This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
ACHRNews logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ACHRNews logo
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
    • The NEWS eNewsletter
  • News
    • Breaking News
    • Newsline
    • FYI
    • Distribution Trends
    • Standards & Legislation
    • Manufacturer Reports
  • Products
    • HVACR Industry Store
    • Top 20 Products of 2018
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • AHR 2019 Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Infographic
    • Photo Galleries
    • Webinars
    • eBooks
    • The NEWS HVACR Quiz
    • Online Poll
  • Refrigeration
    • Refrigerants
    • Refrigerant Regulations
    • Reclaim
    • FROSTlines
  • Service
    • Testing, Monitoring, Tools
    • Duct Dynasty
    • Service 101
    • Components & Accessories
  • Business 101
    • Training & Education
    • Service, Apps & Software
    • Opinions
    • Guest Column
    • The Coach's Blog
  • Residential
    • Home Automation
    • Residential Ductless
    • Residential Geothermal
    • Residential IAQ
    • Residential Cooling Showcase
    • Residential Heating Showcase
  • Commercial
    • Internet of Things
    • Commercial Ductless
    • Commercial Geothermal
    • Commercial IAQ
    • Commercial Cooling Showcase
    • Commercial Heating Showcase
    • Marijuana Market
  • Directory
    • Manufacturers
    • Wholesalers
    • Consultants/Services
    • Manufacturers Reps
    • Associations
    • Parts & Equipment Exporters
    • List/Update Your Company
  • More
    • Editorial Calendar & Editor Assignments
    • Calendar of Events
    • Classifieds
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Continuing Education
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eProduct Info
    • White Papers
    • Contests
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit a Letter
Home » UV Lights Prevent Contamination in Grow Facilities
TopicsMarijuana Market

UV Lights Prevent Contamination in Grow Facilities

uv1
Aaron Engel is vice president of business development for Fresh-Aire UV, www.freshaireuv.com. Engel can be reached at aaron@freshaireuv.com or 800-741-1195.
uv2
CLEAN AIR: The UV systems will also deactivate airborne biological contaminants introduced from outside air.
uv3
GET LIT: 5280 Weedery in Denver recently installed four UV-C lights on each of its air handling unit cooling coils.
uv1
uv2
uv3
April 25, 2018
KEYWORDS marijuana / Ultraviolet (UV-C) HVAC Technology
Reprints
No Comments

UV Lights Prevent Contamination in Cannabis grow facility owners and managers take painstaking measures to maintain their growing areas free of mold, mildew, fungus, and other biological contaminants. However, the air handler system supplying conditioned air can very well be generating and distributing airborne microbes throughout the building. These drastic consequences affect the cannabis plants’ viability, quality, and growth.

The dark, damp environments within the HVAC systems are known for generating and harboring biological contaminants, such as mold and fungus on cooling coils, within the unit enclosure’s interior surfaces and the condensate drain pan.

Consequently, biological contaminants are then distributed throughout the facility via the air handler ventilation and ductwork.

Furthermore, grow area mold and fungus can also be drawn into the unit via return air cycles and redistributed.

Grow facility managers are learning from the health care industry and installing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) light systems designed to be installed in HVAC systems.

Health care associated infections (HAI) have been caused by pathogens on high-touch surfaces or transmitted through the air within health care facilities for decades.

However, the health care industry has successfully applied UV technology, combating HAIs, and biological contaminants in general, with UV-C light systems mounted inside HVAC units and ductwork. 

One medicinal marijuana cultivation facility, 5280 Weedery in Denver recently installed four UV-C lights on each of its two 1,250-square-foot flower room’s 12.5-ton air handling unit cooling coils. 5280 Weedery operates a 4,000-square-foot growing facility complete with a retail medical dispensing facility. Principal Cesar Vazquez III was inspired by the HVAC industry’s success in using UV-C to eliminate any potential of airborne mold or yeast. The UV-C is preventing any mold growth on coils and interiors of the units, according to Vazquez. He now plans on installing six in-duct UV-C light kits in the metal ductwork that distributes conditioned air into the facility.  

UV-C light system lamps in grow facilities range from 15 to 60 inches long. They’re typically positioned a few inches from the downstream or wet side of the HVAC system’s coil, where they sterilize microbes 24 hours a day and discourage biological growth and accumulation. The UV-C light from coil-disinfection will also indirectly treat the interior HVAC unit surfaces and the drain pan, depending on its configuration. 

Besides internal HVAC system components, the UV-C lamps also disinfect airstream biological contaminants as they pass through the UV field. Grow facilities can benefit from deactivating problematic mold and fungus because they contribute to many issues within a grow-op, such as powdery mildew.

Most grow-ops are programmed for a relatively high recirculation rate from the HVAC system. Every pass of air through the high-output UV-C array increases the disinfection rate. The UV systems will also deactivate airborne biological contaminants introduced from outside air.

Besides coil-mounted systems, some UV-C light system designs can treat both supply and return airflow with in-duct mounting. Airflow, in-duct lamps are positioned parallel to the duct run, which exposes pathogens to a longer disinfection dwell time as they pass through the UV-C field. Return air duct is preferred because of its slower air velocities, which result in increased dwell time.

UV-C lights mounted on coils also have energy-efficiency benefits. Virtually all evaporator coils suffer from biofilm, which creates friction and increased static pressure that causes the blower and HVAC system to work harder and less efficiently. The coil's heat transfer also decreases. Even a slight fouling of 1.5 thousandths of an inch of bio-film can have a dramatic efficiency loss. Conversely, clean coils can deliver an impressive 30 percent increase or more in cooling capacity when compared to dirty and fouled coils.

Publication date: 4/23/2018

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!

Subscribe to The NEWS

Related Articles

Cultivation Facilities: UV-C’s Role in Protecting Crops and System Efficiency

Tamper-Evident Straps Prevent Refrigerant Cross-Contamination in HVACR Systems

Fresh-Aire UV®: Commercial UV Light Rack System

UV-C Light Benefits in HVAC Applications

Related Products

HVAC and Refrigeration Preventive Maintenance

HVAC Light Commercial Service Agreements: Book

Lessons Learned in a Boiler Room: A common sense approach to servicing and installing commercial boilers

Airflow in Ducts

Related Events

How to Win More Jobs in Residential and Light Commercial with VRF Technology

Related Directories

UV Resources

Fresh-Aire UV

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscription Center
  • Subscribe
  • Online Registration
  • E-Newsletters
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content What Is Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the ACHR News audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep.

Close
Trane-indoor-air-quality-product-01
Sponsored By
Trane Residential

Protecting Your Customers’ Indoor Air Quality Is More Important Than Ever

From seasonal maintenance to a system upgrade, your business is actually centered around providing the best indoor air experience, with quality at the core.

Popular Stories

Breaking News - The ACHR News

Ingersoll Rand Increases Prices on HVAC products

R-22 Phaseout

Using (or Abusing) the R-22 Phaseout as a Sales Tool

Senate HFC Phasedown Bill

Senate HFC Phasedown Plan Debuts With Broad Support

Breaking News - The ACHR News

Lennox Industries Inc. Announces Price Increase

Troubleshooting-situation

Troubleshooting Puzzle: An Uncomfortable Bedroom

The ACHR News Airpod Giveaway

Events

December 7, 2019

2019 HARDI Annual Conference

The major 4-day event for HARDI members brings together distributors, manufacturers and other vendors ready to drive their businesses forward. 

September 16, 2020

2020 World Congress for Solar Cooling

IASC seeks submissions that represent the best contemporary and innovative technology and thinking about Solar Cooling from a global and diverse range of designers, consultants, practitioners, engineers, architects, educators, thought-leaders, students and other professionals concerned with cooling, people, buildings and energy.
View All Submit An Event

Poll

Holiday Appreciation

What is your preferred way to show employees your appreciation during the holiday season?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

"More & New" HVAC Spells Wealth - book

"More & New" HVAC Spells Wealth - book

See More Products
The NEWS - ACHR - Logo The NEWS - ACHR - Digital Edition
Digital Edition

ACHRNEWS

The ACHR News - December 2, 2019

2019 December 2

Week 1: December 2
In this issue of The ACHR NEWS, we look at unique applications of HVAC technology, and new markets contractors should consider expanding into.

Week 2: December 9
We also examine Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology, and the benefits that contractors can pass along to their customers through the equipment.

View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • Submit a Letter
    • Submit a Press Release
    • Mechanical Group
    • List Rental
    • Ad Specs
    • Reprints
    • eProduct Info
    • Survey And Sample
    • Privacy Policy
  • Want More?
    • Subscribe
    • Connect

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing