Improving Indoor Air Quality through the Use of Ultraviolet Technology in Commercial Buildings.

There are nearly 6 million commercial buildings in the United States. People working in those buildings can fall victim to allergies, sick building syndrome, or building related illnesses caused by poor indoor air quality. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) in a building's HVAC system is one approach to improving air quality and reducing the health risks of its occupants. When considering the HVAC design of a building, the owner has to take into consideration many factors and the facility's intended use and budget are two major factors. The owner's analysis should consider life cycle costs and the potential impact of design solutions on the future occupants. Indoor air quality can have a significant impact on productivity, absenteeism, and perhaps insurance premiums. UVGI may or may not be a feasible or proper solution for every case, however, the pros and cons of the UVGI technology should be weighed and examined more carefully as a viable solution. The goal of this paper was to review information as it related to positive and negative aspects of the UVGI technology. Areas analyzed included the ability of the UV systems to improve indoor air quality, ozone generation, and economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]