UV-AIRE® FIELD REPORT

Indoor Air: High Concentration Of Biological Contaminants
With tighter building construction, in recent years, the quality of indoor air has declined dramatically.

The air circulating in the ductwork of the average home or office can be concentrated with contaminants including molds, bacteria, and viruses.

We fill our lungs up to 20,000 times each day. Over time, these contaminants can cause allergies, inflammation of the mucous membrane, upper respiratory problems, asthmatic conditions, headaches and flu-like symptoms.

Filtering systems offer little or no help because these airborne contaminants either pass through the filter or simply collect on the filter medium, creating a breeding ground. Now, with the UV-Aire® Air Purifying System, a solution is available to directly address the problems associated with poor indoor air quality.

Facts About Indoor Air

• According to the Environmental Protection
  Agency, the air in homes is up to 100
  times more polluted than outdoor air.
   
• The National Academy of Sciences Institute
  of Medicine reports that exposure to indoor
  pollutants is a key contributor to the asthma
  problems of this nation.
   
• Most allergy and asthma sources are passed
  from person to person through the air.
   
• The air in a single room can contain
  hundreds of thousands of infectious bacteria,
  viruses, fungal spores, and contaminants,
  which can only be seen with a microscope.
   
• Health effects may show up immediately or
  after years of exposure to poor indoor air
  quality. These symptoms include some
  respiratory diseases, heart disease, and
  cancer. They may be severely debilitating
  or fatal.

Facts About UV

• Since the first UV irradiation system was
  used, the disinfection of medical
  equipment using UV has been a common
  and reliable practice.
• UV disinfection has been determined to be
  adequate for inactivating bacteria
  and viruses.
   
• The germicidal effects of UV light cause
  photochemical damage to DNA and RNA
  within microorganisms.
   

“...ultraviolet radiation, properly integrated with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, shows the most promise as a widely applicable means of air disinfection.” Richard Riley, M.D.

Filter Systems Alone Don't Solve the Problem
The majority of indoor air is conditioned by forced-air heating and cooling (HVAC) systems. Standard fiber air filters are entirely ineffective in trapping germs, as most particles are simply too small, passing right through the porous filter. New, high efficiency filters will only capture airborne bacteria down to a certain size. These high efficiency filters are nominally effective, trapping small airborne contaminates on the filter, creating a breeding ground where germs can continue to grow and multiply.

HVAC systems are a dark and damp breeding ground for mold and bacteria, particularly at the system filter and air conditioning A-coil. The buildup of matter on the A-coil and filter can significantly reduce the efficiency of the appliance as the airflow is constricted and reduced. This means increased cost to the homeowner on top of the risks of airborne pollutants.

Indoor Air Treatment With UV
UV's effectiveness in killing bacteria is directly related to a microorganism's exposure time. Indoor air in a typical residential forced-air HVAC system will be recirculated over 50 times a day. With a UV generating lamp mounted in the HVAC duct, cumulative exposure can be very effective in controlling indoor bacteria. UV rays will also kill germs that breed in drain pans and A-coils. Properly positioned, an ultraviolet system can significantly reduce indoor air contamination and prevent the growth of new microorganisms.

The treatment of indoor air with ultraviolet radiation has been successful in health care facilities, food processing plants, schools, laboratories and other applications. It is a safe, silent, and proven method of improving indoor air quality.

Contaminant Kill Rate
The energy required to kill microorganisms is a product of the UV light's intensity and exposure time. This energy is measured in micro-watt seconds per square centimeter.

Intensity X Exposure Time = microWatt Seconds/cm2

The chart below illustrates the typical energy necessary to kill many common bacteria, viruses, yeasts & molds.

Warning: Never expose eyes or skin to UV-C light. UV lamps must only be operated inside metal ductwork where the light can be contained.

Intensity Of The Light Diminishes Over Distance
UV rays are predominantly emitted perpendicular to the surface of the lamp. In order to determine the intensity of ultraviolet radiation on a surface at different distances from a UV lamp, multiply the intensity of the lamp rating at 1 meter (microWatts per square centimeter) by the intensity factor opposite the distance selected as shown below. This table provides an easy method for quickly calculating ultraviolet intensity.