Review Shows UV Sanitizing Light for HVAC Inactivates Viruses

A new, comprehensive review of 32 studies, published between 1932 and 2020, examining the effectiveness of UV in HVAC systems demonstrates that “viruses and bacteriophages are inactivated by UV radiation.” As a particular point of interest, the new review, published on medRxiv on October 14, 2021, includes a 2020 study that used Aerapy UV equipment. That field study, conducted at an animal shelter and using a combination of Aerapy UV for HVAC and upper air UV products, demonstrated an 87.1% decrease, a “significant decrease,” in upper respiratory infections.

UV sanitizing

The new review addresses the fact that “respiratory viruses are capable of transmitting via an aerosol route.” Moreover, using UV for sanitizing the air is “associated with decreased transmission in both animal and human studies.”

Another crucial review finding, that “UV dose and corresponding survival fraction were affected by airflow pattern, ACH, and UV device location,” drives home Aerapy’s philosophy that one size does not fit all and why we provide a free UV consultation to discuss your particular indoor environment.

Aerosol transmission

What’s the purpose of revisiting 32 previous studies? The review was conducted by researchers funded by a grant created to explore “mitigation strategies against the public transmission of airborne COVID-19 in high occupancy structures.” As the review authors note, virus-laden aerosols can remain airborne for extended periods of time. And with the most recent pandemic as clear and convincing evidence, “selecting appropriate measures to protect the occupants of indoor spaces based on informed, interdisciplinary research is critical to managing the spread of infectious disease.”

Like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, kennel cough and dog flu are airborne diseases. When an infected dog coughs, sneezes, barks, or even sheds dander, he can release aerosolized bacteria and viruses which can remain alive able to infect for extended periods of time.

Germicidal UV light

By using UV—the right UV—with your HVAC system, harmful microorganisms can be destroyed on a cellular level, killing or inactivating the pathogens. When air enters your air intakes, it passes through our in-duct units with sanitizing UV-C light made for HVAC systems. This neutralizes both coil surface and airborne microorganisms before they circulate throughout your indoor environment. Our UV technology helps to effectively eliminate and kill allergens, bacteria, and viruses such as canine (kennel) cough, canine influenza, and other flu viruses, as well as other illnesses that impact both animals and humans, before they have a chance to spread infections.

For those without an HVAC system in place, or those in need of immediate, targeted disinfection in a particular room or indoor area, our standalone, wall- or ceiling-mounted upper air UV units work on the same principle—harnessing the power of UV-C to prevent the spread of infectious disease in the air.

For more information, call 866-994-2473 or contact us here.