Introduction to Ultraviolet
Understand to better choose
To know is to understand
How does ultraviolet light work?Where do they come from? What is their action for the decontamination of surfaces and air? Are they dangerous? innovlight answers here and you can ask your questions.
This reading is necessary to understand how Ultraviolet light works in order to use its full potential to destroy serenely the full potential to destroy Viruses and other pathogens.
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT?
The Electro-Magnetic Spectrum
Ultraviolet light is part of the light spectrum, i.e. everything that makes up light. The light spectrum is itself part of the electro-magnetic spectrum, which includes all the frequencies or waves with which we live every day.
distribution of the different frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum - source: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectre_%C3%A9lectromagn%C3%A9tique#/media/Fichier:Domaines_du_spectre_%C3%A9lectromagn%C3%A9tique.png
Visible and invisible light
The spectrum of sunlight (white light), the most powerful light we know, is therefore made up of all visible and invisible colours, each occupying a specific place.
Natural UV behaviour
It should be noted that some of these frequencies (including UVC) cannot reach the Earth. This position in the light spectrum corresponds to a frequency expressed in nanometres (nm), the unit of measurement for light frequencies.
Ultraviolet light is in the frequency range from 10 to 400nm.
They are invisible to the naked eye and are divided into three types:
UV-A, UV-B and UV-C
UV-A (400-315nm) :
account for almost 95% of the UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. They can penetrate the deep layers of the skin. They are responsible for the immediate tanning effect.
UVA rays are dangerous for the eyes of children, whose lens only partially plays its role as a filter. Ninety per cent of UV-A rays reach the retina in infants and a further 60% before the age of 13. In adults over twenty years of age, the lens blocks (and is affected by) almost 100% of UV-A radiation.
UV-B (315-280nm) :
of medium wavelength, have an important biological activity, but do not penetrate beyond the superficial layers of the skin, they are relatively absorbed by the horny layer of the epidermis, the melanin. Some of the solar UV-B is filtered out by the atmosphere.
They are responsible for tanning and delayed burns, sunburns, inflammations and skin cancers.
On the other hand, they can be beneficial for certain types of skin conditions such as psoriasis. They are also important for vitamin D synthesis.
UV-C (280-100nm) :
are the most energetic as well as the most harmful UV (energy increases as wavelength decreases), but they are completely filtered out by the ozone layer in the atmosphere and therefore theoretically do not reach the Earth's surface.
However, since 1801 and Ritter's discovery, UV-C lamps (and more recently LEDs) have been used in biological laboratories and hospitals for their germicidal effects, to sterilise and decontaminate air and surfaces by destroying theRNA andDNA of pathogens.
FOR INFORMATION: UV-C at 185nm has a particular action. Their radiation transforms Oxygen (O2) into Ozone (O3). Ozone also has the effect of sterilising surfaces and air and there are tubes that only radiate at this frequency. It should be noted, however, that the use of this frequency must be followed by prolonged aeration to remove the ozone. Its very effective germicidal action can complement a purely luminous action by cleaning the spaces that light cannot reach.
Today... Too many choices...
The current situation, with the pandemic since 2020, has created a kind of re-entry effect for the technique of sterilisation and decontamination of surfaces and air by ultraviolet light.
Indeed, although long used for their effectiveness, the systems have been brought into the public arena, touted as new technologies, flooding the web and online shops, but unfortunately suffering from the public's distrust, a distrust that new technologies can often suffer from when they are released. Moreover, the dangerousness of ultraviolet light is often put forward by detractors, who often sell chemical products, and who refuse to accept the complementarity of effective systems, despite the fact that the only aim today is to protect the public!
Bleach is very dangerous and we don't often drink it, so why should it be any different with UV?
STATE OF PLAY...
Ultraviolet light is nowadays adapted to uses other than hospital or laboratory environments. Both in terms of power and in terms of applications, we find them in various forms. Depending on the needs and the time of action required, they can be found in the form of Quartz tubes or LEDs integrated into robotic or mobile systems (and of different powers).
They allow to treat surfaces or air with an efficiency close to 100% and often combine several related functionalities (lighting + decontamination - UV decontamination + Ozone - UV decontamination + vaporization -...)
REMINDER : only the illuminated parts are cleaned by UV during a cycle.
Thus, all structures, regardless of their size or the dimension of the surfaces to be treated, can acquire a solution that is adapted to them. SHOPS, MEDICAL OFFICES and HEALTH CENTRES, SCHOOLS, ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRES, SHOPPING CENTRES, TRANSPORTATION and RECEPTION PLACES, REFECTORIES, SPORTS HALL OR COMPLEXES, THEATRES & CINEMAS, OFFICE PLATFORMS, FACTORIES, WAREHOUSES, VEHICLES... Who is not concerned?
WHO IS NOT CONCERNED?
HOW TO CHOOSE?
Unless you are in a laboratory, it is difficult to see how effective UV light is. Only the experience gained over centuries and the studies published in recent years allow us to ascertain this.
For them to be effective, certain conditions must be met, including power, distance and radiation time of the device, whatever it may be. It should be noted that the use of UVC is optimised if these parameters are also met.
However, if the distance is too great for the light action to be rapid, it will remain active. Only the exposure time will need to be extended to achieve the desired result.
It is therefore important that this point is understood. Today, too many material proposals talk about results without mentioning the time spent to achieve them.
The question to ask is therefore related to the time required to decontaminate a surface. If a single 80w device can achieve 100% (99.99%) results in decontaminating a 400 m² area. Why then choose a 2000w device that has the same results? It all depends on the time. The 2000w device will do it in 1 hour while the other will do it in 6 hours.
The quality of the integrated components is also a crucial point. Being able to use a device with peace of mind and confidence depends on it. Only the experts can offer you effective and durable solutions , and we do this to ensure your satisfaction.