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UV-AIRE
®
Air Purification System
For many years, ultraviolet light has proven effective in
sterilizing medical equipment, purifying water, and
processing food. Currently, the use of UV lights is
gaining industry acceptance in HVAC applications.
Microbe Management, Inc., a testing agency in
Greenville, NC, has conducted three separate tests to
examine UV’s effect on indoor air quality. The test
results conclude that UV is an integral part of a whole
house approach to improving Indoor Air Quality.
While experts disagree on the root causes of many IAQ
problems, there is consensus that stopping problems at
the source is crucial to long-term air quality
improvement. First, the homeowner must
eliminate any unwanted sources of
moisture in the home, such as roof
leaks, drainage problems, and crawl
space moisture.
The air conditioning coil must be addressed since it is a
natural breeding ground for molds, which thrive in a
dark, moist environment. Familiar with the rank smell
generated when switching from air
conditioning to heat mode? That is the
smell of mold and bio-film burning off
the coil. Whenever the blower is
engaged, mold spores from
contaminated A-coils are released
into the ductwork and distributed
throughout the building. These spores
then seek alternative surfaces in other
parts of the home to breed and multiply.
Attack the Source
Surface Test: UV Kills and Prevents Mold on A-Coils
Independent Lab Testing
EL-1 Eliminator
Foundation Vent Fan
A specific test was designed to determine UV’s
effectiveness in treating mold on coil surfaces. The
test simulated the damp, dark settings where A-coils
are found.
In this study “We took a standard A-coil, sterilized it,
introduced two kinds of mold, and then placed it in a
controlled, moisture-laden environment,” says Bernard
Kane, of Microbe Management. “We created two separate
chambers in our lab. One chamber was bathed in UV
light. The other was not.”
The results were dramatic and conclusive. The side of the
A-coil that was exposed to the ultraviolet light was clean
and clear of mold growth. Mold continued to grow
unabated on the
side without UV.
Subsequently, the
contaminated side
was bathed in UV
light and the
mold was
eradicated. Kane
summarized the
results: “Properly
positioning a UV lamp
over the A-coil in a residential or commercial air
conditioning system can eliminate surface mold on the
coil and prevent future mold growth as well.”
Surface Test Results
Note: Crawl space moisture can
be addressed with the EL-1
Eliminator Foundation Vent Fan.
Bacteria and viruses are introduced into the building by
its occupants and often cannot be controlled at the
source. Therefore, it is important to attack these
airborne invaders early and often, before they have an
opportunity to multiply. The single pass test proves that
UV effectively kills these airborne microorganisms in
the duct.
Since HVAC systems typically re-circulate the air 40-75
times per day, a multi-pass, cumulative test was also
conducted. Results demonstrate that repeated, multi-
pass exposure to UV light dramatically reduces the
concentration of bacteria and viruses throughout
the home.
1
Airborne Testing: Single Pass and Cumulative Tests
1. Efficiency of Bacterial Disinfection by a Duct-mounted UV-Aire
®
Air Purifier: by Microbe Management