Airborne Surface Disinfection: Advantages and Limitations

Also known by the acronym “D.S.V.A.,” airborne surface disinfection is frequently used to control microbial contamination. This technique is particularly common in pharmaceutical laboratories and cleanrooms.

How does it work, and what are its limitations? Is there a better alternative? Find all the answers with Photoclean, a specialist in microbiological and chemical air decontamination.

How does the D.S.V.A. work?

This method of surface disinfection involves spraying a decontamination solution into the room using a machine. DSVA allows for the simultaneous treatment of the ambient air, floor, walls, and ceiling, as well as surfaces and equipment, in a single operation. It can be performed as a preventive or curative measure, either on its own or following manual cleaning of the surfaces.

Air decontamination is also very often performed by misting—a compressed-air device dispenses the disinfectant into a hermetically sealed room. The other common technique is fumigation—a gas is introduced into the room, left to act for a specified period, and then removed. Both of these techniques are effective against harmful microorganisms (mold, bacteria, etc.).

Airborne disinfection is effective enough to make a cleanroom operational or bring it back online. However, it has one major drawback: it must be performed when no one is present. As a result of this limitation, contamination becomes possible again as soon as staff reenter the premises.

Finally, in the food industry, for example, it is impossible to use chemicals to disinfect the air and surfaces without removing products and people from the premises.

What is an alternative to disinfection by misting or fumigation?

Regardless of the technique used to decontaminate surfaces (fumigation, misting, D.S.V.A.), the core problem remains the same: as soon as the premises are occupied, the bacteriological risk becomes very real once again.

To address this issue, Photoclean—a company specializing in workplace air quality—has developed an innovative solution that solves the problem. We started with a simple observation: while UV-C disinfection certainly treats surfaces and the air, it does so only intermittently. The idea, therefore, was to find a continuous airborne decontamination process.

We have developed an airborne UV-C disinfection system and a patented medium. The combination of these two elements has enabled us to create a process:

• effective against virtually all undesirable microorganisms;
• energy-efficient, as it causes minimal pressure drop;
• consistently effective, with no impact on your operations;
• Can be used in the presence of staff and products.
• emits no chemicals into the air.

The air disinfection solutions we offer are particularly well-suited for facilities requiring complete control of microbiological contamination. In addition, our technology has the advantage of also targeting VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and toxins that cause unpleasant odors.

This versatility makes UV disinfection of the air particularly valuable for all industrial sectors, from the medical field to the food industry.