Difficult challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have been the order of the day in 2020. However, current circumstances are spurring the innovation of therapies and techniques that are changing global approaches to many fields, including the decontamination of the built environment. As is often the case with transformative technologies, building blocks that have been available for decades are being assembled in inventive ways to create tools uniquely suited to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Ultraviolet (UV) light that use for uv decontamination, invisible to the human eye, exists on the electromagnetic spectrum between X-rays and visible light. There are three types of UV light that are classified by wavelength from longer to shorter – UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. Light-based disinfection, in the form of UV-C irradiation, has been part of standard protocol for sterilizing hospital spaces and scientific laboratories for decades and has even become widely used as a replacement for chlorine in purifying municipal drinking water supplies.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short wavelength ultraviolet (ultraviolet C or UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions. UVGI is used in a variety of applications, such as food, air, and water purification.
Because of the risks of exposure for human cells, UVGI is especially useful in unoccupied spaces and is already used in some offices and factories after employees have left for the day. Much of the recent innovation has been aimed at designing systems to use UV-C safely for sanitizing the air and surfaces of spaces that are filled with people. Some possible target locations include high touch and traffic areas in:
Hospitals
Fitness centers
Warehouse distribution centers
Museums
Food service areas
Event venues
Shared office spaces
Conference facilities
Material and human exposure should be considered when implementing a UV-C based system. Lighting controls also play an important role in ensuring the safe use of UV-C systems. Occupancy sensors and timers in conjunction with door hardware devices could be added to automatically turn on light-based sanitizers between users in restrooms or elevators when unoccupied. Personal items like smartphones or tablets could be placed in enclosed sanitizers for regular disinfecting. Combined with advanced technology, UVGI disinfection is being implemented in new settings at a rapid rate.
