Study Proves UV Light for Air Handler Eliminates Fungal Contaminants

Having an air conditioner in a residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, or medical space is essential to ensure the users feel comfortable. Moreover, it is important to keep the air flowing in space to reduce dampness in the environment.

However, one of the drawbacks of using an air conditioner is the increased flow of airborne microorganisms and other contaminants. And if neglected, it can cause a host of diseases in humans, some of which might even turn out to be fatal.

So, how can you combat this situation?

The answer is simple and highly effective. Use UV light for an air conditioner to ensure the air is sterilized and clean before it circulates in the space. 

UV light, especially 254 nm UV germicidal light, has been proven to effectively eliminate a wide range of pathogens. Hence, it is an effective addition to your existing air conditioning system without any complicated installation process.

But once installed, you don’t have to worry for at least a year or 9000 hours of operations. UV germicidal light will consistently decontaminate the air passing through the air conditioner. All you need to do is replace the UV lamps after a year to ensure continuous germicidal action.

UV Germicidal Light Eliminates Fungi

Although UV light is usually used to eliminate bacteria and viruses, it is highly effective against a wide range of fungi.

A 2001 study published in Applied and Environmental Biology (https://doi.org/10.1128%2FAEM.67.8.3712-3715.2001) studied the effects of using UV germicidal light on fungal concentration in an office building in Oklahoma. In the study, the researchers installed UV lamps on the main air handling units for two floors, whereas the remaining two floors were kept as control with no UV lamp installed.

Before the study, the fungal concentrations were tested and noted for all 4 floors. About a dozen fungi were present in the atmosphere before the study.

After the study, when the readings were taken again, it was found that the floors with UV lamps had seen a significant decrease in fungal concentration. However, the control floors saw an increase in the concentration of every fungal taxon by as much as 100-fold.

The study cemented the fact that UV germicidal light is highly effective against pathogens, including fungi. Moreover, it proved that installing UV lamps with air handling units will significantly improve air quality.

Bottom Line

Air conditioning units in any space are essential to create a comfortable environment. However, it can compromise the health of circulating air and thus the users. Especially if the air contains a lot of fungal contaminants, it can be detrimental to the health of the users.

Installing UV light for air handler units can be a game-changer for any space. Scientific studies proving the benefits of using a UV light for air handling units make it a must for all spaces using air conditioners.

At Light Spectrum Enterprises, Inc., we provide a wide range of UV lamps for residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and medical spaces. Our range can be fitted independently or with air handling units, wastewater treatment facilities, HVAC units, and more.

Contact our sales team now to find out more.