What is UV-C?
UV-C forms part of the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum and is defined within ISO standard ISO-21348 as having wavelengths between 100 - 280 nanometres.
Importance of UV-C
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is more aware than ever of the infection risk from viruses. The spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 via aerosols, droplets and direct contact has greatly disrupted our society. Social distancing, washing hands and wearing ordinary face masks are insufficient to prevent the spread of this and other airborne viruses. To improve the health and safety of all indoor locations, the viral concentration and thus risk of contamination must be reduced. UV disinfection technologies are an effective means of reducing the risk of contamination by assisting in cutting transmission pathways, but are currently underutilized.
UV-C is a mature technology which has been available for many decades. UV-C is an effective methodology to disinfect air, surfaces and water. UV-C radiation has been proven to inactivate all micro-organisms and viruses against which it has been tested. In particular, UV-C is an efficacious non-pharmaceutical measure to inactivate pathogens where natural or mechanical ventilation is inadequate. Air cleaning by UV-C is effective, low cost, easy-to-install, environmentally friendly and an energy efficient way to achieve significantly higher equivalent ventilation rates. Safe use of UV-C is enabled by existing standards and industry guidelines.
GLA has compiled an extensive list of standards and regulations and provides project examples where this disinfection technology has been applied.
GLA UV-C publications
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Guidelines for Quantification of Airborne Pathogen Inactivation by UVGI Technologies |
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GLA’s UV-C Safety Guidelines has been published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as a Publicly Available Specification. |
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Germicidal UV-C Irradiation – Sources, Products and Applications |
Applications
UV-C disinfection technologies are used in many installations. Click here and discover a wide range of projects.
Education
Click on links below for Frequently Asked Questions on UV-C & Disinfection
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American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers |
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ExplainerComic: The Quest of the Virosols (reproduced with permission of Aerosol Science Research Center)
Download the full comic
Standards & regulations
GLA has compiled a list of international and national standards related to UV-C – Download
(GLA’s UV-C Safety Guidelines has been accepted as an IEC Publicly Available Specification.
Read more IEC PAS 63313:2021 | IEC Webstore)
GLA has compiled a list of national regulations and guidelines related to UV-C – Download
