospitals and biology laboratories to sterilize work areas. Yet this kind of disinfectant is also used in water treatment centers to remove all harmful germs.
Recent innovations, however, have made the technology more suitable for other sectors as well. In fact, three major airlines have recently started using UVC disinfection to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s largest airline, has been using the ultra-violet technology to clean its planes after each flight. It’s announced that the disinfection process allows it to quickly and efficiently clean the airplane’s seats to achieve the highest safety standards.
JetBlue, an American airline, has also been using UVC disinfection to sanitize their flights. Similar to Saudia, it’s using robots that go through the aisles and disinfect all nearby seats with arm mounted UVC lights.
United Airlines, another American carrier, is using UVC disinfection — albeit on a much smaller scale. It uses the technology in sanitizing and cleaning the cockpit and the plane’s control board.
Does UVC Disinfection Have Any Health Risks?
The sanitization technology uses ultra-violet radiation — something that can cause skin cancer — so many people might be concerned over its usage. Yet it’s been shown that the technology is completely harmless if used properly.
Well-manufactured UVC disinfectants come with shields and other sensors to guarantee that you’ll never come into direct contact with the ultra-violet radiation. So it’s perfectly safe to use, and there aren’t any risks associated with it.
Even when poorly handled, the technology has minimal risks because of the type of ultra-violet radiation used. UVC is the most powerful category of ultra-violet light, but it also has the least penetration. That’s why it can’t get under your skin the way UVA and UVB can, so the risks of skin cancer are very low.
People may also worry about the risks of mercury poisoning, as UVC disinfectants previously worked with mercury. Yet the technology has evolved greatly over time, and modern UVC disinfectants use LEDs that don’t contain any mercury.
Where Can You Get UVC Disinfectants?
If you’re interested in purchasing a UVC disinfectant for your home or business, make sure to contact us to learn more about the technology, get a quote, and have the product installed!