FAQ’s
FAQs
UV Angel
Frequently asked questions about the UV Angel Air
✓ UV Angel Air has 50 CFM air flow per minute through the UV chamber ✓ UV lamp life 9000 hours (or 1 year)
✓ UV lamp is running 24/7/365 at 27 watts of UV-C energy at a wavelength of 254 nanometers this is ideal wavelength to neutralize microorganisms by inactivating their DNA
✓ UV Angel Air has been tested to under 40 decibels
✓ UV Angel Air device is produced in an EPA registered facility and meets the EPA labeling requirements of 40 CFR 156
✓ The standard Kelvin temperature for UV Angel Air is 4000K (3,000k, 3,500k, 5,000k LED options are also available upon request)
✓ The UV chamber and fans consume approximately 120 watts.
✓ Total system wattage is about 170 watts for UV Angel Air including the LED downlight. By comparison, a standard 4 lamp T8 fluorescent fixture consumes about 120 watts.
✓ The UV lamp is not designed as a lumen-producing lamp and is not visible during operation.
✓ The UV Angel Air comes with a 5-year warranty on Aluminum body, IC board, light panel system, drivers & ballast; 2-year warrant on LV power supply and lamp holder; 1-year warranty on all other components
Understanding Coverage Area
The UV Angel is covering roughly 100 sq. feet or 800 cu ft of space per fixture In doing so air passes through the UV treatment chamber about every .7 seconds which is equivalent to about 84,000 air cycles in a 24-hour period. In a standard 100 square foot room with 8 ft ceilings the UV Angel will be producing 50 CFM of air flow, equivalent to about 3.75 air exchanges for the installed space.
Electrical Requirements
UV Chamber
LED Lighting Input Voltage: 120-277 VAC
Input Voltage: 120-277 VAC Power Ratings: 120 VAC @ 1.1 Amps Power Ratings: 120 @ .52 Amps
277 VAC @ .46 Amps 277 @ .23 Amps
LED Lighting
Input Voltage: 120-277 VAC
Power Ratings: 120 @ .52 Amps
277 @ .23 Amps
Understanding the electrical component for the UV Angel Air Installation
Most light fixtures today are rated for 120v through 277v, the UV Angel Air is rated for both as well. Typically, 277v is found in industrial and commercial buildings, and is less expensive initially to install as you can use longer runs with less voltage drop and install more fixtures on a single circuit. For example, the UV Angel requires 95 watts for the UV fan and 50 watts for the LED down-light for a total of 145 watts per fixture
• At 120v the UV Angel max draw is 1.21 amps
• At 277v the UV Angel max draw is .53 amps
So, on a single 120v circuit you can install approximately (13) UV Angel fixtures and on a single 277v circuit you can install approximately (29) UV Angel fixtures. Since the installs are connecting to an existing system the voltage 120 or 277 have little to no cost impact.
Seal Shield / Cleanslate UV
UV disinfection technology is supplemental to, nor is it entirely a replacement for physical surface chemical cleaning. UV products are only effective only on exposed surfaces and in circulating air exposed to UV light. Covspect’s biosafety and UV products are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, mitigate or prevent disease, nor have they all been evaluated or cleared by the FDA or Health Canada.
UV-C or 222nm Far UV Device Disinfection:
WHAT IS THE EFFICACY OF UV-C AGAINST DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATHOGENS?
UV-C has been validated by third party labs to achieve these pathogenic inactivation rates ranging from 99.97% to more than 99.999%, depending on the pathogen. Please get it touch for detailed efficacy documentation.
WHAT TYPES OF DEVICES CAN GO INTO A UV-C Device Disinfection box?
UV-C disinfection boxes should only be used to sanitize non-critical devices, equipment, and personal items with hard, non-porous surfaces. It should not be used to disinfect fabrics (like clothing or shoes), food or wet items. It won’t damage fabrics but it will undermine effectiveness to the extent that we cannot guarantee our claimed efficacy rates. UV-C can quickly sanitize a wide range of devices and handheld items in just 20 seconds. See below for some of the most common uses: Cell phones, smart phones, tablets, ID badges, watches, walkie talkies, keys, mobile communication devices (Vocera badges, Ascom Myco, Spectralink phones, etc), barcode scanners.
HOW MANY ITEMS CAN I PLACE INSIDE A UV-C DISINFECTION BOX AT ONCE?
UV-C cleans by ‘line of sight’ meaning that as long as the light can “see” the items, it can inactivate bacteria & viruses on them. So you can place as many objects as you’d like inside chamber as long as they allow for one inch between the items for the light to reach all corners. Items cannot be stacked on top of each other as this will block the light. As a rule of thumb the UV-C box can disinfect 2-4 smartphones at once, 1 iPad or 6 Vocera communication devices Tray Size: Tray (interior): L 9.5” x W 12.7” x H 4.5”
HOW DOES UV-C DISINFECTION WORK TO SANTIZE HIGH-TOUCH ITEMS?
The devices Covspect procures use UV-C light to inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions. UV-C light will inactivate pathogens on items placed inside the tray. It does so by using a unique chamber design capable of disinfecting 360 degrees of the device. UV-C light is normally blocked by the atmosphere, so it is deadly to pathogenic DNA!
HOW MANY ITEMS CAN I PLACE INSIDE A UV-C DISINFECTION BOX AT ONCE?
UV-C cleans by ‘line of sight’ meaning that as long as the light can “see” the items, it can inactivate bacteria & viruses on them. So you can place as many objects as they’d like into the chamber as long as they allow for one inch between the items for the light to reach all corners. Items cannot be stacked on top of each other as this will block the light. As a rule of thumb a UV-C disinfection box can disinfect 2-4 smartphones at once, 1 iPad or 6 Vocera communication devices Tray Size: Tray (interior): L 9.5” x W 12.7” x H 4.5”
HOW DOES UV-C DISINFECTION WORK?
UV-C light inactivates microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions. UV-C light will inactivate pathogens on items placed inside the tray. It does so by using a unique chamber design capable of disinfecting 360 degrees of the device. UV-C light is normally blocked by the atmosphere, so it is deadly to pathogenic DNA!
SHOULD THE DEVICES BE CLEANED BEFORE SANITIZATION?
Germicidal UVC light will not penetrate through the soil or dirt, therefore it is highly recommended to clean or wipe down the devices to be sanitized before placing them in the UV Disinfection Box. Cleaning is not sanitization and sanitization is NOT cleaning.
HOW IS THE USER AFFECTED BY REPEATED USE?
None, as the UV-C disinfection boxes Covspect procures ensures complete enclosure, (fully shielded) of the sanitization chamber that prevents users from being exposed to UV-C light.
CAN A UV-C DISINFECTION BOX BE USED BY CHILDREN?
No. These devices are classified as lab equipment and should not be used by those under 14.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
A cycle is only 20 seconds long – just enough time to wash your hands!
IS UV-C SAFE FOR MY DEVICES?
Unlike harsh chemical wipes, UV light will not damage or corrode devices or touch screens. The only thing to look out for is that some yellowing may occur in white plastics over long periods of exposure, but unlike some chemical solutions, this will not impact functionality.
WHAT KIND OF BACTERIA DOES IT INACTIVATE?
UV-C is designed to inactivate bacteria & viruses like MRSA and C. Difficile. These are some of the most dangerous pathogens found in hospitals and are also some of the toughest to inactivate using UV light. The CleanSlate will inactivate over 99.999% of MRSA, 99.93% of C. Difficile spores, and more.
WHERE CAN IT BE USED?
UV-C disinfection boxes can be placed in both staff-only locations as well as public-facing locations. A few examples being: ORs, Neo-natal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), Intensive Care Units (ICUs), change rooms, staff lounges, and hospital entranceways. If counter space is a concern, we offer both tabletop options as well as a stand option.
General UV-C & Shipping Questions (continued)
Shipping & Returns
What's your Return Policy?
We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.
Returned products will not be eligible for a refund due to:
- the lack of external packaging and/or the original internal packaging.
- the absence of integral elements of the product (accessories, manuals, parts, ...);
- damage to the product for reasons other than its transport.
Shipping Options
Regular orders are shipped within 1-2 business days. Orders placed over the weekend are shipped on Mondays.
For larger orders pre-check the availability with us to avoid long lead times.
UV Disinfection
What is UV?
UV (ultraviolet) light is one among many types of electromagnetic radiation, for example, visible light, x-rays, and gamma rays. UV light has three types (or wavelengths):
UV-C from 200nm (nanometers) to 280nm,
UV-B from 280nm to 315nm, and
UV-A from 325nm to 400nm
UV-A and UV-B are the wavelengths that pass through our atmosphere; UV-A causing sun tanning and UV-B, sun burning. Our ozone layer stops UV-C from reaching us on earth. This is good news for us because UV-C is absorbed by DNA. However, using technology, we can use this property to our advantage to inactivate bacteria and viruses.
How Does UV Disinfection work?
UV-C radiation disrupts viruses’ and bacteria’s DNA which makes them unable to replicate and multiply. If a cell is unable to multiply and reproduce to infect a host, it is considered dead. This is why UV methods of disinfection are called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI): it reduces the number of viable microorganisms by deactivating them, whether it is applied to water, air, or surfaces.
Over the past 100 years, UV-C has been used by hospitals, pharmaceutical facilities, medical practitioners, and many other industries.
How is UV disinfection different from chemical disinfection? What are the advantages?
The most common method of sanitization we use today are chemical disinfectants, which are not always practical or effective and only work while wet. Various chemical disinfectants are also known to cause a variety of health issues such as skin and eye sensitivities and even allergic reactions. It is concerning how this added chemical exposure is affecting users. As a result, many people have a fear of using chemical disinfection processes and consumers are hesitant to use business services. UV sanitization is a solution to these problems as it has been scientifically proven to safely disinfect up to 99% of surfaces and air without leaving any residue while maintaining the time and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional methods.
Does all UVC lamps contain mercury to order to be germicidal, and do all UVC lamps produce ozone?
Most UV lamps used for UV disinfection contain mercury. 222nm does not. UV-C LED do not contain mercury either. Ask your Covspect contact to confirm if the lamps you are purchasing contain mercury.
We keep seeing the terms ‘watts’ and ‘joules’ in descriptions of how much UV is required to disinfect something. What do these terms mean? Are they the same? Why are they important?
Most people seem to be familiar with the term ‘watts' (from light bulbs and electric bills); but probably not the term ‘joules' (a metric measurement term). In short, both are used in measuring energy in any form (e.g., electricity as well as light):
A watt is a measure of the rate of energy delivery (analogous to gallons-per-minute flow rate for water delivery).
A Joule is a cumulative measure of the total amount of energy delivered (analogous to total gallons of water delivered).
It usually is associated with how much time was needed to deliver the energy.
The way the units work is 1 Joule (J) of energy delivered = delivering 1 Watt (W) of energy for 1 second. In the UV world, we usually measure things in small increments, i.e., thousandths of a Joule or Watt. These are shown as ‘milli-Joules' (i.e., ‘mJ’
or 1/1,000 of a Joule), and milli-Watts (i.e., ‘mW’ or 1/1,000 of a Watt).
Example: 40mJ (cumulative energy) = 10mW delivered for 4 seconds
Fresh-Aire UV FAQ’s
Can I buy Fresh-Aire UV products directly from Covspect?
YES
Can Covspect procure replacement lamps for Fresh-Aire UV products?
YES
What is Fresh-Aire UV’s Warranty?
All of Fresh-Aire UV’s products come with a lifetime warranty on all parts (except lamps) with the exception of Mini UV which comes with a 5 year warranty. Lamps come with a 1 or 2 year warranty.
Does UV light kill germs?
UV-C light (the frequency used in germicidal UV lights) kills germs by disrupting their DNA which prevents them from reproducing, effectively killing them. In nature this frequency of light is filtered out by the Earth’s atmosphere so microbes have no defense against it.
Is UV light safe for children and pets?
When a UV light system is installed in a central air system the germ killing effect takes place inside the air system and is limited to that area. There is no danger to any living thing in the home except microbes that are carried by the air into the central air system.
Is it OK to look direct at UV light?
Never look at the UV light when it is lit. UV-C light can give your eyes a painful “sunburn”. Unplug or disconnect the unit to work on it.
Should the light be on 24 hours a day or only when the blower is on?
These products are intended to be on 24 hours a day. Mold growth doesn’t stop when the blower is off, and cycling the UV light on and off would shorten life of the UV lamp.
How can we purify the air when the AC or heater isn’t on?
Running the air system in “fan” mode will cycle air through the home without turning on the AC or heater. Many programmable thermostats have a setting for this as well.
Can the UV lamp (bulb) be upgraded from a 1-year to a 2-year model?
Yes! Fresh-Aire UV lamps are interchangeable. When it’s time to replace your 1 year UV lamp you can upgrade to a 2-year model.
My ‘1-Year’ bulb still glows after 2 years, do I need to replace it?
Yes, Over time the UV effectiveness of the lamps decreases even though the lamp may still be putting out visible light. ‘1 Year’ and ‘2 Year’ lamp designations refer to effective UV output not when the lamp will burn out.
Will a UV light system kill mold on the walls?
No. UV-C germicidal irradiation can only kill microbes on surfaces that the light shines on directly (surface kill) or that pass by in the air stream (airborne kill).
Which system is best for the musty smell from our air system in hot weather?
Have your HVAC technician take a look at the air system. If there is mold growing on the cooling coils that could be the source of the musty smell. One of our standard UV light systems like Blue-Tube UV or Fresh-Aire UV Series 1 will kill the mold and eliminate the smell. For odors in general consider our APCO In-Duct Air Purifier. APCO is specifically designed to fight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are the source of most household and chemical odors.
Can UV light damage materials inside the air system?
Our UV lamps offer the ideal balance of germicidal effectiveness without damaging UV sensitive materials inside the air system.
Is UV light radioactive? Will radiation spread into my home?
No. All light is a type of radiation but not the dangerous kind. UV light kills germs by giving them an intense “sunburn” and it only affects things it shines on directly. Nothing spreads into the home except clean air.
Can you touch the lamps?
Never look directly at, touch, or expose skin close to the UV-C light. Unlike most other manufacturers lamps Fresh-Aire UV lamps can be handled when not lit. This is because they are made using high-quality hard quartz not the soft quartz found in inexpensive imports (handling soft quartz lamps may cause them to fail).
Is it ok to look at UV light with sunglasses on?
No. Although UV-C light will not pass through plastic or ordinary glass there is still the risk to exposed skin. Always turn off the light or disconnect power to service the system.
Can UV light reduce randon in your home?
No. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep into your home from the ground below. It is not the product of any volatile organic compound (VOC) or biological contaminant so UV-C light has no effect on it.
Does UV light kill kennel cough germs?
UV-C light will sterilize nearly all microbes with very few exceptions. However, it only affects surfaces that it shines on directly or air that passes through it. Kennel cough is an airborne disease so UV-C would fight its spread through the air system but would have no effect on its spread by dog-to-dog contact.
Can the UV light system be transferred to a new air handler or furnace?
Yes, most Fresh-Aire UV systems can be moved to a new air system.
Does the APCO system produce ozone?
No, APCO produces no ozone, in fact it removes ozone from the air.
How long does it take for the UV light to kill mold?
The germ-killing effect starts immediately with about 90% of surface microbes sterilized within the first few minutes, and about 99.99% sterilized after the first 24 hours.
Will the Ice UV light damage the plastic materials inside our ice machine?
No, Ice UV is designed to emit enough UV-C light to kill mold and germs but not so much that would damage plastic parts. There is, however, a possibility that some harmless discoloration may occur particularly on white plastic surfaces. For that reason a sheet of protective adhesive vinyl is included with Ice UV.
Do any of your products remove particulates from the air? If so, what is the efficiency?
At this time only the Purity system includes filter media. The 4” UV Reactive Filter Media included with Purity is rated at MERV 11 which will remove 65% – 79% of particles sized 1.0 – 3.0 Microns.
Should APCO always be installed on the supply duct or is it ok on the return as well?
It is better to install APCO on the supply duct because unfiltered air might deposit dust and other particulates into the carbon cells. However, if the supply duct is not accessible then installation on the return side is acceptable.
Is reflected or distanced UV-C light dangerous? What about people with eye problems?
The effect of UV-C light falls off quickly with distance because it is filtered by the atmosphere (air) which is why microorganisms have no defense against it. One should always avoid close direct exposure to skin and eyes, but reflected UV-C light at a distance is not at all dangerous.
Sterilray Far UV 222nm FAQ’s
Why is Far UV important?
Far-UV (222nm) is important because it is the only technology that is available today that can continuously and effectively disinfect air and surfaces safely with people present. When configured in a line-of-sight fashion the photons produced by Far-UV lamps can deactivate and destroy airborne pathogens at the speed of light. All other technologies provide either for a moment in time capability (think Clorox wipes) or are dependent on air exchange rates (think HVAC and upper room UVC solutions). If you have a classroom full of kids and one of them sneezes, you don’t have the luxury of waiting for an air exchange to protect the other kids from the aerosolized viral particles. Far-UV when configured properly, can provide that level of protection.
What types of organisms can Far UV inactivate?
Far-UV actually “deactivates” pathogens, that is it destroys pathogens. This is much more compelling than UVC which only “inactivates” pathogens which can then be reconstituted through a process called photo reactivation. Far-UV is known to be able to deactivate most human pathogens including viruses, mold, bacterium, fungus, prions, and protozoa.
What are the best use cases for Far UV?
Best use cases of Far-UV are those instances where Far-UV can be used where other technologies cannot be used. These include line of sight applications where people are present, agricultural applications where photo reactivation is a consideration, wound care, and skin disinfection where other wavelengths are not safe, and any disinfection application where the targeted pathogen is more susceptible to Far-UV than other technological interventions.
What are the advantages of continuous 222nm FAR-UV disinfection over other methods?
222nm Far-UV: Safely & effectively sanitizes air and surfaces by destroying pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, mold and spores by delivering an appropriate dose of invisible disinfecting light.
Wipes and Chemical Solutions: Wiping down surfaces regularly can be a useful part of a multi-layered disinfection strategy but have not proven to be effective at eliminating the spread of pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 alone. The traditional sanitation practice of wiping down surfaces, spraying or fogging generates physical waste, introduces potentially troublesome chemicals to an environment and requires paid labor to implement. The cost of utilizing 222nm Far-UV disinfection lighting is often 50-100 times cheaper than those alternatives when factoring in labor and materials costs and is not subject to human error and missing intended spots. Attempting to clean while spaces are occupied is also disruptive and often impossible. In contrast, 222nm Far-UV lighting provides safe autonomous, and continuous disinfection while spaces are occupied, without the use of water, bleach, chemicals, rags, paper towels, mercury, hydrogen peroxide, cold plasma or ozone.
HEPA Filters: A HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter can be an important part of common air purifier systems and is recognized by NIOSH as an evidence-based disinfection solution. The potential challenge in relying on HEPA filters alone is that ASHRAE estimates only 40-60% of the air within a space is recirculated through the ductwork if the HEPA filter is mounted in the HVAC ductwork and even less may be filtered in smaller portable units. They also do nothing for surface contamination and could potentially spread the viral load beyond the area a contamination event would have naturally settled.
Deionization Systems: The potential attraction of deionization systems is they are cheap and their manufacturers indicate they may have relatively long product lives. However, as far as actual disinfection in real-world applications is concerned, there do not appear to be independent studies confirming evidence-based efficacy and there are reports they may be creating unwanted byproducts.
HVAC UV-C Disinfection: Ultraviolet light is the only evidence-based disinfection alternative recognized by ASHRAE to be effective. Appropriately sized 254nm UV-C systems in the ductwork can deactivate airborne pathogens in the ductwork fairly effectively. However, ASHRAE also estimates only 40-60% of the air within a space is recirculated through the ductwork where conventional UV-C can safely disinfect and be shielded from human exposure, leaving significant spaces where the viral load can remain within a room. Conventional 254nm UV-C in the ductwork also does nothing to treat the surfaces within a space leaving considerable additional exposure risk whereas 222nm Far-UV can treat all of the air and the tops of surfaces in a room.
Upper-Room Germicidal UV-C Disinfection: Upper Room Germicidal UV has proven to be even more effective at reducing the viral load in occupied rooms than HVAC ductwork based systems, particularly when utilized in a room with ceiling fans to provide better air mixing. Upper-Air germicidal UV-C (254nm) systems are designed not to expose people to their harmful radiation. However, when a carrier contaminates a space either with a sneeze, cough, talking, breathing or singing, gravity immediately begins to pull most of the pathogens towards the ground or other surfaces (such as desks, chairs, etc). As a result, while these upper air systems may also use air handling systems to try to fight gravity, they may not address a meaningful amount of the contaminated air and surfaces and may even keep some pathogens airborne longer which could be counterproductive. They also do not provide any surface treatment. Because 222nm Far-UV lighting is safe for human exposure, it can overcome these challenges from the ceiling to the floor in either upper-room or ceiling-mount fixtures, providing a much more comprehensive whole room disinfection solution.
Ultimately, 222nm Far-UV provides the safest, most cost-effective, evidence-based disinfection solution.
What are the Pros and Cons of FAR UV?
The pros of Far-UV are that the lamps themselves can be made to have tremendously long life (up to 30K hours and more), they can be powered up to and greater than 2kw, they can be configured to produce very little ozone, and they are not environmentally hazardous. In fact, Far-UV excimer lamps, when designed properly, can be recycled at a fraction of the original cost. But most importantly, Far-UV technology is a powerful tool in the battle against pathogens and has virtually unlimited applications because the 222nm wavelength is safe for human exposure. The cons of the technology include the limited production of the lamps, perceived high cost of the lamps, and the lack of regulatory oversight of the quality and efficacy of the lamps.
Why has Far UV not come to the market sooner?
Actually, Far-UV as produced by excimer lamps has been available in different product profiles for over fifteen years. Unfortunately, it has taken a pandemic for the technology to get the recognition it deserves. Even today, Far-UV has a PR problem because government agencies have not looked at Far-UV to help solve many of the world’s problems, including the pandemic. Our opinion is that it will not get truly widespread adoption until Far-UV is part of the commercial building codes, much like fire suppression technology.
How can Far UV bring ‘normalcy’ post-pandemic?
Far-UV can help expedite the return to normalcy by demonstrating the efficacy of the technology in the form of widespread adoption. We would have thought two years ago that 222nm technology would have been the next Manhattan project. However, the Federal government never took notice.
What should consumers look for when purchasing Far UV products?
Because of the lack of regulatory oversight and yet developed industry standards there is a lot of carnival barking and marketing of inferior products that tend to confuse and distract potential adopters. Those standards are coming in to place gradually through organizations such as the IUVA, IES, EPA, and ACGIH. Other organizations and agencies such as ASHRAE, OSHA, and the FDA need to step up their game and help recognize that 222nm technology is extremely important in the protection of the human race. Consumers need to be on the lookout for companies new to the Far-UV business and for cheap imported products that don’t perform as advertised.