Improving Air Quality In Schools:
UV Light Disinfection and COVID Relief Programs
Purchase UV Disinfection Technology with Federal Funds
While masks, sanitization stations, and dividers are viable safety measures, the best way to combat the virus and stay pro-active is with extra sanitation. UV germicidal light is by far one of the most effective methods in eliminating germs and viruses from your interior spaces. UV-C light has been used in hospitals and medical offices for many years, and is now becoming increasingly popular in educational facilities because of its effectiveness and safety. Best of all, the federal government has provided funding to help purchase sanitizing equipment and ventilation upgrades, all which include UV-C disinfection light.
Since March 2020, the U.S. government has passed three economic relief packages providing over $200 billion for K-12 public and private education and $75 billion for higher education. These funds are intended to help re-open schools safely (and quickly) and the funds cover a variety of eligible costs, including facility ventilation upgrades and sanitizing equipment (including UV-C).
Air quality has become an extremely important factor when mitigating risks for reopening in-person learning. Therefore, all relief packages contain eligible categories that allow for the purchase of germicidal UV light technology to disinfect both air and surfaces.
Schools across the country are using COVID emergency relief funds to purchase healthcare-grade UVC disinfection equipment to sanitize their spaces. Germicidal UVC light is one of the most effective methods, making this technology ideal for disinfecting classrooms, dorms, and common area spaces on school grounds and campuses.
Schools Using UV-C Technology
Hundreds of schools have already purchased UVC technology and air purification systems to re-open (and stay open) safely. Check out a few examples below:
- In April 2021, South San Francisco Schools introduced mobile UV-C units to disinfect classrooms.
- The Gallup-McKinley School District in New Mexico purchased 36 mobile UVC units to disinfect all interior school buildings.
- In 2021, Indiana University of Pennsylvania purchased UVC equipment for their campus.
- In 2020, Allegany College of Maryland purchased UV light to help slow the spread of COVID-19 with federal CARES Act funding.
Available UVC Solutions: UVC Air & Surface Disinfection Options
Germicidal UV technology is implemented in a variety of ways and can be used to disinfect both air and surfaces. Major differences between surface and air disinfection is that some UV-C equipment must be used while the room is unoccupied, while other UVC products can be used while the room is occupied.
Air Purification
UVC equipment that disinfects the air is a great option for continuous disinfection. There are (2) primary methods that UV Light provides air disinfection. Each of which can be used even when spaces are occupied.
1.) In-Room Air Disinfection
- UV Air Fans
- Upper-Room UV
- In-Duct
- On-Coil
1.) In-Room Air Disinfection: UV-C Air Purifiers that offer In-Room disinfection are typically wall mounted or mobile fixtures that cover up to 450 Sq. Ft per unit. These products utilize internal fan and filtration systems that circulate the air within a room over UVC Lamps. As pathogens within the air are exposed to the UVC light, causing damage to the germs DNA, leaving them unable to reproduce and cause illnesses.
UV Air Fans - UVC Fans are designed to disinfect air in occupied spaces and can be mobile enough to transfer to multiple spaces if needed. They are usually very quiet machines that covers about 2,000 cubic feet. These units are usually intended for smaller spaces like bathrooms, smaller class rooms and offices
Upper Room UV
Upper Air UV-C units are installed in high areas of a room, usually above people's heads where the rays do not come into direct contact with people. This is the specific type of UV-C is recommended by the CDC as a viable means to improve air quality. With this type of disinfection, the top layer of air is disinfected by the unit and circulated to the bottom layer, where people are breathing.
2.) UV-C in HVAC Systems
HVAC UV systems disinfect the air as it flows through the HVAC system, either at the AHU or within the duct-work itself, eradicating viruses, bacteria, molds and spores.. This type of UV barrier inhibits the proliferation of pathogens settling inside the Air Condition Unit. In addition, the creation of biofilm is inhibited, increasing the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and comfort.
In-Duct - UV disinfection systems mounted in new or existing duct systems (you don't even have to get new duct work). They control the spread of airborne toxins by killing germs in the air before it circulates
On-Coil - For continuous disinfection for both coils and moving air in ventilators, fan coil units, and large AHUs. Excellent for eliminating biofilms.
Surface (and Air) Disinfection
UVC equipment intended for surface disinfection provides localized surface disinfection and spot treatment. These units should only be used to disinfect unoccupied spaces.
In addition to the target surfaces, the air between the UVC unit and the surface/source is also disinfected, as light passes through the air to disinfect the surface. These units cannot be used when the room is occupied, and thus, are designed with sensors and controls, meaning the units automatically shut off when someone enters the room, or they can be programmed to shut off at a specific time.
UVC disinfection fixtures for surfaces are the most quantifiably effective way to inactivate pathogens. (need link to study).
There are (3) primary methods that UV Light provides surface disinfection. Each of which can NOT be used even when spaces are occupied.
Fixed-Position UV Disinfection Fixtures: UVC fixtures that can be mounted in the ceiling, suspended, or on the wall. These units can be implemented with scheduled commissioning, integration into the facility Building Automation System (BAS), or simply utilized on demand. Multiple fixtures can be installed in a room or space, providing a scalable method of UVC disinfection for both large and small spaces.
Mobile UV Disinfection Fixtures: UVC Mobile units utilize the same fixture technically as Fixed-Position UV disinfection units, however they are mounted on stands that can moved via folding tri-pods or rolling castors. These units or carts can be moved easily from room to room to disinfect multiple spaces. Mobile units most often utilize a on-demand single cycle operation and are designed to provide user flexibility in deployment. Similar to Fixed-Position UV disinfection fixtures, multiple mobile units can be deployed in a space, providing scalable disinfection for large or small spaces.
UV Disinfection Robots: These fully-automatic UV machines disinfect high traffic areas and shared spaces and can disinfect up to 1,000 feet of linear surface areas in an 8-hour shift. Scheduling of disinfection can be initiated or modified from anywhere using a mobile device, browser, or integration with a scheduling system.
Each these options can disinfect on demand with preset and controllable cycles. You can even run the cycles overnight or whenever the spaces are unoccupied, and all fixtures have automatic shutoff sensors if anyone enters the space during disinfection. (You can read more on Germicidal UVC Safety here).
