Here is an unimpeachable fact about UVC: It takes 6-8 seconds to inactivate a virus or kill bacteria.
In the information below, a supplier quotes 10 seconds, but I’ve seen some UV makers talk about a 6 second inactivation. For a faster kill (getting closer to 6 seconds than 10) they must increase the intensity of the light more bulbs and string the bulbs end to end to cover more distance. UV is a very good surface sanitizer in unoccupied spaces, but not a great air sanitizer, here is why.
If UVC is installed in an air duct (the only real safe place for it), the theory is that as air passes through the air duct it will inactivate any virus or bacteria that goes by it. Unfortunately, if you need, at minimum, 6 seconds of exposure and air is moving at 800 feet per minute (800/60seconds = 13.33 feet PER SECOND), which is typical in an air duct, you will need 80 continuous feet of UV bulbs strung end to end to get a 6 second exposure.
In short, UVC would not be a good solution to help mitigate the risk of airborne coronavirus or any other airborne virus.
Remember: AtmosAir has the most effective technology on the market because it’s continuously sending healthy ions to scrub the air and surfaces inside of your classrooms by inactivating viruses, killing bacteria and mold, while breaking down VOC and reducing particles that cause allergies and asthma. #Forourchildren #Forourteachers #Forourschools #BeattheDeltaVariant #TheBestIAQ
Read more on UV for yourself:
Q: How much intensity do I need to kill certain organisms?
The exposure of germicidal ultraviolet is the product of time and intensity. High intensities for a short period and low intensities for a long period are fundamentally equal in lethal action on bacteria. The inverse square law applies to germicidal ultraviolet as it does to light: the killing power decreases as the distance from the lamps increases. The average bacterium will be killed in ten seconds at a distance of six inches from the lamp in an American Ultraviolet Germicidal Fixture.
https://www.americanultraviolet.com/uv-germicidal-solutions/faq-germicidal.cfml#killOrganisms
