FAQs
About UV-C
Ultraviolet light represents a portion of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum. It is the wavelength band immediately beyond the violet end of visible light. The UV range of the spectrum is characterized by wavelengths between 100 and 400 nanometers (nm). It includes the long-wave UV-A (315 to 400 nm), which causes suntan (or burn), medium-wave UV-B, (280 to 315 nm) used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, and short-wave UV-C (100 to 280 nm).
Germicidal UV is a term used to describe UV-C. UV-C is short-ultraviolet radiation in the “C” band of 100 to 280 nanometers. The germicidal range 180nm to 280nm is lethal to microorganisms.
253.7 nm, which is the wavelength with the greatest effectiveness
UV-C light is germicidal. it deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and thus destroys their ability to multiply and cause disease. Specifically, germicidal UV light causes damage to the nucleic acid of microorganisms by forming covalent bonds between certain adjacent bases in the DNA. The formation of such bonds prevent the DNA from being unzipped for replication, and the organism is unable to reproduce. In fact, when the organism tries to replicate, it dies.
Germicidal UV effectively kills 99.9% of all viruses, bacteria and mold. The following is a partial list of pathogens killed by germicidal UV and some of the diseases they cause:
Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Influenza (Flu), Pneumonia, Meningitis, Common Cold, Measles, HIV, Strep, Staph, MRSA, E. Coli, Anthrax, Avian (Bird) Flu
Yes -germicidal UV-C lamps kill up to 99.9% of most viruses, airborne bacteria and mold
UV-C radiation has been shown to destroy the outer protein coating of the SARS-Coronavirus, which is a different virus from the current SARS-CoV-2 virus. The destruction ultimately leads to inactivation of the virus.
Yes. Germicidal UV-C lamps will kill up to 99.9% of mold and help prevent future mold growth.
Yes, scientific and anecdotal references abound for UV-C’s efficacy both in literature and in reports of field applications. A simple Google search will provide you with hundreds of articles and studies regarding the effectiveness of this technology..In fact, the US government now specifies that germicidal UV be used in all government buildings.