Can UVC Kill COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a small single-stranded RNA virus that is much easier to inactivate in comparison to mold or any sporicidal pathogen. UVC inactivation is based on nucleic acid complexity and size.

To learn more visit our blog Does UV Light Kill the COVID-19 Coronavirus?

It is safe to say that UVC light at a targeted 254nm wavelength will be effective at inactivating the COVID-19 coronavirus. This is based on the logic and reasoning the EPA has publicly provided for determining a microorganism's resistance to UV irradiation.

- COVID-19 Coronavirus is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus in the coronaviridae family

- Ultraviolet light at a targeted 254 nm wavelength will penetrate a virus's capsid and form duplicate bonds between ribonucleic acids (RNA)

- Small single-stranded RNA viruses see a median of log-4 and sometimes log-5 reductions from 254nm low-pressure lamps at a UV Dose of 30 mJ/cm2
How Long Does UVC Take To Kill Bacteria or Viruses?

Although answers can vary from seconds to minutes, UVC inactivation depends on 4 variables:

  1. UVC Light Irridance (mJ/cm2)
  2. The distance of the UVC Fixture from the microorganism
  3. The pathogen's size & nucleic acid complexity
  4. The size of the space for disinfection 
  5. To learn more about UV dosages for inactivation, visit our guide here.
How Does UV Light Work?

When UV light enters a cell, it disables the cell by damaging critical nucleic acids and proteins by forming duplicate bonds called dimers. These bonds "rewrite" the genetic code of a cell rendering the organism inactive or unable to reproduce. The germicidal effects of UVC wavelengths neutralize a wide variety of pathogens. 

Download The UV-C Flyer Here

Is UVC Safe?

With the use of proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) including skin and eye protection, UVC is safe. Without proper PPE, you can experience side effects including temporary skin redness and eye irritation. To learn more about UVC exposure and safety guidelines please click here.

Make sure you read our Operational and Maintenance Guide prior to using the system.

When Are UVA, UVB, and UVC Used?

UVC: Eliminates Mold, viruses, and bacteria in the air & surfaces, disinfects drinking water & treatment of sewage.

UVB: Phototherapy, skin treatment, Vitamin D production, and cannabis THC potency.

UVA: Tanning, treatment of skin diseases, indoor gardening, eradicating bugs, improving air quality, and object identification.

How Do I Determine UVC Exposure Time?

Follow these steps for an effective disinfection process.  Click on the link to our blog for details on each step

Follow the step by step instructions by clicking here

  1. FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES​
  2. UNDERSTAND BASIC UVC TERMS​
  3. IDENTIFY UV DOSE​
  4. SURVEY AREA TO BE DISINFECTED​
  5. CALCULATE ESTIMATED UV EXPOSURE TIME FOR DISINFECTING​
  6. DISINFECT AND VALIDATE WITH DOSIMETER CARDS

How Often Do I Need To Replace My UVC Lamps?
For optimal performance, we recommend a lamp replacement after every 9,000 service hours, or after 1 year of operation. To learn more about the UVC Mobile and Handheld units, please see the spec sheets here.
Do I Need To Wear Gloves When Replacing UVC Lamps?

Yes,  gloves should be used when installing the lamps. It helps protect the quartz tube from damage, dirt, oil, and any other debris. If the tube is damaged, the quartz will lose its filtration properties and can result in ozone emissions from your UV-C disinfection system.  The lamps also contain trace amounts of mercury that can escape if the lamp glass is broken.

We have included gloves in the purchase of the UV-C Handheld and Mobile Systems.

Does UVC Damage Surrounding Materials?

Certain materials are susceptible to degradation if exposed to UVC for extended periods.  Plastic and rubber compounds can see up to 10% reductions in shelf-life after long-term exposure to UVC.

For Example - If a plastic table had a shelf-life rating of 5 years and it was exposed to UVC the entire time, it would last 4.5 years. Colored dyes and paints can gradually lose vibrance over long periods of exposure. Plant-life may also experience damage to direct, indirect, and reflected exposure.

If I See Blue Light Does That Mean It's Working?

The blue light you see when the system is on has been added to the UVC wavelengths as an indicator that the lamp is on.

Our eyes cannot physically see UVC wavelengths. Instead, we see the remains of an inert gas that uses 10% of the consumed energy that is converted into the blue light that you see. The remaining 90% of high-power UVC light is non-visible, and you will not be able to see it working.

The only application where you can see visible changes is in mold treatments where you can see significant visible reductions in the mold during and after a UVC treatment.

Do You Have A Log For Recording UVC Service?

Yes, we do!  This chart can be displayed in any room, office, or restroom to show when UVC services have been performed. 

Click Here to Download

Does XtraLight's UV-C Systems Produce Ozone?

XtraLight's UV-C systems do not create ozone because we use lamps with 254 nm.

UVC wavelengths shorter than 185nm (also known as UVV) will react with the earth's atmosphere to create ozone.  UVV is known to be harmful to human lungs. 

If Used In A Room With A Window, Can People On The Side Be Exposed?
Standard tempered glass will filter 100% of UVC light making it a safe barrier for exposure. All glass is not made the same, so the amount of ultraviolet light that can penetrate glass depends on the type of glass. Ultimately glass offers protection from UVC light, but not from UVA or UVB unless it has been polarized or tinted.
Why Are XtraLight's UV-C Systems Not LED?
Although companies are currently researching and developing UVC LED's, the UVC irradiance (mJ/cm2) is significantly less than current UVC Lamps. UVC LED's are significantly more expensive, and disinfection times would take almost 10 times longer. UVC LED's will eventually reach a level of sustainability, power-output, and cost-effectiveness, but as of 2020, we are not there yet.
What The Experts Are Saying?
Use the FAQ section of your site to answer those routine questions that always come up and need to be answered. This is a great way to tell us more about what you can offer, fill in some details that might intrigue us, and show us how knowledgeable and helpful you can be.

We have provided a list of websites for your reference.  The research is out there - UVC is effective in inactivating pathogens.

What is the UV-C Warranty?

The UV-C warranty covers all items in XtraLight's UVC collection.  You can download a copy here

Download UV Warranty

Is UVC Visible?
The human eye cannot see light below 380nm violet light. UV is part of the Electromagnetic Spectrum between 100 - 400nm, and our fixtures utilize a non-visible 254nm UVC wavelength. Ultraviolet wavelengths are part of the non-visible spectrum. Our UVC lamps include light from the blue visible spectrum so that users will always know then the system is turned on.
Does UV lighting of any wavelength discolor or affect fabrics, glass, or plastic?
UVC light can affect materials and some photodegradation can occur.  Most materials are affected by prolonged and overexposure to UVC wavelengths.  We recommend that you follow our dosage guidelines to minimize breakdown in materials.
How Do I Ask A Question?

Click on the button and ask away!  You might even see it on the FAQ.

Submit FAQ Question

How long do the effects of UVC disinfection last?

The length of UVC disinfection effects are determined by the frequency of traffic in the effected space, the size of the space, the reflectivity of the space, and lastly the materials within the space. The more people you have visiting a disinfected space, especially in known infectious spaces, the more often you will need to perform UVC disinfections.

How often should you disinfect your space with UVC light?
To determine the UVC disinfection treatment frequency of your space, you will need to determine the size of the space, the volume and rate of exposure to pathogens, and the desired level of disinfection.
Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing trouble connecting the unit to WiFi:

There is an incompatibility between the new hardware of the (iPhone 11, iPhone SE, iPad Gen6, S10, S20, Note 10, and Pixel 4) and the earlier firmware version on the occupancy sensor. This issue has been addressed with a firmware update on the sensor (not an app update). However, there are numerous devices still in distribution with earlier versions of sensor’s firmware.

To resolve this issue, please use an older mobile device to run the My Leviton app. Log into your Leviton account from the older device, connect to the sensor, and update the firmware. Now you should be able to connect to the sensor from any newer device.

Please contact customer service if this does not resolve the issue.

Cells that Cannot Replicate, Cannot Infect?
If a pathogens DNA or RNA has been damaged or destroyed by UVC light, the pathogen is then unable to replicate and perform the infection process. To read more about how UVC light effectively damages pathogen DNA and RNA, read here.