So What Is UV-C Light?
There are three different variations of ultraviolet (UV) light naturally produced by the sun that are invisible to the human eye and defined by wavelength.
UV-A
315-400 nm
UV-B
280-315 nm
UV-C
100-280 nm
UV-C has the shortest wavelength and is naturally absorbed by the atmosphere. Any amount of direct exposure to this light is harmful to human health. However, it is this variation of UV light that scientists have since harnessed in a multitude of ways to safely kill harmful microorganisms by altering their DNA structure to the point of non-viability.1
Enter the BFW UV Lighthouse which satisfies the above mentioned criteria in spectacular form. When placed outside of an operating room, the UV Lighthouse is the perfect size to disinfect a surgical headlight so it will be ready for the next wearer.
With its minimal dimensions, the UV Lighthouse can be placed conveniently in easy to access areas such as operating room sub-sterile, nurse stations, ICU stations, breakrooms, and near patient rooms to allow for fast, easy, and effective disinfection. The UV Lighthouse also has a fully-enclosed chamber which prevents any UV-C exposure to the user.
In just one minute, the new BFW UV Lighthouse is capable of disinfecting items carried from room-to-room and patient-to-patient like phones, tablets, stethoscopes, walkie talkies. It is capable of holding 13″ laptops, killing 99.99% of common hospital viruses and bacteria4, without risk of damage.
The UV Lighthouse is also safe for use on delicate medical equipment where chemical use may not be an option. Additionally, it is an ideal alternative where and when the goal is to limit chemical exposure. It is safer to enter a room after a germicidal UV product disinfects than if a room has just been sprayed down with harsh chemicals.
A critical component to the process is to verify the germicidal UVC effectiveness. For this reason, a 12-pack of Dosimeter cards is supplied with each BFW UV Lighthouse. These provide real-time feedback and a visual indication of the efficacy of the UV-C bulbs with color-changing UVC sensitive inks.
Bulbs are rated to last for 11,000 hours. They can be easily replaced and BFW provides replacement bulbs to purchase.
In conclusion, when it comes to preventive disinfection measures in the medical setting, UV-C stands out as a superior option. Its efficiency of killing harmful viruses and bacteria found in hospitals, paired with safe options for use, UV-C is quick to become a permanent fixture in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories alike.
CITATIONS
- Interclean, “UV-C Light Disinfection for Hospitals” June 8, 2020, https://www.intercleanshow.com/news/healthcare/uvc-cleaning-healthcare/
- Health Purchasing News Online, “Infection Prevention Challenges Require New Solutions” Silva, Brenda, February 23, 2023, https://www.hpnonline.com/infection-prevention/article/21294500/infection-prevention-challenges-require-new-solutions
- Environments, “UV Disinfection vs Chemical Cleaners” May 26, 2021, https://www.environments.tech/post/uv-disinfection-vs-chemical-cleaners
- Insights, Regency Lighting, “Using UV light to kill viruses like COVID-19” Espino, Luis, December 16, 2020, https://insights.regencylighting.com/can-uv-light-kill-viruses-like-covid-19
- Kill rate based on third-party biological lab testing (BSL-2 certified facility). A 99.99% kill is achieved on most of the viruses and bacteria that were tested.