As a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, schools, colleges and universities must now take extraordinary measures to improve infection control and cleaning standards. This is because high concentrations of people are known to increase the risk of viral transmission. While remaining indoors for extended periods, people in educational settings are more susceptible to airborne infectious diseases than when they are outside.
Historically, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems have been shown to recirculate and transmit diseases such as the common cold, influenza and tuberculosis around school buildings.
Given that SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, is also transmitted by airborne droplets, it is necessary to consider more stringent procedures to protect people when they are at risk of exposure to highly infectious diseases in these settings.
Room Sterilisation with UVC Radiation
New technological advances have made the application of ultraviolet light in controlled doses in individual rooms accessible for all educational establishments, using portable devices or overhead light fittings. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) can kill or disable all known microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, moulds and other pathogens, preventing them from reproducing on surfaces or circulating through the air.
Added to the standard cleaning protocols, room sterilisation with UVC radiation offers a greater protection level in settings where people congregate in larger numbers. Protection levels can be adjusted according to the length of exposure, UV lamp positioning and light intensity.
A History of Success
Upper-air (upper-room) UVGI units have been used in schools since the 1930s to tackle the spread of tuberculosis and measles, with proven and reliable results in controlling airborne transmission in classrooms, lunchrooms, lecture halls and changing rooms. Airflows in highly-populated areas such as schools will produce a wide range of potential danger zones, so this must also be considered. Adding mobile UVC lamp units like the Portable Muv-X Room Steriliser can make all the difference.
Emitting disinfecting ultraviolet light at lower heights, the Muv-X augments existing overhead fittings to improve the overall effectiveness in eradicating droplets circulating from coughing or sneezing, wherever they might settle.
Installing UVC radiation lamps is a highly effective and straightforward solution to minimise infection transmissions in schools. Techniques that have already been proven for decades to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are now available to clean and disinfect high-traffic areas throughout schools as well.
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