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How much does upper-room germicidal UV cost?

Posted by Luis Espino on Jan 19, 2021 12:58:02 PM
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Upper-room-UVIt may seem impossible to keep high-traffic areas free of germs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with social distancing, areas like waiting rooms, lobbies, or retail stores can easily become crowded.

But this is where one type of ultraviolet lighting product really shines. It's called upper-room germicidal UV, and it's so effective because it can run constantly (even while people are in the room).

If you're not sold on this method yet, consider these points:

  • A scientist from Columbia University recently said he's proven that ultraviolet light can inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), a trusted resource for the lighting industry, lists upper-room UV as the most effective method for disinfecting air.
  • UV products and fixtures have been around for decades, primarily used in healthcare settings. When manufacturer guidelines and safety measures are followed, they are an extremely effective way to disinfect areas.

These points probably have you thinking, "That's great, but how much do these upper-air units cost?"

First, let's dive deeper into how these products keep your busiest areas clean. Then, we'll tackle the cost based on square footage.

What is upper-room germicidal UV?

Upper-room or upper-air germicidal UV units continuously emit UV-C rays to disinfect the air in a room with high ceilings.

Since UV-C energy can be harmful to skin and eyes, this method of disinfection only works with specially designed fixtures that are properly installed.

There is a very limited risk of exposure when safety measures are followed correctly.

How upper-room germicidal UV works

Upper-air units only emit UV-C light in the top portion of a room or area, above people's heads. So how do they disinfect an entire room?

The air in any room is constantly mixing, even without the assistance of HVAC ventilation or fans. The same air that's above our heads eventually makes it way to lower spaces.

upper-air-diagram

Upper-room germicidal UV is more effective when there are fans or HVAC because they increase the amount of air moving from the upper space to a lower space, or air changes per hour (ACH).

One study noted by the IES found good air mixing results in very high ACH even in the lower space (up to 24 air changes per hour).

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Why upper-room germicidal UV is effective

Upper-room germicidal UV fixtures constantly run so the air is  disinfected all the time. This can help prevent airborne transmission of viruses and bacteria. Many other products only disinfect surfaces and cannot prevent transmission.

For example, germicidal UV products that disinfect surfaces (like hand-held wands or mobile UV units) are only effective until pathogens hit the surface again. Even germicidal UV fixtures for HVAC equipment do little to prevent person to person transmission.

The IES references two studies that have shown upper-room UV fixtures to be about 80% effective against the spread of tuberculosis (TB).

80% may seem low compared to other products that claim can inactivate up to 99.9% of pathogens. But remember, we are talking about the transmission of germs from person-to-person, not how well the product kills pathogens. Given that perspective, 80% effectiveness is very high.

Building requirements for upper-room germicidal UV

Upper-air UV units should only be installed in buildings with ceilings that are more than seven feet tall. That should place the UV-C energy level above the heads of customers, patients, and employees.

If your space is smaller or has much higher ceilings, there are still upper-room UV options that can work for you. Contact us for a free lighting consultation.

Upper-air units have very few limitations beyond the ceiling height requirement. They can be used in patient waiting rooms, busy retail areas, crowded restaurants, school classrooms, or lobbies.

Other options for air disinfection

Upper-air fixtures are not the only type of technology to disinfect the air in an occupied space.

The UV FAN by Light Progress has a two-step disinfection process to continuously reduce the number of pathogens in the air.


First, the UV FAN uses germicidal UV enclosed within the unit. Because the UV-C rays never reaches a surface, these fixtures are ideal for disinfecting the air in high-traffic areas like commercial, industrial, educational, health care, institutional, and other properties.

Second, there is a titanium dioxide (TiO2) nano-structured photocatalyst (TiOx®) filter. The germicidal UV inside the unit energizes the titanium dioxide filter to get rid of pathogens in the air, providing an extra layer of protection against bacteria and viruses. 

uv-fan-diagramMaintenance on the products is relatively simple. You can replace the long-life lamps by removing the cover of the unit. The lamps are rated for 18,000 hours. The TiOx filters are unique and never have to be replaced.

You have two options for the UV fan: a wall-mounted unit or a mobile unit. We will discuss the cost on these units below.

UVFan_A2_1000 UVFan_A1_1000-1
Light Progress
Portable UV FAN
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Light Progress
Wall-Mount UV FAN
View product


Another product works similarly to the UV FAN by circulating clean air in a room. The Healthe AIR™ is a troffer that uses both HEPA carbon-activated filters and UV-A and UV-C LEDs to filter and clean air as it moves through the troffer.

Healthe Cleanse troffer
Healthe AIR™
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The UV LEDs are enclosed within the fixture. The troffer also provides general illumination as it cleans the air.


Healthe recommends replacing the HEPA carbon-activated filter every six months and the UV LEDs after 2,000 hours of usage.

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Cost for upper-room germicidal UV

Like any other lighting project, the cost for upper-room germicidal UV will vary by space and square footage. It will also depend on the amount of coverage you want. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

But we've created a four-step process to help you get an idea on how much you'll spend to install upper-room germicidal UV products.

1. Identify high-traffic areas

Step 1: Identify areas where upper-air fixtures will work. They are not a good match for rooms or areas with short ceilings.

If you're looking at a larger area, you may have to install multiple units to get the coverage you want.

As you think about high-traffic areas, go ahead and calculate the room dimensions. This will save you time on the next steps.

2. Identify appropriate products

Step 2: Identify the products appropriate for your space.

As with other UV lighting products, upper-room germicidal UV fixtures must be properly installed and maintained in order to work effectively and meet safety recommendations.

American Ultraviolet®, a manufacturer that has produced UV products since the 1960s, offers three different upper-air fixtures.

The TB and the CM series are traditional upper-air units. The CM was designed to fit in corners for smaller rooms.

The RAM is an enclosed fixture that uses fans to help pull air in and out of the unit.

Here are the product specifications:

American UV Upper Air American UV CM American UV RAM
American Ultraviolet®
TB Series
View product
American Ultraviolet®
CM Series
View product
American Ultraviolet® RAM Series
Contact us
Coverage: Between 100 to 300 square feet Coverage: 75 to 100 square feet Coverage: 150 to 300 square feet
Price: Starting at $1,100 Price: $680 Price: Starting at $1,045


Light Progress offers an upper-air unit called the UV FLOW. These fixtures use a reflector and a honeycomb filter to direct UV-C rays in the upper space in a room.


There are two options based on the size of your space.

UVFlow_C_1000-1 UVFlow_C_1000-1
Light Progress
UV Flow E75
View product
Light Progress
UV Flow E40
View product
Coverage: Around 300 square feet Coverage: Around 200 square feet
Price: Starting at $1,150 Price: Starting at $1,000


Light Progress also makes a UV fan. This is not considered an upper-air fixture because it does not emit UVC energy into a room (as discussed above). Instead, air moves into the fixture and passes through enclosed germicidal UV and a titanium dioxide filter.

UVFan_A2_1000 UVFan_A1_1000-1
Light Progress
Portable UV FAN
View product
Light Progress
Wall-Mount UV FAN
View product
Coverage: Up to 430 square feet Coverage: 
Cost: $2,800 Cost: $2,100


Similarly, the Healthe AIR™ is not an upper-room fixture, but does help to sanitize the air. One troffer covers about 86 square feet.

Healthe Cleanse troffer
Healthe AIR™
View product
Coverage: Around 86 square feet
Cost: $2,450

 

3. Consider different configurations

Step 3: Based on the square footage of your area and the product you'd like to use, it's time to consider the best configuration for your space.

Will one fixture cover the entire room, or will you have to use multiple fixtures? How will you stagger them to get optimal coverage?

A lobby or waiting area is going to be very different than an open area, like a bullpen.

For a smaller space, one fixture mounted in the center of the wall may be enough to cover the entire area, like in the image below.

upper-air-lobby

For a larger space, you may need more fixtures. In the example below, the configuration uses four fixtures total. The first two can be mounted on opposite walls. The second two can be mounted in the middle of the room, back-to-back.

upper-air-bullpen

This will ensure the entire room is covered by the upper-air fixtures.

4. Find the exact specifications

Step 4: It's almost time to execute your project. But before you do, you need to make sure you have the exact specifications.

Germicidal UV fixtures are safe when they are used correctly. However, if you take a project like this into your own hands, you are assuming a high amount of risk.

It's extremely important for upper-room fixtures to emit UV in a specific area above our heads and to have proper coverage. If the fixtures are not mounted properly, there is a chance for exposure to humans or insufficient coverage to effectively disinfect in a space.

In this situation, it's best to consult with a lighting specialist who can dial in the rest of the details for you.

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Other considerations for upper-room germicidal UV

While upper-air units are the most effective way to disinfect air in your building, pairing it with other cleaning options will give you the best chance for reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other pathogens.

You might consider using upper-room units in a busy, occupied space and mobile UV units in an area where there is down time.

Although UV is very efficient at disinfecting pathogens, it should not replace other routine cleaning measures like sanitizers and soaps or using personal protective equipment (PPE).

If you're ready to discuss the best option for your building, schedule a consultation with one of our lighting specialists. We can find a solution to help fight COVID-19 now and protect your building for years to come.

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Topics: COVID-19, Germicidal UV light

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© Regency Lighting
All Rights Reserved.

  • Problems We Solve
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  • Lighting Resources
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  • Contact Us
  • Site Map