UV-C for Coronavirus-Resilient Buildings  

Short-wave ultraviolet (UV) C (UV-C) energy—similar to sun rays—can be used to destroy airborne and surface-bound microbes, including chickenpox, measles, mumps, tuberculosis (TB), and cold viruses. In May 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended to businesses preparing to reopen following the pandemic the use of germicidal UV to reduce the likelihood of disease transmission. ASHRAE has recognized that the UV-C wavelength inactivates virtually all microorganisms living on HVACR surfaces, with kill ratios of up to 99 percent, depending on the intensity of the UV-C and the length of exposure. Facility professionals can utilize germicidal-UV technologies to greatly reduce concentrations of pathogens in a highly reliable and cost effective fashion.