GUV Installations Demonstrate Effectiveness and Exposure Safety in Field Settings

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Infectious Disease Control
• Building Science

Background:

• Germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) radiation is increasingly used in indoor environments to reduce the transmission of airborne pathogens.
• Limited data exists on the real-world effectiveness, safety, and occupant perceptions of GUV systems in situ.
• A need exists for standardized protocols to assess GUV performance in diverse building applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a protocol for evaluating the in situ performance of whole-room and upper-room GUV installations.
• To assess the effectiveness, safety, and energy usage of existing GUV systems.
• To gather feedback from facility managers and occupants on their experience with GUV technology.

Main Methods:

• Developed and applied a comprehensive protocol for in situ GUV performance evaluation.
• Conducted radiometric and electrical measurements for 15 GUV installations, characterizing spectrum, fluence rate, and energy consumption.
• Administered questionnaires to facility managers and occupants regarding satisfaction and perceived safety.

Main Results:

• Most GUV installations operated within established time-weighted average limits for eye and skin safety.
• GUV systems demonstrated a contribution of 3% to 150% towards meeting ASHRAE 241 equivalent clean airflow targets.
• Characterization data provides valuable input for GUV system simulation models.

Conclusions:

• The evaluated GUV installations are largely safe for occupants and contribute effectively to improving indoor air quality.
• GUV technology shows promise for widespread deployment to mitigate airborne pathogen transmission in buildings.
• Standardized evaluation protocols are crucial for informing the design, deployment, and optimization of GUV systems.