When UMass physical plant engineers updated the lighting at Boyden Gymnasium in 2019, their goals were to replace the fluorescent lighting with light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires to help reduce energy consumption and improve the lighting quality throughout the facility. The athletic department had an additional request: the new LED fixtures for specific areas had to utilize visible light disinfection technology which, in addition to illuminating the space, could be used to kill harmful germs and bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus (staph), including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza-A.
Exercise facilities have been considered ‘high-risk’ for transmission because of their enclosed environment, shared equipment, and close contact between users and staff. After the pandemic hit, UMass discovered the added benefit of the disinfecting luminaires: students feel more protected at the gym knowing the lights could kill SARS-CoV-2.
“The students and staff are very happy with the new lighting. It provides increased illumination levels and a greater level of comfort and security that comes with the fixtures’ abilities to not only fight COVID-19, but also to reduce harmful germs and bacteria that can be found and spread in athletic-type facilities,” says Peter Volpe, UMass electrical engineer.
While the lights were installed prior to the pandemic, UMass has investigated using them not only in locker rooms and training facilities to disinfect, but also in public spaces, such as lobbies and waiting areas, where they would also be helpful in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Further, the university also gains the traditional benefits of transitioning away from the use of fluorescent lighting.
“These fixtures use LED technology, so they have a longer lifetime then the fluorescent lighting they replaced, which will help reduce maintenance costs,” says Volpe. “The new fixtures do an excellent job of lighting the room and providing higher illumination levels than the fluorescent light fixtures they replaced while using less energy.”
Dr. Cliff Yahnke is the chief scientist and head of clinical affairs for Indigo-Clean and Kenall Manufacturing which creates lighting solutions for the healthcare, cleanroom/containment, food processing, transportation, high abuse, and correctional facility markets. Yahnke can be reached at cliff.yahnke@kenall.com.
