A trial at a hospital in Cambridge has shown when ultraviolet sanitisers were installed in two wards, they deactivated the COVID-19 virus present in the air. Tests before and after showed the virus was active.
This could be equally applied in schools, dramatically reducing risk of infection transmission in schools, and preventing costly heating bills by halting the requirement to have windows open.
The standard was developed by a group of specialist engineers which was led by NHS chief engineer Mike Ralph, who is also a fellow of the institution, and included members of the institution’s pandemic infections control solutions team.
Frank Mills, a founder member of the Pandemic Infections Control Solutions group, said: “The development of this standard will have a huge impact as there is a major drive to improve air quality in healthcare facilities to combat COVID-19. Engineers have been at the forefront to ensure the NHS has the guidance it needs to ensure the sanitisers it buys are fit for purpose and effective in tackling the virus.”
UV cleansers are a lower cost and more flexible solution than HEPA filters traditionally used in healthcare. The UV cleansers can be installed as ‘mobile’ units easily and quickly and plugged into a nearby socket.
Another advantage of UV is the HEPA system has filters which need to be changed regularly and disposed of by a person who is protected in PPE.
The standard was signed off on 20 December and will be issued by the NHS as the standard for all NHS Trusts to use in procuring UV air cleaners. The standard also gives guidance for using them to reduce COVID-19 infections as well as all other airborne pathogens.
For schools, effective ventilation is essential for teaching and learning in a productive environment. Members of the Institution are involved in a trial at St. Teresa’s School, in Morden, Surrey where they have installed one UV unit into every classroom.
The project at the school is supported by an award sponsored by UKRI (Innovate UK) to investigate the use of air cleaners to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in offices, healthcare, and schools.