Disinfection has been a serious issue for schools, particularly in the aftermath of the recent Covid-19 outbreak. To assist prevent the transmission of viruses and safeguard kids, instructors, and other staff members, hand sanitizers, frequent cleaning, and disinfection are routinely employed. The biggest issue, however, is the air in classrooms and hallways, which is now the primary source of transmission for flu and respiratory viruses that have recently hit student populations at the start of school year.
In Romania, educational institutions do not have centralized air circulation systems that can be integrated into an efficient disinfection process. So we’re not even talking about air purification, filtration, or disinfection. During the pandemic, the Ministry of Health recommended that schools and kindergartens develop and follow a rigorous airing schedule (meaning, open windows!). Even then, this recommendation is not enough, and it is not currently relevant. A solution that decision-makers in educational institutions should consider is disinfecting the air with ultraviolet light. UV-C radiation eliminates germs and pathogens not only from surfaces, objects, and liquids but also from the air. The UV-C light currently used by advanced disinfection devices destroys bacteria and virus molecules and eliminates most common pathogens.
Partnering in the “Healthy Schools” project
Wolf-e Robotics has joined the pilot project “Healthy and Efficient Schools” to advocate for the need of keeping a clean environment – air and surfaces – in the educational setting (schools, kindergartens, universities).and surfaces – in the educational environment (schools, kindergartens, universities).
Within the pilot project, Wolf-e Robotics provides dedicated equipment, namely UV air purification/disinfection systems, as well as sensors and measurement equipment, namely intelligent equipment for measuring and acquiring indoor physical parameters and for transmitting data online – live on the internet.
Collaboration in favour of Romanian sports
More specifically, the Romanian producer of UV-C light disinfection, filtration, and purification systems, Wolf-e Robotics, will soon initiate a partnership with Asociația de Volei LifeGames București in order to purify the air in the sports halls and spaces of various middle schools in Bucharest, where volleyball training and championships will take place. As a first step, Wolf-e Robotics will begin disinfecting the indoor air in the sports club’s area of activity. By using UV-C light, we will contribute to creating a safe and healthy environment for students and teachers, coaches and athletes, ensuring the most efficient method of disinfecting sports halls/related spaces.
UV robots – UV disinfection systems in Schools from Bucharest
Having the most crowded indoor spaces compared to any other type of building, school can be considered a second home. Therefore, it is very important to have clean air in schools! Wolf-e Robotics recently installed a complete solution for continuous air UV disinfection and surface UVC disinfection in 42 schools in one of the largest districts of Bucharest, sector 6. This solution, which includes the Aer165 devices for continuous air disinfection with UV light and the CoBOT Lite440 for surface disinfection with ultraviolet light, was very well received in the educational units, providing a safe and healthy environment for students, teachers, and staff.
Benefits of using UV light disinfection for air and surfaces in schools
Here are a few reasons why schools need this type of ultraviolet light disinfection / UVC disinfection. One solution is the unique Wolf-e Robotics devices, which are placed and used in classrooms, hallways, sports facilities, offices, and other spaces in schools to operate autonomously.
1. UV-C disinfection is an advanced solution that ensures improved air quality and proper sanitization of surfaces
Aer165 is a continuous air disinfection system that uses UV-C light to kill 99.99% of pathogens and allergens in the air, providing a cleaner and safer environment for students and staff. CoBOT-Lite440 is an autonomous disinfection robot that uses UV-C light to disinfect surfaces, reducing the spread of germs and bacteria in schools, sports facilities, and any indoor space in educational institutions. These systems are particularly important given the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the need to reduce respiratory disease transmission.
Educational institutions should take advantage of the latest and most practical solutions to keep up with recent scientific advances. UV-C disinfection is gaining ground globally as more people become aware of its merits, and many national health regulatory bodies around the world recommend ultraviolet light as part of their prevention strategies to protect schools, kindergartens, sports facilities, etc. Recent studies have shown the benefits of this advanced disinfection method, and its advantages, from cost savings to environmental compliance and efficiency in eliminating pathogens, are indisputable. Smart UV-C systems and UV-C robots keep classrooms, sports facilities, and spaces in educational institutions disinfected and complement hand washing, social distancing, and other measures to stop the spread of viruses and bacteria. However, choosing local brands and high-quality devices is vital for effective disinfection and long-term solutions!
2. Ecological method, without aggressive chemicals
The UV light disinfection systems that use UVC technology are eco-friendly, as they do not rely on harmful chemicals or other pollutants to disinfect the air and surfaces. It is the ideal solution for schools, where students are particularly vulnerable to exposure to harmful substances that can lead to serious health and long-term environmental problems, not to mention that some students or staff members may be allergic to certain chemicals and cleaning agents.
Chemical disinfectants effectively kill most viruses and pathogens, but they come with various disadvantages. The use of harsh chemicals can damage surfaces and installations. Some UV-C devices are designed to be used when spaces are unoccupied, and those manufactured by certified manufacturers offer added safety through incorporated motion sensors, to ensure 100% protection for students and teachers. However, there are also smart UV disinfection systems (even UVC disinfection robots) that can operate continuously in the presence of people, without putting them at risk. See details here.
3. Increased safety
The UVC technology used by Aer165 and CoBOT-Lite440 has been proven to be safe and effective in reducing the spread of germs and bacteria. This provides peace of mind for parents, students, and staff, and helps ensure that decision-makers at educational institutions are doing everything they can to keep their community safe.
4. Cost and time efficiency
Implementing such a solution can be cost-effective in the long term, as it helps reduce absenteeism, healthcare costs, and improves the overall health of students and teachers. Investing in this solution can be seen as a proactive measure to ensure the health and safety of the school community and help prevent future disease outbreaks.
Once a smart UV disinfection system is operational, it will protect the spaces without additional investments in terms of labor or maintenance, providing long-term cost-effectiveness. Most people assume that a UV disinfection unit is expensive because of the technology. The truth is that in the long term, the disinfection process is cheaper than using chemicals. It is an affordable solution that offers a unique investment, resulting in several years of autonomous protection. Autonomous disinfection also saves labor costs because there is no need for personnel to perform manual disinfection. Compared to manual disinfection with chemicals, UV-C disinfection can offer cost savings of up to 50%.
In addition, it is an energy-saving method. UV disinfection is quick and does not require any additional effort or electricity consumption. It can be performed as often as necessary, both punctually and continuously, depending on the Wolf-e Robotics devices used. AER devices can be programmed to start shortly before the beginning of classes during which they will ensure continuous air disinfection and then automatically stop at the end of classes when students and teachers leave the respective space. Maintenance is also very easy to perform, as the system generates notifications when filters and UV sources need to be replaced.
5. UV-C light is effective
The purpose of disinfection is to inactivate bacteria and viruses from the air and high-touch surfaces in the school setting – but not all disinfectants have the same performance. While chemical disinfectants can be effective, especially for surfaces, it is challenging to use them properly to achieve desired disinfection rates for the air. UV-C disinfection can eliminate up to 99.99% of viruses within a few minutes wherever the light reaches. Schools can use robots and UV-C disinfection installations to keep the air clean in classrooms, gyms, hallways, and other public spaces, easily protecting against bacteria and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 or the flu. However, it is essential to ensure that you choose reputable manufacturers with quality products and proven results.
6. Eliminate pathogens without developing immunity
Educational institutions that use chemical disinfectants should periodically analyze labels and indications to choose the best solutions. This is because pathogens can become resistant to chemical disinfectants over time, which leads to inefficient disinfection. For example, bacteria and viruses can become resistant to antibiotics – that’s why a more effective solution is needed, one that leaves no chance for survival, exactly what UV-C disinfection offers. Since ultraviolet light acts directly on the DNA or RNA of pathogens, no germ has been able to develop resistance to this method. Wolf-e UV disinfection devices use UV-C light to destroy up to 99.999% of viruses, using the same device for many years with minimal maintenance costs.
In conclusion, the installation of Aer165 and cobot-Lite440 in schools in sector 6 of Bucharest represents a step forward in creating a safe, healthy, and sustainable learning environment for students and teachers. Benefiting from improved air quality, improved surface sanitation, increased safety, cost efficiency, and an environmentally friendly attitude, this solution represents the future of school disinfection and the standard for educational institutions in other sectors of the capital.
All these systems installed in educational institutions:
- integrate the demonstrated germicidal effect of UV-C light with IoT & Software Innovations
- can be managed with a Cloud platform
- offer complete traceability, automatically generating activity reports for full transparency of the procedures carried out every day
- the “platform-application” ecosystem offers the best way to control the UV light doses/exposure times required to inactivate pathogens
- generate notifications in case devices malfunction or maintenance is required (filter or light source replacement)
- allow for energy consumption reduction as they can be scheduled to operate for each classroom/allocated indoor space
Wolf-e Robotics products – from bactericidal UV systems placed in the upper part of rooms, UV-C systems for HVAC/air conditioning units, mobile and autonomous robots for air and surface disinfection, to smart equipment that can be used in the presence of people – ensure the persistence of disinfection at the highest quality standards. Additionally, we can design customized solutions for each specific space to achieve maximum efficacy with minimal risks!
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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.
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