Germicidal UV light disinfecting units [Pros and cons]

Germicidal UV light, or UV-C light, is getting a lot of attention right now in the fight against COVID-19.

When you use the right products following the right guidelines, germicidal UV light can kill up to 99.9% of germs like viruses and bacteria.

The UV light spectrum runs from 10 to 400 nanometers (nm). The optimal range of light for germicidal UV products is between 200 nm and 280 nm. You want to make sure your UV lighting product contains that wavelength to most effectively kill viruses.

We’re going to take a look at a specific line of products from PURO™ lighting, powered by Violet Defense™ technology, and list the pros and cons for their most popular items.

Puro™ products are broad spectrum UV. Broad spectrum UV includes UV-C, UV-B, and UV-A light. Because the products include wavelengths of UV light that are not considered safe for humans, rooms and areas should be empty when the products are at work.

Here is some basic information you should know about Puro™ products before we get into specifics:

Puro Basics
  • Limited or no degradation of materials – UV light can damage materials, causing them to possibly become brittle or colors to fade. Puro™ disinfection products, powered by Violet Defense™ technology, give out short bursts of UV light instead of steady light to limit any harm to materials and surfaces.
  • Cleared by FDA for use in food areas – Puro™ products are cleared for use in food areas, like restaurant kitchens, and medical areas.
  • UL listed – Puro™ products are UL listed, so you can ensure they meet certain safety requirements.
  • Integrated into building automation systems – You can request for your Puro™ products to be built into building automation systems. This makes it easy to set the time you want the products to turn on and disinfect.

We are going to compare three of Puro™’s products, listing the pros and cons of each, so you can make an informed decision about which product would work best for you. You can click below to jump ahead.

Puro™ Helo F1 – A mounted fixture with a 100 square foot reach

Puro™ Helo F2 – A mounted fixture with a 225 square foot reach

Puro™ Sentry M2-C – A mobile disinfection unit on a wheeled base with locking casters

Puro™ Sentry 4 – A mobile disinfection unit with nearly 360-degree reach

It’s important to note that Puro™ products, and any type of UV light, will not replace manual cleaning measures such as dirt removal from surfaces. Any UV disinfection product is not intended for human use.

Mounted UV disinfecting unit Helo F1

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Where to use mounted UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Helo F1

The Puro™ Helo F1 can be used as a ceiling fixture, wall mount, or plugged in for use on a tabletop surface. It’s ideally used mounted in the ceiling or wall and can fit into a 2x2 space or smaller. You can mount it in the ceiling so it’s either recessed or dropped down.

The F1 has a 100 square foot radius, so it’s ideal for smaller spaces like dorm rooms, small hotel rooms, small restrooms in restaurants or grocery stores, back of house areas, and patient rooms in healthcare facilities.

The Helo F1 comes with several different options and can also be customizable.

Pros of using mounted UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Helo F1

The Puro™ Helo F1 has several advantages if you’re looking to disinfect surfaces.

Puro F1 benefits
  1. Multiple mounting options – You can adjust the Helo F1 to meet your needs in your space. The flexibility in mounting options gives you more flexibility in room design.
  2. Disinfect entire rooms from above – The Helo F1 UV light fixture from Puro™ can hit all surfaces within a room, and it can do it from above if you choose the wall or ceiling mount option. This leaves few places where germs can hide.
  3. Built-in controls and integration – All Puro™ fixtures include built-in occupancy sensors and diagnostic controls to ensure safe operation and minimize accidental exposure of people to the broad-spectrum UV light.
  4. Low power consumption – Because the fixtures use microbursts of UV light to disinfect, the run time is fairly short. This results in lower power consumption than a product that has to run continuously to disinfect. The Helo F1 has a life rating around four years depending on use.

Cons of using mounted UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Helo F1

Puro F1 Cons
  1. Limited coverage – The Puro™ Helo F1 will meet your needs for a small space. However, since it only covers 100 square feet, you may need to buy multiple to completely disinfect your space.
  2. Limited power – The Helo F1 only has one-third of the power as the Helo F2 model. The Helo F1, like other Puro™ products, is broad-spectrum UV. Since it contains UV lights at dangerous levels, humans should not be around when the equipment is running. Typically, the solution to this is to automatically run the product overnight or during a down-time. There are also occupancy sensors on the product, so it will stop as soon as motion is detected.
  3. Kill time – Compared to some of its competitors, the Helo F1 takes longer to kill viruses and bacteria.

Mounted UV disinfecting unit Helo F2

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Where to use mounted UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Helo F2

The Puro™ Helo F2 has the same application as the Helo F1, but it covers 225 square feet instead of 100 square feet.

You can mount the Helo F2 in the ceiling, wall, or also plug it in for use on a tabletop surface.

Pros for mounted disinfecting unit Puro™ Helo F2

Helo F2 Benefits
  1. Broader square footage – The Helo F2 is equipped with two UV light engines, so you get more coverage and more power than you would with the Helo F1. It also has three times the power of the Helo F1.
  2. Multiple mounting options – Like the Helo F1, you can mount the Helo F2 in several different ways. It can be placed recessed or drop down from the ceiling, mounted on the wall, or plugged in on tabletop surfaces.

Cons for mounted disinfecting unit Puro™ Helo F2

Helo F2 Cons
  1. Limited coverage – Even though the Helo F2 covers more square footage than the Helo F1, you may still have to install multiple units to get the coverage you need.
  2. Broad spectrum UV – Like other Puro™ products, the Helo F2 contains broad-spectrum UV. No one can be in the room while the product is in operation.

Mobile disinfecting unit Puro™ Sentry M2-C

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Where to use mobile UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Sentry M2-C

The mobile disinfecting unit gives you more options because you can move it anywhere.

The best applications for the Sentry M2-C include hospitals, airports, fire and police stations, hotels, and restaurants.

The mobile disinfection unit works on a single operation cycle. You select the amount of time you want it to run, turn it on, and then leave the room. This type of product is in particularly high demand with the COVID-19 pandemic because it gives the flexibility to disinfect a large area without installing any equipment and with less capital expense than other UV disinfection units.

Pros of mobile UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Sentry M2-C

Puro Sentry M2-C Benefits
  1. Competitive price – There are other companies that offer a pushcart comparable to the mobile unit Sentry M2-C. Pushcart solutions typically start at around $100,000 with a costly maintenance agreement. The M2-C is also smaller than the pushcarts and easier to push around in busy areas. However, the push carts can often kill germs in a timelier manner than the M2-C.
  2. Easy mobility – Mobility is one of the biggest advantages of the Puro™ Sentry M2-C. Do you have multiple spaces that you need to disinfect at different times of the day? The M2-C moves easily from one area to the other.
  3. Adjustable equipment – The Sentry M2 features equipment that you can adjust, like the height of the head unit. You can adjust the height of the unit to make sure germs are killed. This leaves little room for hiding spots.
  4. Operate any time – Instead of being set on a timer like the mountable units, you can operate the mobile disinfecting unit anytime you need. This is especially beneficial in areas that are in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week like hospital rooms, hotel rooms, or airplanes. You can run the unit once the room is empty.
  5. Multiple applications – Competitor products are primarily focused on hospitals. While the mobile disinfecting units work very well in hospitals, they can also work in a variety of other applications like airports and hotels.

Cons of mobile UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Sentry M2-C

Puro Sentry M2-C Cons
  1. Disinfection time – Compared to competitors, the Sentry M2-C takes slightly longer to disinfect than the $100,000 push carts we mentioned under the “pros” section. Some products have cycles of as little as five minutes. The shortest cycle for the Sentry M2-C is 15 minutes, with the standard of 30 minutes.
  2. Move room to room – While mobility is a big perk for the M2-C, it can also be a con if you have a lot of rooms to clean and want them cleaned at the same time. Moving the mobile disinfection unit around large buildings can turn into a con for certain applications. If this is you, consider the F1 or the F2 fixture above.
  3. Time limits – Because areas where the M2-C are frequently busy or occupied, you can’t count on running the M2-C at the same time every day. You have to make sure the room is clear before you can the run the system.

Mobile disinfecting unit Puro™ Sentry M4

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Where to use mobile UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Sentry M4

If you’re looking for a mobile disinfecting solution with even more power, consider using the Puro™ Sentry M4.

The mobile unit has four UV light engines, covering nearly a 360-degree area. The units are arranged in back-to-back pairs, allowing the germicidal UV light to reach further than with the Sentry M2-C.

Each side of the Sentry M4 can cover up to a 12x12 square foot area.<?

Like the Sentry M2-C, you can use the Sentry M4 in multiple applications like hospitals, airports, fire and police stations, banks, hotels, and restaurants.

Pros of mobile UV disinfecting unit Puro™ Sentry M4

Puro Sentry M4 Benefits
  1. Competitive price – While the Sentry M4 is more expensive than the M2-C, it is still competitive when compared to other similar products on the market. The Sentry M4 starts at $20,999.00, while pushcart sanitizing solutions start at $100,000 with a costly maintenance plan.
  2. Mobility – Similar to the M2-C, the biggest perk of the M4 is mobility. You can use the mobile disinfecting unit in multiple rooms and areas. All you have to do is unplug it from one room and then plug it into the next.
  3. Ideal for larger spaces – Because the Sentry M4 has a larger reach, it’s ideal for larger rooms and spaces.

Cons of mobile UV disinfecting unit Sentry M4

Puro Sentry M4 Cons
  1. Disinfection time – Compared to other similar products, the disinfection time on the Sentry M4 may be longer. Other larger products, like pushcarts, state they can clean in as little as five minutes. While the Sentry M4 can complete a cycle in as little as 15 minutes, the standard is a 60 minute cycle.
  2. Labor required – You need someone to operate the Sentry M4 since you are moving it from one area to another. Mobility is a big perk of the Sentry M4 and other mobile disinfecting units, but it does require a person to operate.

Safety guidelines for germicidal UV lighting systems

Exposure to UV light is known to cause side effects like cataracts and skin cancer.

For that reason, no one should be in the room while any of the Puro™ products are running.

The products all have an occupation sensor installed that detects motion. The system will stop running once motion is detected and start running again several minutes after no motion is detected.

When you’re handling any type of artificial UV light, you want to make sure your following product guidelines. Any variation could result in a hazardous situation.

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