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MARS UVC Air Curtain: A Building Block In True Sanitation

Sanitation is more important than ever! Mars UVC Air Curtain proven to eradicate virus strains COVID-19, TB, Listeria, Salmonella, MRSA and Serratia marcescens as well as SARS-COV (2003) (Similar to COVID-19)

COVID-19 reminds us that fundamental sanitary practices, like hand washing, should be part of everyone’s normal routine. The basic building blocks of sanitation greatly reduces the risk of contracting the COVID-19 and many other viruses. The addition of Mars’ UVC to your Mars Air Curtain may minimize the introduction of the viruses and pathogens through the air curtain’s internal components and output air flow. The Mars UVC may reduce and/or eradicate TB, Listeria, Salmonella, MRSA and Serratia marcescens, as well as SARS-COV (2003) (Similar to COVID-19) through continual air exposures. 

What is UVC / UVGI?

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (ultraviolet C or UVC) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions. UVGI is used in a variety of applications, such as food, air, and water purification. 

UVC light is weak at the Earth's surface since the ozone layer of the atmosphere blocks it. UVGI devices can produce strong enough UVC light in circulating air or water systems to make them inhospitable environments to microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, molds, and other pathogens. UVGI can be coupled with a filtration system to sanitize air and water. 

The application of UVGI to disinfection has been an accepted practice since the mid-20th century. It has been used primarily in medical sanitation and sterile work facilities. Increasingly, it has been employed to sterilize drinking and wastewater since the holding facilities are enclosed and can be circulated to ensure a higher exposure to the UV. In recent years, UVGI has found renewed application in air purifiers. 

(Wikipedia) 

ASHRAE ( The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) have back the use of UV-C technology. Not all UV lights are created equal and each application has to addressed such as disinfection rate, size of building or area, and most importantly the strength of the lamp being used. Most UV lamps found on the internet are much too weak to disinfect anything. Keep in mind that UV Lamps need to be contained inside equipment or duck work to be effective. Lamps this powerful exposed inside a room can burn skin and destroy the retina in the eye. 

How does Mars UVC active air purification system work?

Mars UVC air curtains sold through Air Door Distributors reduce the biological load with an confined space to provide room wide protection. Mars UVC can destroy biological contaminants passing through the air curtain unit. Optional Mars UVV can oxidize odors, smoke, chemical odors, bathroom odors and foul smells. Air curtain unit fans and housing realize continuous cleaning to prevent biological grown within unit.

The use of Ultraviolet Air Germicidal Irradiation or (UVGI) has been will used and documented for over 100 years. The practice became standardized through the water disinfection industry and for the past 40 years has been used for air disinfection and thousands of well documented results. 

A lamp is used to emit a frequency of 254nm or commonly called UV-C wavelength. The is the most lethal wavelength for disinfection of microbiological contaminants such as molds, bacteria and virus. As an airborne contaminant comes in contact with the UV-C lamp, the DNA or RNA of the micro-organism is destroyed rendering the contaminate sterile and unable to reproduce.

uvc air curtain deconstructed

Think a Mars UVC Air Curtain might be the right product for your business? View our available products.

In utilizing a UV-C lamp to disinfect airborne contaminants, it is useful to know the micro-organisms targeted for disinfection, the airflow (cubic feet per minute), the distance of the air from the UV-C lamp, and the UVC dosage of the lamp in microwatts/cm2*seconds. These factors are crucial in calculating a disinfection performance. This information allows a user is to determine the effectiveness of their UV-C air disinfection system. 

MARS Air Curtain has recently partnered with Sanuvox UV to equip the Air Curtain units with a UV-C air disinfection system. The ability to destroy thousands of airborne contaminants and volatile organic chemicals with the Air Curtain should provide exceptional benefit, especially within walk in cooler applications. Air disinfection of potential foodborne contaminants are a vital component of keeping the contents fresh, clean, and the ability to maintain shelf life. Contaminants in the air can be thoroughly disinfected utilizing the UV-C option. 

In order to determine disinfection performance within a walk in cooler utilizing the MARS Air Curtain with UV-C option, the required UV-C dosage to disinfect 99% of Listeria, E. Coli, and Salmonella was referenced. The cubic feet per minute (CFM) of the Air Curtain and the distance the air is from the UV-C lamp were calculated. Lastly, the cubic feet of the walk-in cooler was measured. Using this information, a time based % disinfection rate can be calculated. 

Examples:

Example 1: 15x15x15

15X15X15 walk in cooler will achieve up to 99% disinfection on airborne Listeria, Salmonella, and E. Coli within 1 hours of operation. 15X15X15 equals 3,375 cubic feet divided by 900 CFM equals an air change within 3.75 minutes. Per hour the equates to 15 air changes per hour. The UV-C lamp installed will achieve up to 99% disinfection after only 8 air changes, thus 99% disinfection after only 8 air changes, thus 99% disinfection can be achieve in under an hour. 

Example 2: 20x20x20

20X20X15 walk in cooler will achieve up to 99% disinfection on airborne Listeria, Salmonella, and E. Coli within 2 hours of operation. 20X30X15 equals 9,000 cubic feet divided by 900 CFM equals an air change within 10 minutes. Per hour this equates to 6 air changes per hour. The UV-C lamp installed will achieve up to 99% disinfection after only 8 air changes, thus 99% disinfection can be achieved in under two hours. 

The UV-C lamps within the Mars Air Curtains are dual function lamps. 95% of the lamp emits UV-C frequency and 5% of the lamp emits UV-V frequency. UV-V is 187 nanometers and is utilized for odor reduction. It is commonly used to lower the concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) such as ethylene, garbage orders, pet odors, fuel exhaust odors, and biological odors. The use of a dual function lamp will lower the level of common orders found within the walk in cooler or anywhere the MARS Air Curtain with UV-C lamp is installed. 

The addition of the UV air/odor disinfection system can yield greater benefits to a facility over and above just an air curtain. Calculations prove that airborne contaminants (mold, virus, bacteria such as E. Coli, Salmonella, Listeria) and VOC’s such as ethylene within a walk in cooler can be continually and dramatically reduced through the use of the UV air/odor disinfection add on feature. The UV lamp comes with with a one year warranty and it is recommended the lamp be changed after the warranty period to maintain proper disinfection performance.

MARS UVC Provides The Clean You Need To Eradicate Odors, Pathogens And Virus Strains 

1. Food Service / Kitchen Settings:
Protect vulnerable foodservice prep and serving areas from dust, pathogens, flying pests and debris. Can reduce the build-up of ethylene from fruits and products and restrict microbial growth. By reducing oil accumulation in the air curtain unit, additionally microbial growth averted. Well suited to:
    • Dry goods / produce storage
    • Walk-in coolers: Reduce food spoilage and odors while stabilizing temperatures
    • Organic waste collection containers and autoclaves
    • Frying and cooking stations
    2. Healthcare Setting:
      • Sanitized protection for surgical centers, patient waiting areas and foodservice settings.
      3. Lavatories:
        • Eradicate tough odors and amplify sanitation
        4.  Entrance Doors / Customer Entrances:
          • Visitor and customer entrances can be sanitized and realize barrier protection without impeding traffic.
          5. Cleanrooms (Manufacturing & Healthcare):
            • Protect vulnerable manufacturing & healthcare cleanrooms and comply with regulatory constraints.
            6. Produce Farms & Cannabis Cultivators:
              • Reduces odors and minimizes the cannabis fumes that can release to the building exterior.
              • Reduce mold spores and mildew in growing soil.
              7. Smoking Lounges:
                • Reduces lingering smoke odors and neutralizes indoor air with proper sanitation cycles.
                8. Receiving Doors:
                  • Reduces lingering refuse odors and creates barrier from entering interior spaces. 

                  Mars is the only air curtain manufacturer that combines both air curtains and air purification for a perfect environment. Here is a currently list of units that have been tested using UVC lamps only:

                  uvc air curtains

                  In conclusion, Air Door Distributors can provide the best possible solution to your sanitation issues using regular air curtains, UVC/UVV air curtains or stand alone UVC/UVV protection for larger facilities. Call 866-402-1642 or visit us at airdoordistributors.com or read more about our blog.

                  For more information you may download the brochure and spec sheets below:

                  Mars Clean Air Series Brochure

                  Mars Clean Air Spec Sheet

                  Resources:

                  https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/filtration-disinfection

                  https://technologyportal.ashrae.org/journal/articledetail/1805