UV Light in Hand Dryers and Air Sterilisation Units - What, Why, and How?
Have you dried your hands in a public washroom lately and noticed a blue LED light shining on your hands as you do so? Then there is a chance that this is a hand dryer that’s equipped with UVC to kill bacteria and germs. We’re entering a new phase of hand hygiene and public air sanitization with the emergence of UVC hand dryers. What are they, how do they work, and how effective are they? Continue reading as we break it all down.
How UVC Hand Dryers Fight Viruses
Using UV light to kill microbes and bacteria from surfaces is a sanitisation technique that is certainly not new, but health organizations are considering making it the new norm for hand hygiene, especially after the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020. UV light has been used to disinfect surfaces before and the technology has developed for the same to apply to microbe and germ combating through high-speed hand dryers. How is UV light effective at disinfecting surfaces? The light penetrates the outer structure of the cell and begins altering the DNA of the molecule, preventing cell replication which in its turn is claimed to prevent the spread of viruses by almost 99.99%.
Are UVC Hand Dryers Safe?
The first thing that comes to mind for some users is the question of how safe UV light is for hand disinfection and drying. After all, ultraviolet light is often viewed with a negative connotation when it involves skin-to-skin contact. Research has shown that the type of UV light implemented in hand dryers is safety-tested for possible threats to health since it does not penetrate far enough into the outer layer of the skin.
Pros and Cons of UVC Hand Dryers
When purchasing a UV light hand dryer for your facility, ensure that it is carrying out its intended function and not fooling you. There are hand dryers that simply emit the blue LED light without it being UV, therefore, it’s crucial you check all the specifications of a product upon purchase to ensure the light is carrying out its intended purpose.
Advantages of UVC Hand Dryers:
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UV light has the most energy compared to UVA and UVB light, which allows it to be the most effective at rendering germs dead upon exposure.
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UVC hand dryers are light years ahead of standard hand dryers in terms of disinfection. A recent study found that the UVC light reduced the live coronavirus by 99.7 percent in 30 seconds on a surface.
- The efficiency of UVC hand dryers is not limited to the quality of their hand drying, but also including a high-quality air filter that captures particles from the air as well, not allowing it to circulate in the washroom.
Disadvantages of UVC Hand Dryers:
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It is recommended to dry your hands for 10-20 seconds under a UVC hand dryer (unless it is a high-speed model) for the UV light to have its full effect. Most people dry their hands for no more than 5-10 seconds on average.
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There is controversy surrounding the safety concerns of frequent UV light exposure on the skin, however, there isn’t data at the moment that confirms this threat.
UVC hand dryers are a great choice for facilities in public health such as clinics and hospitals since ensuring disinfection of hands must be maintained constantly. The PuraMAX UVC has a 360-degree UVC Germicidal light that disinfects and purifies the flowing air from indoor air pollutants, airborne pathogens, and microorganisms like mold, bacteria, and viruses. Not only this, but the HEPA filter traps 99.9% of larger particles of dirt, dust, and moisture.
The future of hand drying and disinfection begins from here.
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