UV-C supporting Europe’s recovery

February 12, 2021

Signify argues that UV-C lighting should play a part in a post-pandemic world and feature in European recovery plans.

UV-C lighting has long been used as a disinfectant against deadly microorganisms, but its true potential, Signify says, is yet to be realised.

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) is a type of electromagnetic radiation that consists of wavelengths between 100-280 nanometres. At a wavelength of 254nm it is highly effective in breaking down the DNA and RNA of viruses, effectively inactivating them and rendering them harmless.
 

While the antimicrobial potential of UV-C isn’t new, the widespread need for the technology until recently was confined to niche markets. That was, until the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

But, as we move towards a post-pandemic world, there’s a strong case for UV-C to become normalised in the mitigation of viruses. What’s more, says Signify, the technology should feature prominently in national recovery plans being thrashed out across Europe.

“Our test results show that above a specific dose of UV-C radiation, viruses were completely inactivated: in a matter of seconds, we could no longer detect any virus,” said Dr Anthony Griffiths, Associate Professor of Microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine.³

Tests in the laboratory setting showed that Signify light sources irradiating the surface of a material inoculated with SARS-CoV-2, reduced the virus to below detectable levels in as few as 9 seconds for the dried virus and 4 seconds for the wet virus.

UV-C is a powerful disinfectant and exposure to light sources with certain wavelengths of UV-C radiation can damage the skin and eyes of humans and animals. As the disinfection of surfaces requires direct exposure to the light source, the disinfection cycle must only take place when people or animals are not present. Not surprisingly, Signify’s surface disinfection luminaires are built with safety in mind and are meant to be deployed with features such as remote-control capabilities, timers and motion sensors.

Signify realises that the rollout of various vaccines will gradually help to control the spread of the pandemic but argues that UV-C has a wider role in helping to prevent the spread of airborne diseases.

In September 2020, World Health Organisation Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that COVID-19 “will not be the last pandemic”. This underlines a need to invest in technology for future mitigation.