There are germs all around us, on the things we touch, on our hands, and even in the air we breathe. Germ transmission is a serious threat to everyone, especially in public buildings like stores, restaurants, and office buildings. Indoor air disinfection aims to kill or remove germs from the air to reduce the risk of people getting sick. As a facility manager or property owner, you of course want to reduce risks for your building. So, is it better to filter the air through the HVAC system or use UV rays to disinfect the air? We’ll discuss exactly this in this blog. Keep in mind that a multi-layered approach with both air filtration and upper room germicidal UV can be an incredibly effective way to fight germs in your facility.
Looking for better solutions to disinfect your building’s air? Get in touch with our experts now to request a proposal for UV light disinfection solutions.
Indoor Air Disinfection Helps Protect People From Airborne Germs
Indoor air disinfection is exactly what it sounds like – methods used to disinfect the air of germs. Just like you disinfect surfaces like doorknobs in your building, it’s also important to consider what harmful pathogens may be floating through the air. Airborne transmission is actually a huge problem in many buildings, including:
- Gyms
- Schools
- Office buildings
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Transportation hubs
- Retail and entertainment buildings
- Medical buildings
Even before people show symptoms, they can be shedding germ particles every time they breathe, speak, cough, or sneeze. This puts everyone in your building at risk. This is why so many facilities are looking into and installing indoor air disinfection solutions to help reduce these risks so everyone can feel comfortable in their buildings.
UV Disinfection vs. Air Filtration for Removing Germs
When it comes to indoor air disinfection, the top two options that most building managers consider are air filtration and UV disinfection. Air filters are usually found in HVAC systems where the system forces air through a filter to remove impurities. These filters can trap some types of germs, but keep in mind that many germs are much too small to be filtered out of the air. For instance, HEPA filters can work on particles as small as 0.3 microns in size, but viruses can be anywhere from 0.02 to 0.4 microns in size. A normal coronavirus is generally about 0.1 microns, meaning they’re usually too small for air filters to trap. Additionally, remember that many HVAC systems aren’t equipped to handle more efficient filters that trap smaller particles. Also, filters must be changed out on a regular basis or they become less effective.
By contrast, UV disinfection can work in the upper air to provide indoor air disinfection while you go about your business as normal. UV devices like the UVPhasor create a disinfection zone in the upper part of the room near the ceiling. As germ-filled air naturally floats toward the top of the room, the pathogens get a dose of UV rays that kills them so they can’t spread infection.
Combining both HVAC systems with good quality filters and UV indoor air disinfection devices is a great way to do your part in protecting people from germs, including COVID-19. By using both of these effective methods, you can reduce the amount of airborne germs in your building and provide peace of mind to all that you’re taking steps to protect the health of your employees and customers.
Get Germ-Killing Solutions for Your Building from Farlite Solutions
Our team at Farlite Solutions provides advanced UVC disinfection through UVPhasor technology. Our devices effectively kill germs continuously in occupied spaces by using germicidal UV rays. We help you protect your building from viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens with strategically placed UVPhasor devices. Contact us now to learn more and get a custom proposal for your building.