Commercial Building Services
UV Lighting System
“Rutledge” introduces our new UV Lighting System by Altru-V
Altru-V products installed by Rutledge Environmental are transforming HVAC maintenance procedures.
- Lower operating costs, safer environments for maintenance staff and occupants, and cleaner air.
- UV lighting destroys contaminants in HVAC Systems, including molds and bacteria, maintaining the system to virtually original specifications.
- When the H1N1 virus or any other influenza Type A virus is airborne, a UV Lighting System installed by Rutledge Environmental can be up to 99% effective in destroying the virus.
- Better energy savings through improved system efficiency.
- Altru-V products are UL/C-UL Listed for specific use within HVAC systems.
It is generally accepted that a proper germicidal UV light (UVC), installed in the HVAC system will break the DNA of the microscopic organisms and will sterilize them. Therefore as the indoor air recirculates throughout the system virtually all airborne mold spores will be rendered non-viable or with other words dead. The dead mold spores can not form new colonies so the mold has been denied its most common way of spreading indoors. Since the dead mold spores still represent a health hazard, it is strongly recommended that the UVC light should be used in conjunction with a HEPA filter. Some HEPA filters capture particles smaller than 1 micron, i.e. the smallest mold spores would be captured and removed from indoor air. If only a HEPA filter is used without the UVC light, the filter itself will become a breeding ground for new mold colonies.
It has been proven that colony forming microorganisms, put in perfect conditions, will not grow or reproduce if they are directly irradiated with appropriate germicidal UV light. Direct surface UVC irradiation is used in hospitals and clean rooms but currently in most cases direct UVC is not practical to use in the average residential settings, because the home environment does not normally require this high level of irradiation and the UVC must be turned off when people are in the room(s). However, direct surface germicidal UV light (UVC) can be well utilized in HVAC systems to irradiate the coils and dripping pans. This is an effective solution for mold inhibition and mold remediation. It is recommended that the coils, dripping pans and HVAC ducts are cleaned of mold growth by a licensed mold remediation expert prior to installing the UVC light. Non-specialists should not attempt mold cleaning on their own if high levels of mold are present or suspected.
The effectiveness of germicidal UV (UVC) has been recognized by the U. S. General Services Administration Office of the Chief Architect and incorporated in the Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings as follows: "Ultraviolet light (C band) emitters/lamps shall be incorporated downstream of all cooling coils and above all drain pans to control airborne and surface microbial growth and transfer. Applied fixtures/lamps must be specifically manufactured for this purpose.”
In conclusion, UV light has been successfully utilized in hospitals and public buildings to inhibit microbial growth, spreading of infections and to increase indoor air quality. UVC can also help against mold problems for mold remediation and mold inhibition by rendering airborne mold particles and mold spores non-viable and even sterilizing surface mold colonies if they are directly irradiated with UVC light. Germicidal UV has a cumulative effect so the circulation of indoor air throughout the cooling or heating systems, with installed in-duct UVC air cleaner, will eventually deliver enough UV dosage to break the DNA of the airborne mold spores.