EXP COVID-19 Offices White Paper

RISK REDUCTION | 19

UVC LIGHT WAND DEVICES (31, 32) UV based solution for PATH 3 airborne particles are discussed in additional detail later. For surface disinfection, newer handheld devices are becoming widely available. Housekeeping staff in hotels can use these devices for high touch areas in guest rooms and restaurant staff can utilize them to sanitize tables and menus between customers. The benefits and concerns with this UV surface treatment are shown as below.

BENEFITS

• Inexpensive • Effective when used correctly • Quick, space is occupiable immediately

CONCERNS

Figure 18. Far-UVC Handheld Wand (30)

• Dangerous for humans • UV requires line of sight, necessitating rotation of surfaces

• Shadows lesson effectiveness • No confirmation of disinfection • Potential human error

BI-POLAR IONIZATION (BPI) Ions are present naturally in the air. They are found in the highest concentrations where the ocean meets the shore and high elevation in the mountains. The bi-polar ionization (BPI) process artificially creates the ions found in these desirable locations and supplies them into the building, enhancing the indoor air quality.

• Waterfalls/Elevation – 5,000 ions/cc • City – 200 ions/cc • Inside Buildings – <100 ions/cc

Bi-polar ionization (BPI) first arrived in the US in the 1970s as a tool to control pathogens in food manufacturing. (32) Since that time its use has expanded into HVAC systems for many different building types. BPI has been touted as a system that could be used to reduce outside air rates in buildings without compromising indoor air quality (IAQ), thus still saving energy.