Due to potential health hazards, the use of UV light in occupied spaces is extremely limited at this time. Considering the current pandemic, however, several manufacturers are attempting to create new standards designed to specifically mask UV’s potential hazard by engineering the room into two parts. The hazard is assessed in one part but ignored in the other, creating confusion for potential users. From there, responsibility for the safety of the entire installation is pushed onto the installer/contractor, who is sometimes not capable of making this assessment, through no fault of their own.
Scientists and engineers have developed technology using 405nm visible light to provide safe disinfection around the clock, without manual intervention even when people are present. These luminaires safely and automatically kill harmful organisms, such as viruses, bacteria, molds, yeast, and fungi in the air and on surfaces, without the need for specially trained staff.
Specifically, 405nm visible light is both direct and indirect; reflecting off walls and other surfaces where it kills pathogens in shadowed areas where UV lighting does not reach. The efficacy of 405nm antibacterial light has been proven against multiple species of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and spores, with no degradation of equipment or materials, in high-volume and high-stakes active environments.
Rather than relying solely on staff to clean surfaces, or HVAC systems to purify the air, this patented technology combines the benefits of both. Using the visible light spectrum, this technology is safe at all times-even when performing at its highest level of disinfection. As a result, this means there is no room downtime, and no worries about safety. Additionally, because 405nm visible light disinfection is extensively validated in healthcare, its efficacy and usefulness extend to non-healthcare applications.
Visible light in action
University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass), Amherst, Massachusetts
Cultivating a healthy relationship with fitness for personal well-being is vital for every individual—especially college students. According to research published by Harvard Medical School:
∞ Approximately 67,000 college students from 100 colleges and universities showed high rates of stress.
∞ One out of four students were either diagnosed with, or treated for, mental health issues.
∞ One-fifth of students have considered suicide and 20 percent reported self-injury.
Research from Michigan State University has provided a link between exercise and students achieving higher grade point averages (GPAs). In addition, students who had gym memberships were less likely to drop out of school.
