UV Solutions For Schools And Hospitals

Survey of Elementary School

Results of Ultraviolet Installation
Solution to health problems by using Ultraviolet	% teachers/staff saying problems disappeared
Congestion from allergies/colds disappears	78%
Headaches cease	67%
Throat/voice clear	33%
Sweet/fresh air	67%
Coughing ceases	44%
Personal energy level increases	56%
Breathing made easier	33%
Able to work/study in classroom more hours	33%
Increased concentration by teachers/students	33%
Reduced blood pressure	11%
Eliminate/reduced student hyperactivity	33%
Improve teacher/student attendance	44%
Improve student behavior	11%
Academic performance improved	11%
General health improvement	44%

UV Case Study: Elementary School

Over the years, the teachers, staff and students at an elementary school, experienced many complicated symptoms within the school building, suggesting "sick building syndrome."

The school had virtually given-up finding solutions. Finally it was determined that ultraviolet mounted in the central air system could be a solution to their complicated pollution problems. The school installed forty-two units in classrooms and the administration building. The improvement was immediate.

UV Testing in Large City Hospital

A large city hospital tested UV units to determine if ultraviolet lamps would effectively control microbial growth inside a large second floor air circulating system.

The test locations were both the down and upstream sides of the A/C cooling coil system. Testing was performed using SAB DEX Contact Plates. They first tested for unexposed surface fungi concentrations in the coil region. At each location the fungi (mold) were identified before UV exposure resumed.

One location on each side of the A/C coil was cleaned before tests started. Other parts on both sides were left uncleaned. It was determined that the locations had between 30 to 50 Culture Forming Units (CFU) of fungi (mold).

The short-wave ultraviolet lamps were then installed and tested for results. Both clean and uncleaned surfaces were tested for fungi to determine if the ultraviolet light would effectively eliminate surface contamination.

The next two charts show not only the CFU count before and after the UV installation, but identifies the type of fungi at each location.

Hospital Test Before Ultraviolet
Sample	Location	Results of A/C Coil
1	Downstream from coil	30* CFU per plate 3(10%) Alternaria 4(13%) Aspergillus Niger 3(10%) Bipolaris 20(67%) Cladosporium
2	Downstream	50** CFU per plate
3	Upstream from coil	50** CFU per plate 25(50%) Aspergillus Niger 25(50%) Cladosporium Rhizopus
4	Upstream	50** CFU per plate
* Colony Forming Unit **Approximate count due to growth of Rhizopus

Hospital Test After Ultraviolet
Sample	Location	Results of A/C Coil
1	Downstream from coil	2 CFU per plate
2	Downstream	(cleaned) 2 CFU per plate
3	Upstream from coil	4 CFU per plate
4	Upstream	8 CFU per plate 1(13%) Aspergillus niger 2(25%) Aureo badidium 2(25%) Bipolaris 3(38%) Cladosporium

Results and Conclusions
at the Hospital

The ultraviolet lamps were very effective in controlling fungi on both the uncleaned and cleaned cooling coil surfaces. After the ultraviolet was installed, the fungi CFU’s per dish was zero at one location, two at another, four at the third and eight CFU’s at the last location.

Here is the killing rate break down:

At the coil downstream locations: the killing efficiency was 100% on the downstream-cleaned surfaces and 93% to 96% on the downstream-uncleaned surfaces.

At the coil upstream locations: the killing efficiency was approximately 84 % on the upstream cleaned and 92% on the upstream-uncleaned surface. The kill rate may be higher than reported due to the possibility of unexposed fungi entering the culture plates during sampling.