Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Ultraviolet Light

In the 1940s and 1950s, ultraviolet irradiation of human and animal blood was researched, providing some surprising results for a wide range of conditions. The research was halted due to the rise of antibiotics and vaccines, but is it time to reevaluate this abandoned treatment?

More people than ever are utilizing ultraviolet UVC irradiation in their homes and businesses. This increase in popularity is a direct result of the response to COVID-19 over the last eight months. One of the most common questions we receive is how to measure UVC dose or intensity at a certain distance. This is an important question, and mathematically modeling UVC intensity at certain distances can be complicated or expensive with a UVC light meter....

Most of the impact of ultraviolet disinfection is in the UV-C range. UV-B has a much lower lethality rate for microbes than UV-C. However, a phenomenon called "photoreactivation" can impact disinfection. And UV-B can help prevent photoreactivation of pathogens. What Is Photoreactivation? Photoreactivation is the process whereby microorganisms are exposed to light in the visible spectrum after exposure to ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and begin to repair themselves. Photoreactivation can lead to a portion of the...

One unpleasant discovery that many homeowners and aquarium hobbyists make is that their ponds or aquariums can quickly become a haven to aggressive algae and harmful pathogens that kill fish and plants. Cloudy water, sick marine life, and an overall unhealthy look and feel to the water are the result. But growth of algae is a common, natural occurrence, resulting from feeding, filtration of biological materials, and fish/plant activities in the water. Also, light exposure...

Over the last 6-8 months, the use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation to combat pathogens, specifically COVID-19, has skyrocketed in popularity. Many homeowners, businesses, schools, and government institutions have purchased UV disinfection devices for air, surface, and water sanitation. But while COVID-19 has been an unintentional pandemic, the risk for bioterrorism using a transmissible pathogen has existed for decades. There are hundreds of bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungi that cause adverse reactions in humans and animals....

Schools are attempting to figure out how to reopen to the public in the fall. From daycare and kindergartens, to junior and high schools, to colleges and universities, students and parents are going to expect a higher level of cleanliness. Unfortunately, pandemics do not end in a matter of months, and the COVID-19 coronavirus may not going away anytime soon. Schools will implement new practices, procedures, and technology to combat the virus. One of these...

Businesses, institutions, and consumers have grown in awareness of the health benefits of ultraviolet germicidal (UV-C) light, but UV can also reduce damage caused by fire and smoke. Most UV bulbs and fixtures installed to combat COVID-19 and other pathogens emit little or no ozone. They do not generate enough ozone to reach limits harmful to human health or damage materials. However, UV devices that emit both germicidal light and generate ozone are available from...

One of the questions we've heard recently is, "Why are lead times for ultraviolet germicidal bulbs and ballasts so long?" In the midst of a global pandemic, it seems like UVC bulbs and germicidal ballasts have just disappeared, and lead times for fixtures can range from 3-20 weeks. In this article, we'll try to explain some of the reasons for this. Huge Increase in Demand When the pandemic hit, there were waves of buyers of...

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a proliferation of ultraviolet UVC products. While there are many good companies out there using high-quality products and effective designs, there has also been a flood of low-quality junk and even completely fake UVC devices. As of this writing, there are few official standards for UVC germicidal lighting products, either bulbs or fixtures. Many companies have been manufacturing specialty ultraviolet lamps, ballasts, and luminaires for decades. However, it...

Over the last few months, matching UV bulbs to ballasts has become increasingly difficult. While specialized ultraviolet ballasts have been bought up, equipment manufacturers have become more creative in finding compatible fluorescent ballasts for the UVC bulbs. But will these always work? And how can you find a compatible ballast?