FAQs
Here are answers to questions we have received. Don't see your question - please ask! Use the Contact Us link in the menu.
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF THE UVC DISINFECTING CABINET?
The inside dimension of the cabinet is 18”x18”x18”. With this design, you can fit the following products and quantities as an example: Qty 6 N-95 masks, Qty 9 iPhone 11, Qty 2 iPad Air tablets, Qty 1 Macbook laptops (closed), or Qty 6 Xbox game controllers.
WHAT IS THE CYCLE TIME NEEDED TO KILL BACTERIA AND DIFFERENT VIRUS TYPES?
There are different irradiation cycle times required to kill bacteria and other different types of pathogen types. For example, based on independent third-party testing and test results from Boston University, it takes the UV-C LED Disinfecting Cabinet less than one minute to reach the 99.99% kill rate for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
For a full list of pathogens and the associated cabinet cycle, click here.
WHAT IS FAR UVC AND HOW IS OUR TECHNOLOGY BETTER?
Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation in different wavelengths (nm). The UV spectrum is 100-400nm (UV-C to UV-A). The optimal germicidal wavelength, based on CDC guidelines, is 265nm. The FAR UVC spectrum is 222nm. The wavelength of UVC LEDs, which are used in our cabinet, is 275nm. Therefore, our technology using UVC is more efficient and much closer to the optimum wavelength than products using FAR UVC. It is important to note here that the FDA specifies that manufacturer claims of disinfecting products must be substantiated with data. If the manufacturer cannot provide data that their product kills SARS-CoV-2, then the guidance from the FDA is to avoid the product.
HOW DOES THE CABINET OPERATE?
The user manual can be found here.
CAN YOU PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE UVC CABINET AND HOW DO YOU KNOW IT IS EFFECTIVE IN DISINFECTING ITEMS?
The Disinfecting Cabinet is designed to decontaminate contents from harmful viruses and bacteria while providing a safe environment for the workplace. It is a key solution for infection control. By optimally positioning UVC LED modules inside the cabinet to eliminate blind spots, contents are disinfected within minutes. Research and testing have shown that by exposing germs to UVC light for a certain amount of time, at a certain energy level, and at a certain distance will render those germs inactive. See the user manual for detailed instructions. We are also including UVC indication stickers with the cabinet that can be placed within the cabinet to assure the user that the items inside are receiving the required amount of exposure.
HOW IS UVC MORE EFFECTIVE THAN WIPING DOWN ITEMS WITH SANITIZING WIPES?
Disinfecting chemicals can be toxic and harmful to both humans and the environment. Many chemical based sanitizing wipes (like Clorox wipes) require ‘standing time’ to be effective. For example, one of the most popular sanitizing wipe brands is only 99.9% effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 after leaving the chemicals on the surface for two minutes. Our cabinet is 99.99% effective against SARS-CoV-2 in less than one minute by delivering 22mJ of UVC energy (per the Boston University study) and there are no chemicals involved. Not all items can be disinfected by using sanitizing wipes (i.e. electronics). To completely disinfect items, all surfaces need to be accessible. This is achievable using the UV-C LEDs automatically while using wipes requires strict adherence to cleaning protocols.
There are also strict guidelines on properly using sanitizing wipes to reach the proper sanitation level. The American Journal on Infection Control provided a research study discussing these challenges.
IS IT SAFE TO PUT MY CELL PHONE IN THE CABINET?
Yes, UVC LED technology is safe and effective in disinfecting cell phones and other electronic items.
HOW IS UVC LED TECHNOLOGY MORE EFFECTIVE THAN MERCURY TUBES?
UVC LED technology is more effective and offers many advantages compared to UVC mercury tubes. For example, the life span of an LED is 20,000 to 50,000 hours compared to 2,000 to 8,000 hours for a mercury tube. LEDs are more environment friendly since they do not contain mercury and do not generate ozone that tubes produce. Physically, LEDs are available in a smaller form factor, which allows LED disinfecting products to be smaller in size with superior performance. Performance wise, LEDs have a lower power consumption than mercury tubes, and are more efficient since they need zero warm-up time.
HOW DOES UVC WORK IN KILLING VIRUSES AND BACTERIA?
Disinfection performance is a function of the UV dose. The performance result is made up of the amount of LED energy being delivered over time, the distance of the energy to the surface being disinfected, and the duration the surface is exposed to the LED energy. All of these parameters are carefully engineered and validated for the UVC Disinfecting Cabinet.
IS UVC EFFECTIVE AS A GERMICIDAL AGAINST VIRUSES AND BACTERIA?
UVC has been well studied and proven as an effective germicidal against viruses and bacteria.
HAS THE CABINET BEEN TESTED AGAINST COVID-19?
The Disinfecting Cabinet was independently tested at a Class 3 Virology lab at Virginia Tech. The test results showed that the cabinet killed SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
IS FDA APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR THE CABINET?
No, FDA’s guidance is found here.
This cabinet is recognized in Section B (2) as an Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfecting Device. The FDA guidance for our Disinfecting Cabinet in response to COVID-19 is found on page 9:
“In addition, during the declared public health emergency, FDA does not intend to object to the distribution and use of sterilizers, disinfectant devices, and air purifiers that are intended to be effective at killing the SARS-CoV-2 virus but do not already have FDA marketing authorization, without compliance with the following regulatory requirements where such devices do not create an undue risk in light of the public health emergency: prior submission of a premarket notification under section 510(k) of the FD&C Act and 21 CFR 807.81 or submission of a PMA Supplement under section 515 of the FD&C Act and 21 CFR 814.39, Registration and Listing requirements in 21 CFR 807, and Unique Device Identification requirements in 21 CFR 830 and 21 CFR 801.20. FDA believes such devices will not create such an undue risk where the performance and labeling elements in Sections IV.A and IV.B, respectively, are met. As an example, this would apply to a manufacturer of a new medical air purifier that has not been approved or cleared and that is effective in filtering out dust particles and bacteria, where the manufacturer would like to modify the filter mesh size in order to filter out viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus.”
Therefore, the FDA does not require the Disinfecting Cabinet to be approved by the FDA for market in response to COVID-19. Further, as described under the Section A. Performance guidance, the cabinet will meet the design, evaluation, and validation of performance relevant to the enforcement policies set forth in the document.
IS EPA APPROVAL REQUIRED?
No, approval is not required, however, the EPA does regulate UVC devices under their pesticide guidance found here. The Disinfecting Cabinet is a regulated device requiring that the company provide data that shows that we meet the claims that we are making.