News: LEDs
16 March 2021
Effectiveness of Signify’s UV-C lighting validated for disinfecting air
Signify of Eindhoven, The Netherlands has conducted research that validates the effectiveness of UV-C disinfection upper air luminaires on the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
In a test chamber with overall dimensions of about 8’x8’x10’ (compliant with Biosafety Level 3 standards) and sufficient air circulation, Philips UV-C disinfection upper air wall-mounted luminaires inactivated 99.99% of SARS-CoV-2 in the air within 10 minutes, and the virus was below detectable levels after 20 minutes, according to results obtained from a laboratory test conducted by Innovative Bioanalysis (a CAP-, CLIA- and AABB-certified safety reference laboratory in Costa Mesa, CA, USA).
“Based on the understood method by which UV-C exposure deactivates pathogens, we would expect UV-C disinfection lighting to have a similar impact on the various genetic mutations of SARS-CoV2,” says Innovative Bioanalysis’ chief scientific officer Sam Kabbani.
“These test results illustrate the effectiveness of our UV-C disinfection upper air luminaires and the important contribution they can make towards fighting the coronavirus and future viruses,” says Harsh Chitale, division leader Digital Solutions at Signify. “It shows how UV-C lighting for upper air applications can be a successful preventive measure for organizations as they seek ways to provide their guests, customers and employees virus-free environments.”
In 2020, Signify increased production of its UV-C light sources eight-fold in support of the fight against the coronavirus and acquired GLA to complement its portfolio with luminaires for upper-room air disinfection. Since then the firm has installed UV-C disinfection upper air luminaires in several locations, including retailers EDEKA Clausen in Germany, dm in Slovakia, and Rugby Union Club Harlequins in the UK.
In combination with the luminaires’ design, the height at which the luminaires are installed allows the system to disinfect air as it circulates a space, even when there are people present. Mechanical ventilation and/or natural convection moves the disinfected air back into the lower part of a space. The germicidal effectiveness of UV-C light sources is proportional to the exposure time of the micro-organism to the UV-C light source and the intensity of the UV-C light source. Therefore, sufficient air flow in the room (which may be achieved through forced air flow or natural convection) is required for effective operation of Signify’s UV-C upper air disinfection luminaire solutions. Additionally, shielding and optics in the luminaires are designed to prevent accidental exposure to UV-C radiation for the people beneath them.
Signify’s UV-C disinfection lighting installed at PSV to tackle COVID-19
Signify increasing UV-C light source production capacity eight-fold
Boston University validates effectiveness of Signify’s UV-C light sources in inactivating SARS-CoV-2
