Where Is UV Light on the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

Electromagnetic energy travels in waves and covers a very wide spectrum from short gamma rays to long radio waves, with x-rays, visible light, and UV light in between. Only a small portion of this electromagnetic spectrum is visible light that the human eye can detect. An x-ray machine detects a different portion of the spectrum, and a radio detects yet another portion of this spectrum. 

People use electromagnetic energy every day, when they send a text message, watch television, listen to the radio, or use a microwave oven. The world as we know it would not exist without electromagnetic energy.

UV Light and Visible Light

Ultraviolet (UV) light is actually not visible to the human eye, with shorter wavelengths than visible light. Visible light can be seen at wavelengths measuring from about 400 to 700 nm, with 400 nm light being purple or violet in color. UV light is emitted in shorter wavelengths in the range of 100 to 400 nm, closest to the violet color on the visible spectrum, thus is coined beyond violet, or ultraviolet.

UVA, UVB, & UVC

Ultraviolet radiation has many practical uses and provides many benefits to industries and applications to help the human race.  Ultraviolet light is further broken down into three categories, UVA, UVB, and UVC light.  UVC is the shortest wavelength and, when emitted from the sun, is completely absorbed by the ozone layer, although it is proven to provide powerful germicidal properties. 

Scientists and lighting engineers replicate UVC radiation when manufacturing UVC bulbs that provide powerful germicidal properties in many environments, including air disinfection, surface, and water sterilization. UVB lamps are commonly used in many medical phototherapy applications, bringing relief to a wide range of people suffering from skin disorders, acne, psoriasis, and eczema, and also helping people with mood disorders and depression. UVA lamps are also useful in medical phototherapy applications and are also the commonly known black light. Black lights do much more than illuminate psychedelic posters, they help crime scene investigators identify organic material and bodily fluids and help prevent fraud with currency validation.

No matter what type of UV light bulbs you require, working with a reputable UV lamp manufacturer is the best way to ensure quality lamps, as not all UV lamps are created equal.

LightSources is recognized as a leading global supplier of UV light bulbs with a wide selection of standard shapes and sizes and custom options available, including UV light tubes, U-shaped lamps, and custom designs. Contact us to learn more about the many UV lamp solutions we provide with high-quality, and high-tech UV lamp engineering.

UV Light Keeps Kitchens and Restaurants Cleaner

Restaurants have been finding innovative ways to keep patrons safe from germs while keeping their doors open.  Ultraviolet (UV) light and the powerful germicidal benefits of UVC energy is nothing new, although restaurant owners are taking notice of the many ways this germicidal technology can help their business.  UVC lamps are part of many systems worldwide such as air purification systems, water disinfection systems and surface sterilization systems. 

Where UVC Lamps Help Restaurants

High intensity UVC lamps have proven efficacy in eliminating a wide range of harmful pathogens including viruses, bacteria, mildew, and mold.  This germicidal technology can be harnessed in various systems to protect food directly in addition to protecting surfaces, water, and the air in enclosed spaces.  Here are some of the most popular areas of installing UV sterilization lamps for restaurants and food service applications:

Food irradiation - The short wave electromagnetic energy has powerful sterilization effects, keeping food safe with UV germicidal irradiation.  UV lamps can help to keep food fresher, longer, and prevent early spoilage as well as preventing many harmful germs like E. Coli and Salmonella. 

Kitchen hood exhaust systems – UV energy has the ability to prevent the buildup of grease in commercial kitchen hoods.  This mitigates fire risk, reduces equipment maintenance, and prevents foul odors that can occur from grease buildup.  

Keep walk-in freezers clean – UV lamps prevent mold and mildew from forming in cool, damp places like walk-in freezers which is critically important to storing fresh food and meeting health code regulations. 

Air sterilization in eating areas – sterilizing the air that circulates through a restaurant’s HVAC system helps to keep patrons safer with cleaner, purified air.  UV lamps in HVAC systems keep the air cleaner by eliminating airborne pathogens and removing foul odors from the air. 

UVC Lamps for Restaurants and Kitchens

LightSources is a leading supplier of UVC germicidal lamps found in UV sterilization systems worldwide.  We offer a wide selection of germicidal lamps including:

• Low pressure mercury lamps

• Medium pressure UV lamps (MPUV)

• Amalgam lamps with proprietary technology

• High intensity UV lamps

• Specialty UV lamps

• Customizable lamp design solutions

• Prototype solutions

LightSources offers quality UVC germicidal lamps engineered with proprietary technology that outlasts and outperforms comparable lamps.  

LightSources employs the leading, high-tech UV lamp engineers in the industry with deep technical knowledge of UV radiation and lamp design.  We follow a strict quality policy as part of our ISO9001:2015 registration and provide quick turn-around time to meet your production schedules.  Contact us to learn more about how our high-quality germicidal lamps can improve your restaurant and kitchen UV sterilization systems. 

What Are the Benefits of HVAC UV Light Systems?

Heating, venting, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems continually circulate air in homes, offices, and commercial properties like hospitals and schools. HVAC systems provide the extremely important function of providing heat, air conditioning and improving indoor air quality, although they can also spread of airborne contaminants, odor and illness.  HVAC UV light systems help to improve indoor air quality, equipment efficiency and can provide many additional benefits.

HVAC UV Lights Improve Indoor Air Quality

Ultraviolet (UV) lights designed to emit wavelengths in the UVC range, specifically at 254 nm, are known to quickly kill viruses, bacteria and many other contaminants including mold, mildew, and fungi. UV radiation has been used for decades in applications like healthcare and hospitals and is endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, as an effective way to combat the spread of tuberculosis and other airborne illnesses.  UV light is proven effective in killing many types of microorganisms including antibiotic-resistant superbugs like MRSA that can linger in patient hospital rooms after discharge. 

The inside of HVAC units are dark and damp, the ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. UV lights positioned to eliminate the growth of mold and mildew inside equipment improves the air quality by not spreading mold spores and fungi and also improves efficient operation of equipment. Several studies have shown that UV lights in HVAC systems help to prevent symptoms in people with mold induced asthma and respiratory illness.

HVAC UV Lights Improve Equipment Efficiency

HVAC UV lights improve efficient operation by keeping equipment clean and free from mold and mildew. This reduces maintenance expenses and allows equipment to operate much more efficiently.  UVC lamps also eliminate foul odor and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are also known to cause illness and throat, nose, and eye irritation. 

HVAC UV lights improve indoor air quality and efficient equipment operation as well as these many additional benefits:

• Kills airborne microorganisms including bacteria and virusesliminates contaminants, allergens such as mold, mildew, and fungi

• Eliminates foul order and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

• Improves efficient operation of HVAC systems

• Reduces required HVAC maintenance 

HVAC UVC Germicidal Lamps

UV lights for HVAC systems provide a healthier living environment and improve efficient HVAC operation.  LightSources offers germicidal lamps for HVAC systems with vast experience in UV air purification system technology.  Our germicidal lamps are developed with proprietary technology that delivers longer life, energy savings and high performance.  We provide custom lamp designs including custom phosphor blends to meet your exact specifications. 

LightSources and valued partner LightTech, along with our partner companies Cerlux, LCD Lighting and Voltarc make up the LightSources Group, leading global suppliers of UV lamps for germicidal and many other applications.  Our germicidal lamps are found in air purification systems, water treatment systems, surface sterilization and more.  Contact us to speak with an engineer about our high-tech UVC germicidal lamps for HVAC systems and the benefits with LightSources technology.