For over 140 years, scientists have discovered that ultraviolet light can disinfect drinking water, wastewater, air, pharmaceuticals, food, and surfaces. UV light is incredibly effective at killing pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. For this reason, UV-C disinfection has become an increasingly used method for sanitizing surfaces, objects, indoor air, and entire buildings, especially during the recent Coronavirus epidemic.
A method initially used only in the medical field is beginning to find an important role in areas close to our daily lives: in schools, kindergartens, fitness centers, restaurants, hotels, office buildings, stores, and many other spaces frequented by more or fewer people.
How does UV-C light work as a disinfectant?
UV-C disinfectants use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses and prevent them from reproducing. The process is carried out using UVC light with wavelengths between 200 nm and 280 nm. When microorganisms are exposed to this intense UV light, their ability to multiply and cause disease is destroyed. For this reason, hospitals were among the first institutions to use UV light disinfection to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.
Using UV light to disinfect surfaces, objects, and spaces is not only easy to do, but it is also incredibly effective in killing bacteria and viruses. Although the idea of using ultraviolet rays as the primary method of disinfecting goods and services may seem intimidating and science fiction-like, there are many benefits to using UV-C disinfectants.
Below we will review some of the advantages of using ultraviolet light as the primary method of disinfecting air and surfaces.
Advantage #1: UV light disinfection is non-toxic
Undoubtedly, the most important benefit of UV-C disinfection is that it is non-toxic, unlike fogging which is harmful due to the chemicals used or other substances in cleaning and disinfecting products. UV light is eco-friendly. Let’s take a UV bactericidal lamp as an example – in its case, disinfection with UV light is a physical process, not a chemical one.
For this reason, the disinfection method is beneficial not only for non-food products but also for food as well as food preparation services. Therefore, it is currently used as a safe and non-toxic method of disinfection for restaurants, the hospitality industry, and the medical industry. However, we must know that excessive UV light can also have side effects on health. Therefore, it is very important that UV devices for air and surface sterilization be purchased only from reputable manufacturers who can provide instructions for their safe use and service.
Advantage #2: UVC light disinfection is extremely effective
The next key benefit of UV light disinfection is that the method is much more effective than other traditional ways of “getting rid” of germs. For example, a UV bactericidal lamp uses UV light and kills a wide range of molds and spores. Other disinfection methods may not completely remove them, or may leave behind a moist environment in which fungi can develop later. Because UV-C disinfection is a “dry” method, it will not only destroy existing mold, but also prevent the development of its spores in the future (we presented in a dedicated article how integrated UVC light systems for HVAC/CTA in office and business buildings prove their effectiveness in preventing the growth of bacteria and mold on irradiated components).
UV-C light efficiently destroys pathogens (from the flu virus to measles and tuberculosis, and up to coronaviruses), without damaging exposed human tissues. It is also extremely effective in disinfecting aerosol particles, which represent a main transmission route for many viruses.
Advantage #3: UV light disinfection kills pathogens
Anyone who has followed the news about antibiotic-resistant bacteria knows that the use of traditional antimicrobial agents and disinfectants has, over time, had harmful consequences. The development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a significant problem in the medical community.
Unlike traditional disinfection methods, UV light disinfection is a physical method of destroying bacteria. Therefore, the bacteria in question cannot develop immunity to the UV-C method. This is a significant advantage, especially for hospitals and assisted care centers.
The advantage #4: UVC light disinfection does not require physical assistance
The next benefit of UV disinfection is that devices using it can remain in place in institutions, hallways, offices, rooms, ready to be used when needed. Therefore, the disinfection unit can be installed where it is needed and then left to do its job autonomously.
Through the device management platform and 360° motion sensors that prevent operation when movement is detected in the room, the rooms can be disinfected whenever they are unoccupied or during a cycle set for specific time intervals. In practice, installed UV-C devices can do their job even without physical assistance on-site.
Advantage #5: UV disinfection is affordable
You may be surprised to know that UV-C disinfection is an affordable method of sanitization. People assume that it is expensive because it uses technology instead of chemicals – but it’s not at all!
A one-time investment in ultraviolet light disinfection technology can save you time and money for many years, as the quality of devices offered by top manufacturers guarantees minimal maintenance costs over the product’s lifetime. Additionally, since the disinfection unit can operate autonomously when installed, associated labor costs over time are reduced.
Advantage #6: UVC light disinfection is safe
One of the most common questions about UV light disinfection is: “Is it a safe method to use?” People tend to associate exposure to ultraviolet rays with risks such as sunburn, but the essential idea to understand is that UV light is safe if used properly.
The UV-C light used by professional sterilization devices cannot penetrate the skin or affect human eyes. The wavelength used makes it unable to pass through the barrier of non-viable cells on the skin and the fluids on the surface of the eye.
Wolf-e Robotics solutions have integrated safety systems. By using only professional UV-C disinfection devices, you can ensure that ultraviolet light will only damage microorganisms – unlike the harsh chemicals in traditionally used cleaning products!
Wolf-e ROBOTICS product range for everyone’s health
UV-C disinfection, filtration, and purification systems increase safety and reduce the risk of infection in the workplace and clinical environments. We have combined UV disinfection used in clinical settings with modern technologies to create a continuous and automatic ecosystem that disinfects the air and surfaces in real-time in buildings with daily activity. Our products offer a holistic solution that can address any use case and can be combined to form a personalized solution tailored to any indoor space. We offer UV bactericidal lamps placed at the top of the rooms, UV-C systems for HVAC/air handling units, mobile and autonomous robots for air and surface disinfection, as well as smart equipment that can be used in the presence of people and ensure the continuity of disinfection at the highest quality standards.
We are here for any questions you have about Wolfe-e Robotics systems and UV-C light!
————————————————————————————————————
We are Wolf-e Robotics, and every day we work to support our mission of disinfecting the air and surfaces in the places where we work, learn, and spend our time. Through disinfection with intelligent UVC light equipment and mobile robots, we provide the most efficient and environmentally friendly method of inactivating microorganisms on surfaces and in the air. With applicability in the medical, commercial, transportation, education, and corporate sectors.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!
