FAQs

SAGE has just published guidance on the role of ventilation in enclosed spaces like offices, where people spend time together for sustained periods of time.  The report acknowledges that UV-C has a role to play in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.  If you’re responsible for  workspace safety, the report provides a good all round view on what to consider –S0789_EMG_Role_of_Ventilation_in_Controlling_SARS-CoV-2_Transmission

Disinfection removes most pathogenic organisms. Sterilisation is the killing or removal of all organisms (Science Direct).

Expanding on that, disinfection reduces the number of pathogenic microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, through inactivation.

Disinfection can reduce the level of contamination from bacterial endospores but it cannot kill them and it is this that differentiates disinfection from sterilisation.  A bacterial endospore is a particularly tough and resilient structure that can lie dormant for a very long time.

Sterilisation destroys all pathogenic microorganisms, including vegetative endospores.

UV-C light has to be a wavelength of 260 nm to have maximal germicidal efficiency and to come anywhere close to comparing with sterilisation.

No, and it’s important to recognise this.  The range deemed safe for the human body lies within 200 to 230 nm and special filters are in development which keep radiation comfortably within that band.
UVDS’s mobile products, like many other UV-C products on the market, have a more conventional 254 nm wavelength, which is why we stress wearing protective clothing when turning the unit on and off. In addition, we stress that the unit can only be in operation when the room or area is completely free of people.
Conventional units like the UVDS range do offer customer choice and are a cost-efficient, mobile and easy to use disinfection solution when the safety guidelines are strictly adhered to.

A: Yes
Following an AGP, direct exposure of the air and surfaces inside your dental studio to UVC will irradiate SARS-CoV-2 and reduce your fallow time. We achieve high radiation levels, over 100 mj/cm2 at 4 meters distance in just 90 seconds. This is accomplished using our most powerful machine, the CK1000, leading to a fallow time of less than 5 mins including setup.

A: With proper PPE, yes.
UV-C is completely safe when the eyes and skin are protected. Without any PPE, prolonged, direct exposure to UV-C light causes skin redness and eye irritation. Direct exposure to the skin and eyes is to be AVOIDED. UV-C is light radiation, its effects are exactly the same as ARC welding and should be respected as a radiation source (much the same as your UV Curing devices or your X ray machine). Our advice is for no one to remain in the room when the unit is on. Please consult the HSE website for further advice.

A: This depends 100% on what the material is. Most plastics are UV resistant however, long-term exposure of germicidal UV-C light to some plastics will shorten the shelf life of the plastic by approximately 10%. For example: If the plastic would normally last about ten years, and it’s exposed to germicidal UV-C light the entire time, it would probably need to be replaced in 9 years. Plant life may be damaged by direct, or reflected, germicidal ultraviolet rays. Transient dyes and colours may be faded from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. Although UV-C is high energy, the short wavelength means it is easily absorbed and does not penetrate many materials ( i.e it does not travel through standard glass or though coated plastics ).  When the UV-C does hit a susceptible substrate, it only penetrates about 250 microns ( ¼ of 1 mm) into the surface before it is dissipated.

A: Our solutions are predominantly designed for aerosol but can be used for surface disinfection too. The distance is dependent on the power of the lamp or the UV-C light source. Our hand held devices use UV-LED’s.  These are low power ( because they need to be battery operated ) and as such, they emit low amounts of UV-C light, so the distance needs to be short ( 2-4 cms ) and the exposure time needs to be extended by 10-20 seconds. Because LED lights have so little power, they are not considered a viable option of large space irradiation ( UV LED association ), although the technology is improving all the time. For studio/room irradiation, we use traditional and specialist UV-C sources. These produce up to 1700 milliwatts/cm2, which are 1000 times more powerful than the handheld units and can irradiate up to 100m2 in just minutes. UV-C light (like all light sources ) degrades on the inverse square law i.e 100% light intensity at 1m has just 6% at 4 meters, so our most powerful unit at 1700mw/cm2, will dose 102mw/cm2 at 4 meters (the recommended dose to irradiate SARS-CoV-2 is just 5mj/cm2 for 6 seconds.)

A: Yes, the majority of units are available ex-stock.  However, recent demands have seen our stockholding reduce considerably.

A: No, all of our units come with a 3 pin plug (except the hand held units which are battery powered and come with a USB charger).  Some dentists have used electricians to mount more than one light (CK75 or Sterilon C) on the surgery ceiling and have had them wired down to a single light switch.  Any local normally certified domestic electrician can do this with ease (it’s the same as wiring a normal light).

A: Yes we recommend you do both. UVDS will supply you with all the relevant documents you need to complete once you have placed an order with us.

A: Yes, UVDS provides pop-up banners for your reception or waiting rooms and posters too. We have digital banners for your website that promoting your surgeries being Virus free by UV. We also provide letter templates you can use to write to your customer base to explain the investment you have made to keep them safe.

A: Yes we do. Our largest units, the CK1000 and CK2000, need to be assembled in your surgery and we provide this service free of charge (it’s all included in the unit price.) We also take this opportunity to train you and your staff on its safe usage and answer any questions you may have face to face. All of our installers are fully certified full time paid employees of PSI Technologies Limited. We do not use subcontractors.