Germicidal UV Demand Leaps From Niche To Necessity

11/11/2020 Germicidal UV Demand Leaps from Niche to Necessity | HPAC Engineering
CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Germicidal UV Demand Leaps from Niche to Necessity

Five months after our June cover story on this germ-killing technology, we revisit the
marketplace to see how demand has surged as a result of the ongoing global pandemic.
OCT 22, 2020
By DANIEL JONES, UV Resources, Santa Clarita CA
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus evolved into a worldwide pandemic, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
(UGVI) or light in the 253.7 nm UV-C wavelength has become a "go-to" technology in the battle
against the spread of COVID-19.
In early October 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed
[1]
what many researchers had believed for months —that the coronavirus can be transmitted
[2]
through the air and may be able to infect people who are more than six feet apart.
https://www.hpac.com/covid-19/article/21145515/germicidal-uv-demand-leaps-from-niche-to-necessity?utm_source=HR+HPAC+Engineering+Fa… 1/12
UV Resources
It’s this very issue—airborne pathogen spread—where germicidal UV became celebrated after
researchers demonstrated the ability of UVGI to efficiently inactivate airborne microorganisms
[3
and proved diseases could be spread by air. In 1937, epidemiologist William F.
Wells installed upper-room UV lamps in suburban Philadelphia day schools to combat the
spread of measles and compared infection rates to schools without UV-C. Schools that had the
air-sanitizing equipment experienced a 13.3 percent infection rate compared with 53.6 percent
for the population at large.
To read our June 2020 cover story, "Rays of Hope", click here.
Eighty-three years later, researchers believe the SARS-CoV-2 virus to be highly susceptible to
[4] [5] [6]
germicidal UV-C irradiation. , The CDC and ASHRAE have recommended UV-C as one
technology that can “reduce the risk of dissemination of infectious aerosols in buildings and
[7]
transportation environments.”
It’s important to note that science has not found any microorganism that can withstand the destructive effects
of the UV-C germicidal wavelength, including superbugs and other antibiotic-resistant germs. In fact, viruses
and bacteria cannot develop a resistance to germicidal UV because it uses energy to kill, rather than synthetic
or chemical elements. And, unlike highly efficient particle filtration, UVGI does not impose a pressure drop
burden on the ventilation system.
UV Resources
ASHRAE POSITION
At present, ASHRAE does not have an official policy or recommendation on the use of
ultraviolet light in air systems for microbial control. However, in its Position Document on
Infectious Aerosols, ASHRAE does identify dilution and extraction ventilation, mechanical
filtration and germicidal UV-C energy as effective strategies to reduce the spread of infectious
aerosols.
Moreover, 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
[8]
the intensity of the UV-C and the length of exposure.
PANDEMIC’S IMPACT ON UV-C MARKET
Prior to COVID-19, the UV-C market in the United States had seen continued growth, largely
based on the germicidal wavelength’s ability to clean fouled cooling coils and improve HVAC
energy efficiency, as well as to reduce maintenance. Since the pandemic struck, the application
of UV-C has seen sudden, record-breaking growth and has become one of the most in-demand
technologies around the world.
Almost overnight, UV-C systems have transformed from an HVAC accessory to a health and
safety necessity.
As a result, UV lamp manufacturers, as well as their component suppliers (e.g. glass suppliers),
have struggled to scale from what was a niche marketplace to mass production capable of
meeting historic demand levels. Compounding these already strained supply chains, worldwide
lockdowns shuttered many of the very manufacturers needed to boost UV component
production.
UV Resources
SCARCE SUPPLY
The global UV disinfection equipment market generated $1.3 billion in 2019, and is estimated
to reach $5.7 billion by 2027—a compounded annual growth rate of 17 percent—according to a
[9]
report published by Allied Market Research.
Because of UV-C’s historic proven effectiveness, interest and orders for UV disinfection
equipment has increased exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, in July,
lighting manufacturer Signify (previously Philips Lighting), reported increasing “UV-C light
[10]
source production capacity by a factor of eight.”
This sudden and skyrocketing demand for surface disinfection and air treatment solutions, has
spiked across all market sectors, including orders from traditional, commercial sectors such as
hospitals, offices and hotels and restaurants.
UV Resources
Since March, many manufacturers have reported month-over-month increases in sales

inquiries and shipments—exhausting planned “annual” inventories in a single month. The fact
that demand is outpacing supply has created significant backorders due to insufficient raw
material and component supplies.
UV Resources
The UV-C lamp supply in particular has suffered from a shortage in materials such as quartz
glass pellets and glass frames, as well as furnace space to work the glass. Contractors would be
well advised to place orders as early as possible and to accept partial-order shipments. This will
ensure that HVAC firms have the components/fixtures in-house (or even installed) once the
lamps finally arrive.
FUTURE DEMAND
According to Eric Rondolat, CEO of Signify (previously Philips Lighting), they have made a
“significant investment for an increase in the requisitioned supply of components and
additional furnace space for glass.”
Rondolat’s company is forecasting a three to four-fold increase in orders during 2021 over 2019
(pre-pandemic). Relative to the supply chain, in late July, Rondolat advised that he “expects to
be back to significantly shorter lead times than at present in Q4 and into 2021.”
However, mechanical engineers and HVAC contractors should expect continued delays in UV-
C lamps and components as it will take time for any supply increases to work their way through
the channels.
UV Resources
As there is no clear end in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic; similarly, there is no foreseeable
decline in the demand for the germ-killing and disinfection benefits offered by UV-C. In other
words, we expect commercial and residential demand for UV solutions to remain high as
perception for the technology has shifted from a want (HVAC Efficiency) to a need (health and
safety).
Specifiers and HVAC contractors should not be deterred from recommending the proven
benefits of UV-C disinfection systems, as the industry is rapidly adapting to what might likely
be our “new normal” level of demand.
A TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TIMES
Despite nearly eight decades of research and thousands of applications in hospital emergency
and operating rooms, urgent-care centers, universities, and first-responder locations, UV-C has
not been widely leveraged.
The current pandemic, however, has laid bare the incalculable societal health outcomes offered
by the proven germ-killing technology. All bacteria and viruses tested to date (many hundreds
over the years, including other coronaviruses) are helpless against UV disinfection at the
[11]
appropriate doses.
UV Resources
Facility managers and mechanical engineers in some regions will find UV-C solutions even
more affordable through federal subsidies designed to offset the cost of incorporating infection
control measures. The Tennessee Valley Authority is offering a $30 per cooling ton subsidy
that will cover about a third of the installed cost of a UV-C airstream disinfection system.
[12}
Incentives such as these will make this transformational and life-saving technology, even
more attractive.
########
The author is president and co-founder of UV Resources, which he started in 2005. He serves
on both ASHRAE Technical Committee 2.9 and ASHRAE SPC-185.2, devoted to Ultraviolet
Air and Surface Treatment. He may be reached atdaniel.jones@uvresources.com.
########
[1]
Morawska, L., & Cao, J. (2020). Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2: The world should
face the reality. Environment International, 139. Retrieved
from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041202031254X?via%3Dihub
[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) Scientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and
Potential Airborne Transmission: Scientific brief, 5 October 2020. Retreived
from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-sars-cov-2.html
[3]
Wells WF, Wells MW, Wilder TS. The environmental control of epidemic contagion I: an
epidemiologic study of radiant disinfection of air in day schools. American Journal of Hygiene,
35(1), 97-121; Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a118789
[4]
Heilingloh CS, Aufderhorst UW, Schipper L, et al. Susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to UV
irradiation. Am J Infect Control, vol 48 issue 10. Pages 1273-1275. October 2020. Retrieved
from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655320307562
[5]
Illuminating Engineering Society (April 15, 2020) IES Committee Report:Germicidal
Ultraviolet (GUV) – Frequently Asked Questions. IES CR-2-20-V1 Retrieved from
https://media.ies.org/docs/standards/IES-CR-2-20-V1-6d.pdf
[6]
CDC. COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings (September 11, 2020). Retrieved
from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/office-buildings.html
https://www.hpac.com/covid-19/article/21145515/germicidal-uv-demand-leaps-from-niche-to-necessity?utm_source=HR+HPAC+Engineering+F… 10/12
[7]
ASHRAE Position Document on Infectious Aerosols (April 14, 2020). Retrieved from
https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/about/position%20documents/pd_infectiousaerosols
_2020.pdf
[8]
ASHRAE. Position Document on Filtration and Air Cleaning. (2015). Retrieved from
https://www.ashrae.org/File%20Library/About/Position%20Documents/Filtration-and-Air-
Cleaning-PD.PDF#
[9]
Allied Market Research (2020) Global UV Disinfection Equipment Market Opportunities
and Industry Forecast, 2020–2027. Retrieved from
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/08/06/2074364/0/en/Ultraviolet-UV-
Disinfection-Equipment-Market-to-Reach-5-7-Billion-by-2027-Allied-Market-Research.html
[10]
Signify second quarter results (2020). Retrieved from
https://www.signify.com/en-us/our-company/news/press-releases/2020/20200724-signify-
second-quarter-results-2020
[11]
International Ultraviolet Association. (2020) IUVA Fact Sheet on UV Disinfection for
COVID-19. Retrieved from http://www.iuva.org/COVID-19
[12]
Tennessee Valley Authority Press Release. (July 8, 2020) TVA Offers Incentives for Virus-
Killing UV Technology. Retrieved from https://www.tva.com/newsroom/press-releases/tva-
offers-incentives-for-virus-killing-uv-technology#:
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Latest Comments
Posted by Sergio Motta Garcia-Femar Engenharia Nov 11th, 2020 5:23pm Report
I found this article about UV lamps very interesting, as it makes a technical analysis of the
advantages of fighting viruses (not only Coronavirus-19) both in air conditioning equipment, as
well as in environments with a high concentration of people, but it also establishes the
advantages of preventive maintenance of air conditioning equipment coils. In my country (Brazil)
the application of UV lamps is beginning to be commercialized and installed, however, the
Brazilian government has not yet established an incentive policy for the widespread use of UV
lamps.

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11/11/2020 Germicidal UV Demand Leaps from Niche to Necessity | HPAC Engineering

OCT 22, 2020

By DANIEL JONES, UV Resources, Santa Clarita CA

PANDEMIC’S IMPACT ON UV-C MARKET

Since March, many manufacturers have reported month-over-month increases in sales

A TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TIMES

VOICE YOUR OPINION!

Will be displayed when posting comments.

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