College campuses are bustling hubs of learning, socializing, and creating lifelong memories. They can also be hot spots for contagious germs and airborne bacteria. As with other spaces where people gather, UV light disinfection can be deployed to offer an effective and powerful frontier of protection against contagious viruses, providing a safer learning and social environment for both students and faculty.
When it comes to places with high colony-forming unit counts, college campuses are some of the grimiest spots of all. Within every space, from dining halls to laundry rooms, and of course, the notorious shared dormitory bathrooms, there are millions of CFUs waiting to infect unsuspecting college students. UV light disinfection fixtures like the Farlite® Solutions UVPhasor® offer a unique solution to this public health problem. Use this blog as your guide to learn how UVC light can revamp the health and safety of college campuses across the country.
The Science Behind the Solution: How UVC Light Works
Germicidal UV light is constantly working to target and neutralize pathogens, making it the ideal additive to college campuses, where robust campus cleaning routines struggle to keep up. Germicidal UVC light works to deactivate airborne pathogens by destroying the DNA and RNA strands of bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms. This unique disinfection system renders them completely ineffective and unable to further reproduce, making this a physical, not chemical, cleaning process that works effectively – but without irritating or harmful fumes.
The benefits of UV light disinfection are vast. The most important improvements compared to regular cleaning methods include:
- Chemical-free: UV light technology uses no harsh chemicals, leaving no harmful residues or odors behind – making it perfect for cleaning where a high volume of people resides and who may have differing allergies.
- Fast and efficient: Disinfection with UV light can happen in a matter of seconds. Along with this, it works constantly, not just removing harmful pathogens but continuously fighting to keep them at bay.
- Broad spectrum of results: Farlite Solutions UVPhasor technology is effective against a wide range of common viruses like influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and measles, making it essential for shared spaces where viruses can easily spread, such as communal bathrooms, dormitories, and dining halls.
UV Light In Every Corner: Campus-Wide Disinfection Applications
College campuses are unique because they house a wide variety of different spaces that can benefit greatly from UVC light disinfection technology. The majority of college campuses have thousands of students, many of whom live on campus – not only sharing rooms, but also sharing bathrooms, cafeterias, and study spaces. By learning how UV light disinfection can optimize cleaning in the primary spaces on a college campus, you can better understand how deploying this disinfection method can create positive change in public health.
Dorms and Residential Halls
For many students, their dorm room is where they spend the majority of their time. Because of this, the dorm room can also be one of the fastest breeding spots for CFUs. The average dorm room can play host to 6,006,100 CFUs, so a constant shield from germs offered by UVC light is a game-changer for these spaces.
Classrooms and Lecture Halls
Classrooms and lecture halls also pose a large threat when it comes to germ transmission because they have high volumes of students and faculty inside, paired with quick turnovers between classes. Quick swaps between full classes can make thorough, physical cleaning impossible, leading to significantly higher airborne pathogen rates inside these spaces.
A UV fixture like the UVPhasor can be transformative as it consistently deactivates harmful pathogens. Because the lights point upward toward the ceiling, this Farlite Solutions technology is completely safe for high-volume spaces, while offering customized fixture sizing for differing classrooms or halls.
Libraries or Common Study Spaces
These can be some of the busiest places on campus, especially during finals weeks when students are in a studying frenzy. Because of this, these spaces can also have some of the highest rates of harmful airborne pathogens from the close whispering and coughing. UV light disinfection fixtures can offer a powerful solution to the rapid spreading of germs in spaces like these by serving as a constant shield against transmissible viruses.
What makes Farlite Solutions UVPhasor a perfect match for college campuses, especially crowded study spaces, is its ability to customize light levels based on need. The unique control system can ramp up the UV light’s intensity during peak, high-traffic hours and reduce it during quieter periods with less traffic. The Farlite UVPhasor offers a customizable, flexible solution for your campus, regardless of its unique needs.
Fitness Centers and Athletic Facilities
The fitness centers and athletic facilities on campus can be some of the most high-traffic areas – which means increased germs. High levels of moisture in the air from sweating, heavy breathing, and heat provide a thriving environment for harmful pathogens.
UV light disinfection can help improve the air quality of fitness centers on campus by deactivating these pathogens from the air and making the gym a place where students can have access to both physical and respiratory health.
The Ripple Effect: How UVC Disinfection Benefits the Entire Campus
Besides just the powerful cleaning science, the real value of UV light disinfection is found in the numerous benefits it can offer for the entire campus. For many, college is a time to build community, not just for students but also for faculty and campus administrators. Because of this, fostering a sense of safety and emphasizing the importance of air cleanliness demonstrates that the university is dedicated to improved campus health.
For students, UVC light disinfection can lead to fewer sick days, which in turn can lead to better scores and more effective learning. Additionally, parents gain peace of mind knowing their student is safer at an institution that prioritizes their health.
Faculty members can enjoy a safer work environment. Many types of pathogens can lead to respiratory illness, allergies, or coughing, especially in cramped spaces – so UV light disinfection can make work a more enjoyable experience and with less absenteeism.
Campus administrators can see the benefits of UV light disinfection in a variety of ways:
- Cost effectiveness: UV light fixtures reduce the need for cleaning staff and expensive cleaning chemicals.
- Enhanced reputation: For many prospective college students, an emphasis on health and wellness can be a major selling point. It can also enhance community trust and support.
- Proactive vs. reactive outbreaks: Instead of waiting for outbreaks to strike, UV light disinfection fixtures can actively mitigate risk before it happens.
UV Light Disinfection for a Healthier College Campus
Investing in campus safety requires much more than just cleaning; it demands a fundamental shift in how you approach health and safety. UV light disinfection offers a modern, consistent, and highly effective solution to campus safety. Contact Farlite Solutions today for a UV light fixture estimate for your college campus and embrace the future of powerful indoor air disinfection.