Any business that maintains physical facilities for their staff or customers is facing an unprecedented challenge. Thorough, regular disinfecting to ensure the removal of COVID-19 from the space is critical to protecting the health of staff and customers, and to restoring their confidence in returning.
Any business that maintains physical facilities for their staff or customers is facing an unprecedented challenge.
Thorough, regular disinfecting to ensure the removal of COVID-19 from the space is critical to protecting the health of staff and customers, and to restoring their confidence in returning.
But the traditional cleaning techniques employed to achieve this are labour- intensive, dependent on staff thoroughness, and effectively only on visible surfaces.
UVC disinfection solutions provide an alternative, offering a method of killing COVID-19 reliably, regularly and reproducibly – keeping staff and customers as safe as possible, and giving them confidence that your premises are secure, and that your business is working to keep them safe.
What is UVC disinfection?
UVC disinfection is the process of killing germs by using ultraviolet energy. This energy must be emitted by a specialized device – such as THOR UVC®, our room-scale disinfection robot:
THOR UVC uses continuous-wave UVC technology – effectively a sustained blast of specially calibrated ultraviolet light – to kill viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19, rapidly and thoroughly.
What is UVC, and how does it kill viruses and germs?
UVC is a type of ultraviolet (UV) light, a form of light invisible to the human eye. We’re exposed to low levels of UV light from the sun’s rays every day, although much of the UV energy is absorbed by the ozone layer.
UV light exists on the electromagnetic spectrum between X-rays and visible light – between 100 and 400 nanometres.
Within this range, there is a smaller band, between 200 and 300 nanometres, where UV light becomes germicidal. This is called UVC light – and it’s this particular type of UV light that is employed in UVC disinfection.
Simply put, UVC light contains a large quantity of energy, which is absorbed into the DNA of bacteria and viruses. It then prevents them from being capable of reproducing or infecting other organisms, effectively killing them.
Is UVC a better method of disinfecting against COVID-19 than manual cleaning?
Deep, manual cleaning on a regular basis is how the majority of facilities are disinfecting against COVID-19. It is effective up to a point – but it has drawbacks.
Most prominently, it can only deal with visible surfaces (not the air in the room) which are reachable by humans. In fact, standard manual cleaning techniques can miss up to 50% of particulates on surfaces. It also uses powerful chemicals, which can damage room fabrication over the long term.
By contrast, UVC disinfection is chemical-free, reaches floor-to-ceiling, cleans both surfaces and the air around them, and is suitable for even the smallest of spaces. Finsen Tech’s THOR UVC device disinfects a 360-degree area, irrespective of obstacles, killing viruses and bacteria even in shadowed or hidden areas.
It is also automated – meaning results are entirely reproducible and failsafe, and not dependent upon the effectiveness of cleaning staff. It can be used in conjunction with existing cleaning regimes, without taking up cleaners’ time. For example, THOR UVC’s automated disinfection can be run in one room while the next room is being manually cleaned.
Does UVC disinfection really kill COVID-19?
The short answer:
Yes, it does.
The slightly longer answer:
It’s been widely recognised for some time that Coronaviruses (of which COVID-19 is one of many) can be effectively eradicated using UVC.
But with the advent of the COVID-19 crisis, we were aware that there would be a requirement to conduct further, in-depth independent testing to ensure our devices were fully efficient and effective in killing the virus.
Boston University, in conjunction with our partner Signify (the manufacturer of the UVC emitters at the heart of our products), conducted a recent study to do just that.
Their finding was that the UVC emitters used in our products are highly effective in eradicating COVID-19 specifically – and that they do so in just minutes.
As a result, we now confidently state that our UVC products kill COVID-19. Of course, we cannot vouch for other UVC devices’ effectiveness.
How can I get UVC disinfection for my workplace or premises?
UVC disinfection requires specialised equipment.
For effective total-room disinfection, a device with a 360 degree, floor-to-ceiling range is required. Our THOR UVC robot is a category leader in this regard.
How does THOR UVC work?
A set of 24 UVC emitters positioned around the robot ensure that germicidal light reaches all areas of the room – and because it’s height-adjustable between 1.1 metres and 2.25 metres, it can ensure floor-to-ceiling disinfection.
THOR begins by intelligently and automatically mapping the room where it has been placed, by using three pre-treatment room scans. It then delivers a near comprehensive (99.9999%) kill of COVID-19 and other bacteria and viruses in minutes.
Is THOR UVC easy to use?
Yes – THOR UVC is designed to be used by your existing staff. You won’t need additional specialised staff or consultants to operate it for you.
The device is controlled by a custom wireless touchscreen tablet, which is supplied with THOR UVC. A simple on-screen interface allows the user to control THOR UVC, and to quickly begin its room scanning and disinfection processes. It also allows the viewing of reports on previous disinfections.
THOR UVC must of course be moved into each room it will be disinfecting. A combination of castor wheels and an ergonomic handrail mean it’s easy to move around for regular disinfection of an entire facility.
Is THOR UVC safe?
Yes – but UVC disinfection should always be conducted in rooms without any humans or animals present.
THOR UVC makes it easy to ensure this is the case – wireless remote control via the included tablet means that there’s no need to touch the device itself to begin its scanning or disinfection programmes.
In addition, four motion sensors positioned around the perimeter automatically switch off the UVC light should any movement in the room be detected.
How much does UVC disinfection equipment cost?
Our costing is bespoke to your requirements. To get pricing for your premises, please email our international sales team or call us on:
UK: +44 (0) 207 193 5641
USA: +1 844 4 346736
Aus: +61 1300 665 884
