<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=448100748896598&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
⚠ We're here to serve you during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to learn how >>
Regency Lighting logo
  • Shop Products
    • Light Bulbs
    • Ballasts & Batteries
    • Batteries
    • Electrical
    • Fixtures
    • Specialty
    • Business Account Signup
  • Services
    • Problems We Solve
    • Design Consulting
    • Construction Services
    • Replacement Products
    • Lighting Maintenance
    • Retrofit Management
    • Sustainable Recycling
    • Product Lines
    • Client Success Stories
  • Resources
    • Lighting Blog
    • Total Cost of Lighting
    • Energy Savings Calculator
    • Lighting Glossary
    • Title 24
      • Title 24 FAQ & Glossary
      • Does Title 24 Apply to Me?
  • About Us
    • Culture
    • Values
    • Causes
    • History
    • Team Success Stories
    • Leadership
      • Ron Regenstreif
      • Mike Goldstone
      • Scott Anderson
      • Judah Regenstreif
      • Ron Pilner
      • Hoon Kim
    • Careers
    • Regency Lighting News
    • Event and Social Photos
    • Regency Branding
  • Contact Us
    • Credit Application
    • Apply for Tax Exemption
    • Contractor Network
    • Office Locations
  • Store Login

Start typing and press Enter to search

bg.jpg

Lighting Insights Blog

Lighting Insights from Regency Lighting Regency Lighting Logo

< Back to blog

HVAC vs upper-room germicidal UV: What's the difference?

Posted by Brandon Melton on Jun 29, 2020 3:12:13 PM
Find me on:
LinkedIn
print
  • Tweet

BLOG - upper-air vs. HVAC

Reopening has started around the country. People are starting to fill restaurants, retails stores, grocery stores, and other buildings again.

At the same time, cases of COVID-19 are still rising in many states.
As we look at ways to reduce the spread of the virus, one of the main challenges is reducing transmission and keeping occupied spaces clean.

Upper-air and HVAC germicidal UV fixtures both disinfect air, and can both be used in crowded areas. This is especially important because SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is mainly transmitted through airborne particles.

For a basic understanding of UV products and how they kill pathogens like viruses and bacteria, click here.

Which method is more effective? And what's the difference between them? First, to understand the differences it's important to understand how each application works.

New call-to-action

What is upper-room germicidal UV?

Upper-room or upper-air UV fixtures emit UV-C rays above people's heads. These fixtures are placed on walls in occupied rooms.

The UV-C never comes into direct contact with our skin or eyes, so the fixtures are safe to run constantly (as long as they are properly mounted). 

The image below shows how upper-air fixtures should work. They can only be used in buildings with ceilings at least seven feet high.

upper-air-diagram

Even though UV-C light is only pointed at the air in the upper space of a room, it is very effective at disinfecting all of the air.

That's because there are constantly air changes in a room, where air moves from higher to lower areas. This happens naturally, even without the use of HVAC or fans, although HVAC and fans only help to increase the amount of air changes per hour in a room.

Pros of upper-air UV fixtures

  • Extremely effective – Hospitals have used upper-air fixtures to reduce transmission of pathogens like bacteria for decades, specifically tuberculosis (TB). Studies showed an 80% reduction in transmission of TB with the use of upper-air fixtures.
  • Safe – When fixtures are properly installed, there is relatively little risk of exposure to harmful UV-C rays. The highest chance of exposure happens during maintenance, so it's critical to make sure employees handling the units are properly trained.
  • Runs constantly – You don't have to worry about stopping the units when someone walks in a room. These fixtures are designed and intended to operate in occupied spaces. That's especially beneficial during COVID-19, since the primary transmission is airborne.

Cons of upper-air UV fixtures

  • No surface disinfection – Because UV rays are not pointed at surfaces, upper-air fixtures do not disinfect surfaces. That's not the intention of these units. For additional protection on surfaces, consider using UV fixtures or mobile units.
  • Specific configurations – Upper-air fixtures do not work in every space. A ceiling height of at least seven feet is required. Plus, the units may not be a great option for more open spaces with larger square footage (although there are configurations that could work).

Click here for a more detailed explanation of upper-room fixtures and how much this option could cost.


Shop upper-room products

How is UV used in HVAC?

Using UV fixtures on HVAC equipment can benefit the entire system in two ways. First, the air entering and circulating through the building is disinfected and cleaner. Second, the entire system is healthier because UV-C also kills mold and fungus.

There are two main UV applications for HVAC equipment: in-duct and on-coil. The application that works best may depend on how much space is available.

The image below explains how an on-coil system disinfects the air supplied to your building.

hvac-disinfection-diagram

If space is limited, using an in-duct application might be a better option. Click here for a deeper dive into the different types of HVAC applications.

Pros for HVAC germicidal UV

  • Reduced maintenance – UV-C rays that are cleaning the air are also getting rid of other unwanted pathogens that easily build up on HVAC equipment.
  • Highly configurable – Certain fixtures, like those designed by American Ultraviolet, are highly configurable to fit the needs of your system.
  • Runs constantly – Similar to upper-air fixtures, germicidal UV fixtures for HVAC equipment can run constantly. There is no threat of exposure to anyone in the building, unless the system is undergoing maintenance.

Cons for HVAC germicidal UV

  • Lower transmission reduction – Although HVAC UV fixtures disinfect the air, they do little to prevent person-to-person transmission within rooms.
  • Energy costs – You may notice higher energy costs because of the extra fixtures on your system. However, a cleaner HVAC system that runs more efficiently may offset some of those costs.

For more information on HVAC UV options, contact us.

HVAC vs. upper-air germicidal UV fixtures

Now that you understand the basics of HVAC and upper-air germicidal UV fixtures, we created the chart below for an easy comparison.

  Upper-room fixtures HVAC fixtures
Disinfects and
cleans air

✓

✓

 
Reduces airborne transmission

✓

 
Runs constantly, even in occupied spaces

✓

✓


Even though these options can both stand on their own, a combined effort of HVAC and upper-air UV fixtures would have the highest level of benefit for buildings.

But if you have to choose between HVAC and upper-air germicidal UV, hopefully you have a better understanding of how each of them work.

Other options for air disinfection

While HVAC and upper-air UV products are both good options, there are other fixtures that disinfect the air.

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


First, air passes through germicidal UV enclosed within the UV FAN. The UV-C rays are not visible and never reach a surface. 

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-diagramThese products require little maintenance once installed. If you remove the cover of the unit, you can replace the long-life lamps. They are rated for 18,000 hours. The TiOx filters never have to be replaced.

These fixtures are ideal for disinfecting the air in high-traffic areas like commercial, industrial, educational, health care, institutional, and other properties.

You have two options for the UV fan: a wall-mounted unit or a mobile unit.

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


Another fixture similar to the UV FAN is the Healthé Air troffer. The troffer also contains enclosed UV, specifically UV-A and UV-C LEDs. The air then passes through a HEPA carbon-activated filter.


Unlike the UV FAN, the Healthé Air troffer is also a light source. It provides general illumination.

Healthe Cleanse troffer
Healthé Air troffer
View product


There are several other types of UV products to consider as well. These mainly target pathogens on
surfaces, and cannot run in an occupied space:

  • Mobile UV units – These units usually have wheels and can move easily from room to room. They may require multiple run cycles to hit all surfaces in one area. Click here to read the pros and cons of mobile UV units.
  • Tabletop units – Tabletop units are ideal for smaller spaces and smaller coverage areas. Click here to shop.
  • Handheld and portable units - Handheld and portable units offer flexibility for small personal items, like cell phones and keys. Click here to shop.

For complete disinfection and protection, we can also help supply cleaning supplies and surface protectants, as well as PPE items like masks, gloves, and wipes.

The highest level of disinfection is the combined effort of cleaning, protection, and UV. If you'd like more information, contact us to speak with a lighting specialist.

New call-to-action

Topics: COVID-19, Germicidal UV light

Related posts

How much does upper-room germicidal UV cost?
How much does upper-room germicidal UV cost?
What is a UVC dosimeter?
What is a UVC dosimeter?
Using UV light to kill viruses like COVID-19
Using UV light to kill viruses like COVID-19

Have a comment?

New call-to-action

Sign up for a Regency Lighting Business Account

Recent articles

View all posts >
 

Articles by topic

  • LED (63)
  • Energy efficiency (42)
  • LED retrofit (30)
  • Commercial office lighting (29)
  • Fluorescent light (27)
  • COVID-19 (26)
  • Energy savings (26)
  • Retail Lighting (26)
  • Savings, Payback, & ROI (24)
  • Parking Garage Lighting (22)
  • Lighting maintenance (21)
  • Restaurant Lighting (21)
  • Lighting 101 (20)
  • Lighting design (20)
  • Germicidal UV light (19)
  • Hotel lighting (19)
  • Multifamily lighting (17)
  • Product Comparison (17)
  • Inside the Industry (16)
  • Project Management (14)
  • Education facility (11)
  • FAQs (11)
  • Incandescent lighting (11)
  • Lighting rebates (11)
  • HID (10)
  • Hospital lighting (10)
  • Lighting technology (10)
  • Inside Regency (9)
  • Ballast (8)
  • Movie theater lighting (8)
  • Lighting tidbits (7)
  • CRI (6)
  • California Energy Code (6)
  • Color temperature (6)
  • Title 24 (6)
  • Healthcare lighting (5)
  • LED dimming (5)
  • T12 (5)
  • Warehouse lighting (5)
  • Building inspections (4)
  • Code enforcement (4)
  • Lighting as a service (4)
  • CFL (3)
  • Energy Star certification (3)
  • LED lifespan (3)
  • Light bulb part numbers (3)
  • Lighting controls (3)
  • Manufacturer warranty (3)
  • Wattage (3)
  • Charity highlight (2)
  • DLC listed (2)
  • Hallway lighting (2)
  • CCT (1)
  • ETL listed (1)
  • Energy code (1)
  • Halogen (1)
see all

Quick Links

  • Insights Lighting Blog
  • Energy Savings Calculator
  • Lighting Glossary
  • Product Lines
  • Client Success Stories
  • Our Values
  • Careers
  • Mobile Store Login

Lighting Insights

RL Headquarters

Regency Lighting 
9261 Jordan Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone: +1-800-284-2024
Fax: +1-800-763-7636
Send us a message.

rl-us-map-locations-web-small-r

National Lighting Distributor since 1983

Find the location nearest you.

 

Regency Lighting Logo Website

© Regency Lighting
All Rights Reserved.

  • Problems We Solve
  • Products + Services
  • Lighting Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
Regency Lighting Logo Website

© Regency Lighting
All Rights Reserved.

  • Problems We Solve
  • Products + Services
  • Lighting Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map