Does UVC Lights Create Ozone

UVC lights have been a proven technology in reducing the spread of airborne diseases for a very long time. But as with many other technologies, the benefits of a reduction in the spread of airborne diseases come with a cost such as the production of harmful UVC rays and Ozone. In order to reduce these effects, the proper design, selection, installation, and testing of these systems need to be carefully considered.

First is the selection of UVC lights and their effect on radiation and ozone. When selecting a UVC lighting system it’s important to have a barrier between the wave path and human contact as UVC rays can be harmful to humans if they come in direct contact. In order to achieve this, it’s best to have the UVC lights mounted in an HVAC system where they can treat the room’s air to remove any harmful viruses. It’s not recommended to put UVC lights directly into a room due to the potential harmful effects.

The question in regards to does UVC lights create ozone is dependent on the manufacturer’s designs as ozone generation depends on the UVC wavelength. If the UVC lights are operating at a wavelength below 240 nm, then the potential to produce ozone exists, and these types of UVC lights should be avoided. The optimal wavelength is 253.7 nm and at this wavelength, the UVC lights have been shown to reduce ozone.

UVC lights must be designed to match as close as possible the lab-tested conditions which include airflow patterns, temperature gradients, and relative humidity. It’s important to measure these parameters and check against the manufacturer’s published data the efficiency is disinfecting any viruses and if any ozone is generated at various conditions.

In conclusion, determining if UVC Lights Create Ozone is dependent on a number of factors and must be considered in the engineering stage of using this solution in reducing the spread of airborne diseases.

Atlabach Consulting is a world leader in providing Computational Fluid Dynamic Modelling of virus transmissions within a building along with Probability Of Infection Analysis to fully understand the health and safety of your occupants currently and afterward. www.atlabach.com