The 2020 worldwide pandemic reshaped the world in a multitude of ways, including highlighting the power of UVC light as a COVID combat tool. Now, in a post-COVID-19 world, UVC is the hero of sustained building safety and public health. 

Before the pandemic, germicidal UV light disinfection was niche, but today, it is a public health necessity, particularly in shared spaces. Farlite® Solutions strives to change the way schools, offices, and hospitals define clean air – giving building owners the ability to set a precedent that protects the health of all guests and employees. Farlite’s UVPhasor® fixture is at the forefront of this initiative and has redefined the safe and effective use of UVC light in commercial spaces. 

Defining the Germicidal Light Spectrum

UVC isn’t just any light – it is a highly specific type of UV light with potent germicidal capacity. UV light wavelengths are formed in three categories:

• UVA
• UVB
• UVC
  

UVA light has the longest wavelength, at 315-400 nanometers. This form of UV light is primarily responsible for skin damage and the vast majority of sunlight that reaches Earth’s surface. The second type, UVB, is the second longest wavelength. It averages about 280-315nm long and can cause sunburns and skin cancer. The ozone layer mostly filters UVB on the way to Earth’s surface, even though it has some germicidal properties. Lastly, UVC light has both the shortest wavelength, 200-280nm, and is also the highest-energy form of sunlight. What makes this type of light so unique is that Earth’s ozone completely absorbs it before it reaches our atmosphere. But even though we don’t get UVC from the sun, we can harness its power to fight harmful air microorganisms that make us sick. 

UVC light attacks airborne pathogens by damaging the DNA and RNA of viruses, bacteria, and certain spores. When this happens, it renders them completely ineffective for breeding or spreading, helping create a cycle of cleaning power for your space. 

The Silent Power of Upper-Air UVC In Shared Spaces

The COVID-19 pandemic created many conversations about the danger of recycled air in many tight, shared spaces – including schools, cafeterias, hospital waiting rooms, and open-concept offices. COVID joins other viruses that can be spread through both airborne particles and droplets, making it a difficult foe to completely defend against. However, when it comes to defending your space against these tiny airborne particles, nothing is more reliable than an upper-air UVC fixture like the UVPhasor.

This is because upper-air disinfection is based on the mechanism of warm, exhaled air rising due to convection – and carrying infectious aerosol particles with it. Once the air has risen, it can circulate throughout the entire building, potentially leading to a significant outbreak throughout the entire office.  

Farlite’s upper-air mounted fixtures work differently than others because they are fitted to point the powerful UVC rays upward, not only catching the germs as they float to the ceiling, but also avoiding all contact with skin or eyes, so you can feel completely safe with the Farlite UVPhasor. 

 Critical Adoption: Schools, Offices, and Commercial Spaces

The UVPhasor can disinfect the air in a vast range of locations that desperately need it to fight against COVID and other potentially dangerous viruses.

UVC light disinfection fixtures can help significantly reduce school sick days due to illnesses constantly circulating from child to child. This may also contribute to better academic performance and higher involvement from many students who may miss a large amount of school due to being ill. 

The healthcare industry is another impactful sector for UV light fixtures. Many hospitals, from surgery rooms to cafeterias, rely on UV lights in HVAC systems, which don’t wield enough germicidal power to make a significant difference – thereby allowing virus particles, pathogens, and spores to survive in what should be a disinfected setting. Surface disinfecting tools are also ineffective against airborne particles. Using UVC light fixtures in both surgery room settings and the wide-open waiting rooms and communal cafe spots helps patients stay healthy – and feel safer – regardless of what airborne outbreak is occurring.  

Lastly, any sort of communal space, from offices to international airport terminals, can all use UV light disinfection to improve safety for all guests who come and go. By investing in a method of air disinfection that is not only highly reliable, but also continuous, the standard for cleanliness can be raised – contributing to a healthier, safer tomorrow. 

Air Safety and UVC Disinfection: The New Workplace Foundation

For many, the biggest takeaway from the infamous 2020 global pandemic was that we don’t exist in a vacuum. Societal building blocks – from clinics to schools and businesses – need one another, especially in times of crises. Society’s wellness can’t be put on the back burner. Instead, it must be a proactive choice that we prioritize every day, whether it be the foods we eat, the way we move, or the air we breathe. 

As many offices begin to shift back to fully in-person work, as opposed to fully remote, many employees will seek quantifiable solutions for how their company is promoting a healthier lifestyle. UVC light disinfection is a great way to help your employees stay aligned on their wellness journey while at the office. This not only helps employees avoid contagious viruses, but it also helps reduce health-related anxiety and increase productivity due to flourishing confidence and less costly absenteeism.

If you’re looking for a way to transform your office space into a healthier, cleaner environment, Farlite’s UVC fixture is the way to go. Not only does it effectively reduce the impact of harmful bacteria, mold, and viruses in the air your employees breathe, but it is also entirely safe for everyday use. The wellness trend is more than just a phase; it is something that will continue to grow more prevalent every day, making these additions to your cleaning regimen not just important but essential. 

Beyond the Pandemic: UVC Light Disinfection as the New Standard of Clean

When the global pandemic happened, it began an onslaught of panic, frustration, and confusion that many Americans hadn’t experienced in their lifetime. Consequently, many people have begun taking their health seriously; as they continue returning to in-person jobs, they will prioritize this even more than they did during the pandemic’s remote work phase. Because of that, it is essential for companies to show their employees that they are taking dedicated steps toward making the workplace and other communal spaces safer and cleaner. By choosing to install UVPhasors in your space, you can help reduce health anxiety and prevent the spread of a myriad of dangerous pathogens. Contact Farlite Solutions today for a UVC disinfection fixture estimate for your business.