Many mistakenly assume that by following applicable building code and guidelines such as ASHRAE, they are providing properly decontaminated air. And, although the HEPA filter remains the best filter available for ventilation systems, like all filters there exists a determinable inefficiency zone that belies the myth that HEPA is the ultimate answer for air decontamination. To complete the air decontamination process initiated by filtration, Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) needs to be added. UVGI has a long history of being used for the disinfection of drinking water in all major cities around the world since its first use in France in 1909. For the last 25 years, UVGI has been used extensively to disinfect the air streams within ductwork and air conditioning cooling coils. Public health agencies such as the CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommend the use UVGI as a control technology to interrupt the transmission of pathogens inside buildings and to prevent the formation of biofilm that can severely impair the efficiency of air conditioning cooling coils. This presentation provides an overview of how UV germicidal light sterilizes microorganisms and the dosage that is required for various bio-contaminants including SARS-CoV2 to obtain an aseptic environment suitable for hospitals and clinics.
Speaker Profile:
Dr. Normand Brais holds a mechanical engineering degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from Polytechnique, University of Montreal. He was appointed Professor at the Energy Institute of Polytechnique after he graduated. He has founded several technological companies in various fields such as atmospheric pollution from combustion, water treatment, OCT photonics, and air/surface UV disinfection. In 1995 he founded Sanuvox Technologies, which is now a worldwide technological leader in UV disinfection.