The US is home to about six million commercial buildings. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in these buildings can be hazardous to the health of the occupants and may even contribute to airborne infection outbreaks. The good news is that UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) and advanced UV sanitizing technologies can successfully improve the IAQ and cut down the infection risks in these buildings.

In commercial spaces, the standard HVAC air filters may work well to prevent the entry of large-sized particles that usually infiltrate the ductwork. But the conventional filters may not be adequate protection against extremely small bio-aerosols, such as harmful viruses, bacteria, mold spores, mildew, and zoonotic microorganisms which can escape into the building’s indoor environment.

These biological contaminants increase the threat of infection being spread among the building occupants and even pose the risk of causing respiratory troubles and allergies to people who are constantly exposed to the indoor air. UV sanitizing through a state-of-the-art UVGI system is one of the dependable ways to neutralize these harmful pathogens in the air before they can cause harm to the people who are breathing the indoor air in and out throughout the day.

UV sanitizing technology utilizes the power of ultraviolet energy to kill disease-causing viruses and bacteria in the indoor air environment. When a microorganism infiltrates the HVAC system or is present in the upper air environment, it will get exposed to ultraviolet light.

Exposure to UV light damages a cell’s RNA or DNA genetic material. UV radiation induces a photochemical reaction that inactivates bacterial cells, fungi, and viruses. This cellular death renders the microbe impotent and unable to multiply.

Ultraviolet photochemical reaction causes the formation of cytosine and thymine dimers with the cell’s DNA. In the case of RNA viruses, the formation of uracil dimers takes place with the same reaction. These dimers block replication of a virus, bacteria, or fungi. Without the ability to replicate, microorganisms cannot multiply or cause infections. UV-C is the most powerful form of radiation energy that can cause the formation of dimers in a microbial particle.

The methodology of utilizing UV-C energy to destroy harmful biological contaminants and pathogens is known as UVGI. This advanced UV sanitizing technology unleashes the power of UV-C short-wavelength light to isolate and eliminate microorganisms that infiltrate the indoor air in a building. The kind of UVGI technology you install will determine the speed and extent of the impact in terms of killing the illness-causing viruses and bacteria in the air.

UVGI as a tool for disinfection has been in use for nearly a century. Leading health and research agencies have recognized and supported the use of this proven UV sanitizing technology for air disinfection in indoor spaces. The device that is used for neutralizing the biological contaminants effectively should be able to deliver the UV energy in appropriate dose levels for maximum impact.

The devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how vulnerable your employees are to the potential exposure to harmful pathogens in the indoor air environment. Talk to us at Aerapy to know how our UV sanitizing technology can help protect the health of your building occupants and visitors. We are the experts in disease mitigation and improving indoor air quality through UV in commercial spaces. To request a free consultation, call us at 866-994-2473 or write to us online.