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Infusion laboratory managers seek additional ‘layer’ of protection against airborne bacteria and other contaminants Managers at a Texas-based medical infusion laboratory recently took proactive steps to protect the laboratory environment from airborne pathogens using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation technology (UVGI or UV-C), which kills or inactivates infectious diseases. Since the 1940s, UV-C light has been used to Read more

Infusion laboratory managers seek additional ‘layer’ of protection against airborne bacteria and other contaminants

Managers at a Texas-based medical infusion laboratory recently took proactive steps to protect the laboratory environment from airborne pathogens using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation technology (UVGI or UV-C), which kills or inactivates infectious diseases.

Since the 1940s, UV-C light has been used to mitigate the risk of nosocomial infections in health care settings—including clinics, surgical suites, emergency room waiting areas and patient rooms—for its ability to kill all known microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, molds and other pathogens – even those that are antibiotic resistant.

At the infusion laboratory, facility managers selected two UV-C technologies to control microbes and bio-aerosols: 1) upper-room UV-C disinfection units in the laboratory common area and anteroom and 2) UV-C fixtures in the HVAC supply air units to clean airstreams and cooling coils.

The UV-C devices, along with higher efficiency air filtration were implemented to supplement the center’s already rigid infection-control protocols for disinfection and sterilization. The 24/7 pathogen-killing, germicidal wavelength provides an extra level of protection for the infusion laboratory.

IAQ Energy Solutions, a Texas-based UV-C equipment distributor, was called in to meet with managers to see how UV-C would ensure the greatest practical control of microbes and airborne microorganisms in the laboratory area. Dan Young, Sales Manager at IAQ-Energy, contacted Dean Saputa, Vice President of Sales for UV Resources, who has extensive experience with UV-C in upper air applications. Saputa, who has also served on the ASHRAE technical committee TC 2.9, Ultraviolet Air and Surface Treatment since its inception, supported Young’s recommendation to add four high-output GLO™ upper-room UV-C fixtures to protect the laboratory and anteroom. Airborne microorganisms generated by people and materials entering and exiting the area are reduced as the microorganisms are carried, via the natural rise-and-fall of air convection currents, into the irradiation zone created by the upper air/room fixture.

The GLO fixture delivers the industry’s greatest amount of upper room UV-C dosage – up to 350 percent more irradiance than conventional upper air UV systems. This increase in irradiance levels translates to greater germicidal coverage, enabling infection control specialists to treat more square foot area with fewer fixtures, saving both cost and energy.

According to Saputa, airborne droplets containing infectious agents from occupants with a cold or flu can remain in room air for six minutes or longer. Upper-air UV-C fixtures can destroy those microbes in a matter of seconds and they operate 24 hours a day for continuous control.

In order to gain the most practical control of the lab environment before implementing more rigorous and expensive measures, UV-C was also installed downstream of the dedicated air handler’s cooling coil to destroy microbes in air and on interior surfaces. A 20-inch UV-C lamp was installed in the unit’s 1,000 CFM fan coil that serves to keep the laboratory under positive pressure.  A third UV-C fixture, the Stinger, was installed, along with reflective material to amplify UV-C energy, in the VAV box that provides the laboratory with supplemental air from the BBU (base building unit).

Both units, available from UV Resources, are designed to efficiently destroy surface microbes and degrade organic materials that impede HVAC system efficiency, as well as inactivate airborne-transmitted pathogens.

In HVAC systems, mold and bacteria can grow in damp areas around cooling coils, drain pans, plenum walls and filters. This environment also allows viral agents to remain viable for much longer periods. Growth of microbial deposits also leads to coil fouling, which increases coil pressure drop and reduces airflow and heat-exchange efficiency. As HVAC performance degrades, so does the quality, [amount and pressurization capability] of air supplied to conditioned spaces.

Double Helix dna strand before after UVC-HI

Saputa notes that in addition to inactivating pathogens on HVAC surfaces, a typical coil-irradiation system utilizing 360-degree UV-C irradiation, can kill up to 35 percent of infectious agents moving through the air. UV-C has been shown to be effective against virtually all airborne viruses and bacteria, including chickenpox, measles, mumps, tuberculosis (TB) and cold and flu viruses.

According to Young, facility engineers and healthcare managers are increasingly looking to UVGI technology for its ability to control airborne contaminants in the occupied space, as well as in the HVAC system itself. In the infusion lab measures cited here, UV-C in upper air and HVAC, along with supplemental filtration, were determined to be an integral part of the cost-effective, easy to implement, and most satisfactory microbial control program.

SIDEBAR:  HOW TO APPLY GERMICIDAL TECHNOLOGY

There are three primary means of applying UV-C for air and HVAC surface protection against infectious agents: 1) Upper-Room or Upper-Air, 2) HVAC airstream disinfection, and 3) HVAC coil/surface irradiation:

Upper-Room Disinfection: The primary objective of upper-Room UV-C germicidal fixtures is to interrupt the transmission of airborne infectious diseases in communal spaces (e.g., waiting areas, cafeterias, sports facilities, etc.). Airborne droplets containing infectious agents can remain in room air for 6 minutes and longer. Upper-Air UV-C fixtures can destroy those microbes in a matter of seconds including measles, mumps, TB and cold viruses. Kill ratios over 99.9 percent on a first-pass basis have been modeled and, as air is recirculated, concentrations are further reduced by each subsequent pass (“multiple dosing”). The Upper-Room UV-C fixtures utilize the natural rise-and-fall of convection or mechanical air currents to lift airborne infectious agents into the upper room where they are exposed to UV-C irradiation and killed.

HVAC Air- Stream-Disinfection: UV-C air disinfection systems are installed in-duct in air-handling units or air distribution systems to inactivate microorganisms and disinfect moving airstreams “on-the-fly.” UV-C exposure and the resulting dosage is determined by the quantity of germicidal energy absorbed by a pathogen over a specific period of time i.e., disinfection is a function of the time and UV-C intensity a microbe is exposed to UV-C energy, and that microbes’ specific susceptibility to UV-C Predictive-modeling based on scientific studies of each pathogen’s susceptibility to UV-C can assist in designing the recommended dosage rates required to kill individual bacteria, viruses, or spores. Studies have demonstrated that viruses (e.g., influenza, measles, SARS and smallpox) are more susceptible to UV-C inactivation than say bacteria.

Coil-Irradiation Systems: Surface-cleaning UV-C systems provide 24/7 irradiation of HVAC/R components to destroy bacteria, viruses and mold that settle and proliferate on HVAC coils, air filters, ducts and drain pans. UV-C prevents these areas from becoming microbial reservoirs for pathogen growth that will eventually spread into airstreams. A system installed for coil irradiation can also have a secondary benefit of eliminating up to 30% of airborne pathogens on a first-pass basis, with ancillary benefits of restored cleanliness, heat-exchange efficiency and energy use.

John and Devynn discuss the idea of knowing the competition in your market. Knowing the services your competition is providing and making the necessary changes on your end can be the game changer you need to succeed as a service contractor. https://youtu.be/fBbWM_c-yH0 Read more

John and Devynn discuss the idea of knowing the competition in your market. Knowing the services your competition is providing and making the necessary changes on your end can be the game changer you need to succeed as a service contractor.

Turning wrenches since he was 17 years old, George DeJesus (@georgetheplumber) considers himself relatively lucky during these crazy times were going through, as the service calls are still trickling in, with some days bit slower than usual. During the current state of the trades during the pandemic, DeJesus says it’s hard going into customer’s homes Read more

Turning wrenches since he was 17 years old, George DeJesus (@georgetheplumber) considers himself relatively lucky during these crazy times were going through, as the service calls are still trickling in, with some days bit slower than usual. During the current state of the trades during the pandemic, DeJesus says it’s hard going into customer’s homes right now, but he is taking the necessary precautions to take to keep himself as safe as he can. Pandemic or not, “I’ve learned to never get too comfortable that the jobs are going to come in,” says DeJesus. “You have to give great customer service so you get called the next time.”

George DeJesus, All Clear Plumbing and Drains, plumbing, drain cleaning, hydronics, boilers, water heating, service tech, radiant heating

DeJesus transferred to a trade school during his junior year of high school and got his first plumbing job at 17, and he hasn’t looked back. “High school just wasn’t for me. Finding this trade was my savior; I could have gone down a very bad road but I got a job, learned this trade and found I could be good at something. From there, it was easy to apply myself. I continue to learn every day, and teach when I can,” says DeJesus.

George DeJesus, All Clear Plumbing and Drains, plumbing, drain cleaning, hydronics, boilers, water heating, service tech, radiant heatingHaving worked with various companies throughout the years has helped DeJesus become very well-rounded, learning more skills with each experience. For the past two years, DeJesus has worked for All Clear Plumbing and Drains, Succasunna, N.J., where he specializes in boiler and drain cleaning residential work, finding gratification in troubleshooting the most difficult service work jobs. “I love being a plumber. It’s hard work but when you have a difficult job and figure it out, it leaves you with great satisfaction,” says DeJesus.

George DeJesus, All Clear Plumbing and Drains, plumbing, drain cleaning, hydronics, boilers, water heating, service tech, radiant heatingDeJesus considers himself very fortunate to have had many mentors over the years, but perhaps none more influential than his father, a very hard working and dedicated general contractor. “There are new skills to be learned and I try to learn as much as I can about each position I take. The friends that I have met through the years are great guys and I love learning and sharing skills I know with them.”

George DeJesus, All Clear Plumbing and Drains, plumbing, drain cleaning, hydronics, boilers, water heating, service tech, radiant heatingWhat advice would DeJesus give to someone thinking about entering the trades? “It’s hard work but a good living. Don’t be lazy. If I’m showing you how to do something, pay attention and get involved. Keep your phone in your pocket. Measure twice and cut once,” says DeJesus.

George DeJesus, All Clear Plumbing and Drains, plumbing, drain cleaning, hydronics, boilers, water heating, service tech, radiant heating

 

One outlet DeJesus has found most satisfying and beneficial is social media. “I have definitely found social media to increase my friendships and knowledge,” says DeJesus. “It’s amazing that no matter how much you think you know, you can still learn more. I talk to most of my Instagram friends more than the friends I have locally. They can relate to what struggles come with the job and can celebrate the triumphs. I’m so thankful to have been able to make friends with so many great people.”

George DeJesus, All Clear Plumbing and Drains, plumbing, drain cleaning, hydronics, boilers, water heating, service tech, radiant heating

A proud install: oil-to-gas conversion; boiler was moved from one side of the house to the other to gain space. Added a zone of heat in the addition with a stat.

Yet one of DeJesus’ biggest struggles is balancing work and family time. In his “spare time,” DeJesus likes going to the movies with his wife and family, and he enjoys taking day trips and weekend trips. “I tend to put too much into my work. Even on my days off or when I get home, I tend to be catching up with IG and social media,” says DeJesus. “Lately, I’ve been trying to teach my kids some of the trade, and I do listen to my wife when she tries to focus me back to family time. Well, most of the time.”

In the end, DeJesus is a craftsman and he is proud of the work he does, and it shows. In fact, when asked when the last time he said, “Man, today is a great day!” he responded that it happened last week with his last boiler install. “I stepped back and felt that it was probably one of my best and favorite installs.”

With hard work and his willingness to get better, the trades have been good to DeJesus. You get what you put into it. “Not many people can say they make six figures and don’t even have a high school degree … well, at least working legally!” says DeJesus.

The reinvigorated program pairs ideas with investment. Did you know that Uponor North America has a division called Uponor Innovations (UI), where highly motivated entrepreneurs can submit innovative ideas and turn them into protected, substantive, viable products or technology? What started seven years ago as a central resource site for entrepreneurs, startups, business owners, management Read more

The reinvigorated program pairs ideas with investment.

Did you know that Uponor North America has a division called Uponor Innovations (UI), where highly motivated entrepreneurs can submit innovative ideas and turn them into protected, substantive, viable products or technology? What started seven years ago as a central resource site for entrepreneurs, startups, business owners, management teams and investors to submit an idea that improves the way people design and construct the human environments, this accelerated think tank of innovative ideas is gaining momentum once again.

According the website (www.uponorinnovations.com), Uponor Innovation’s interests include acquisitions, equity participation and licensing. The approach is to pursue involvement where UI can best leverage mutual success through existing Uponor assets and resources. “Someone may have a good idea, but lack the resources to gain any traction or success,” says Bill Gray, president of Uponor North America. “That’s where Uponor can help. We have a successful and established infrastructure to help introduce ideas, products, processes and technology to our industry.”

Uponor Innovations, Phyn, Belkin, plumbing, HVAC, entrepreneurship, Upstream Technologies SAFL Baffle

The joint venture between Uponor and Belkin was initiated through Uponor Innovations.

A pipeline of ideas, the core concept that initiated the discussion behind Uponor Innovations was that “no one company has all of the good ideas,” says Carl Moe, Business Analyst at Uponor Innovations LLC. “We have the global expertise and employees in technical, marketing and product design areas where we can become a resource for idea generators.”

The force behind UI is that an idea will offer viability and acceptance, which, in turn, will contribute value to society. “We want to invest in an opportunity where the entrepreneur has a good idea and is already in a position to bring it to market—and we can help them. The strategy is for UI to invest more than just money. We have to see a way for Uponor to help leverage or help grow what we perceive to be a very good idea,” says Moe.

Piggybacking off the idea of growing and nurturing a very good idea,“Unlike a venture capitalist, we don’t have to ‘own’ your company. We can own it, but it isn’t a required part of our model. We want to invest in an opportunity where the entrepreneur has a good idea and is already in a position to bring it to market—and we can help them,” says Moe.

Uponor Innovations, Phyn, Belkin, plumbing, HVAC, entrepreneurship, Upstream Technologies SAFL Baffle

Upstream Technologies SAFL Baffle has saved Minnesota taxpayers $8.5 million over the past few years and projects additional savings to the state of $26.4 million over the next 10 years.

Gray believes that building an innovative culture internally and externally is a great opportunity to build products and create new processes and technologies that help its customers differentiate and grow their businesses. “We are looking for products and innovations that align with our sustainability goals and our vision of becoming a ‘recognized leader in sustainable building solutions,’” says Gray.

One recent success story was Uponor’s investment in Upstream Technologies. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Upstream Technologies SAFL Baffle—developed out of the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory—has saved Minnesota taxpayers $8.5 million over the past few years and projects additional savings to the state of $26.4 million over the next 10 years. The product is a proven, cost-effective method to help municipalities, developers, watershed districts and transportation departments improve sediment capture in urban runoff before it goes into storm sewers and eventually ends up in lakes, rivers and oceans. Uponor subsequently supported launch of the Upstream’s new Modified Philip Dunne (MPD) Infiltrometer, which provides an innovative solution for quickly and efficiently measuring the rate of water infiltration into soil.

 

 

Another great example was the joint venture between Uponor and Belkin International to create Phyn in May 2016. Phyn’s mission is to help consumers reduce their water usage and contribute to the global water shortage problem, protect their homes and save money. “There was interest in it at Uponor because it pertains to water management, so the decision was to see if Belkin had interest to take on a partner. I reached out to the exec team at Belkin and introduced Uponor,” says Moe.

Currently, with multiple projects in the pipeline and in various stages of development, Uponor Innovations is an approach to pursue involvement through existing Uponor assets and resources, the UI infrastructure includes staff, funding, manufacturing, marketing, sales, technical support and a national distribution network.

Do you have an idea that would inspire the industry with fresh, innovative and sustainable solutions, and enrich people’s way of life? Uponor Innovations may be worth a look and worthy of consideration. “There is a wide network of really creative entrepreneurial people out there, for whom we would like to widen our front-door welcome mat to Uponor,” says Moe.

As I sat watching the president’s recent press conference on the coronavirus, I listened to a health expert say that sunlight and humidity was a bad thing for this pesky virus. These two things can suppress and kill it. Earlier the same day, the governor of my fine state extended the stay-at-home order to the Read more

As I sat watching the president’s recent press conference on the coronavirus, I listened to a health expert say that sunlight and humidity was a bad thing for this pesky virus. These two things can suppress and kill it. Earlier the same day, the governor of my fine state extended the stay-at-home order to the end of May. I get confused easily, so stay at home but go outside? It’s not safe to be on a golf course or out with my family on a boat, but it’s okay to go shopping for flowers at a big box store with my family?

After weeks of hearing that masks were no deterrent to the virus, now the government is telling us that masks are a good thing. Where do we find these masks now? Most people I know are now making their own and wearing these self-made fabrics when out in groups. Social distancing up to 13 ft., wearing masks in public groups of six to 10 (i.e. supermarkets), proper handwashing, etc., are all effective ways to prevent the spread.

COVID-19, coronavirus, America's Paradox, essential workers, HVAC, plumbing, service technicians, social distancing, flattening the curve

But here’s the thing: After more than a month of being cooped up indoors, I could see this coming from a mile away—people are getting restless. Half want the country to gradually reopen, now. The other half wants to heed the advice of scientists. And there are those that still think this is a hoax, or not that big a deal as portrayed by the “fake media.” The early retort was, “Do you even know anyone that has this disease?” Actually, I do. A few neighbors and a good contractor friend of mine had it. He is healthy, and he said it kicked his ass for the better part of 10 days. He had never experienced an illness like that.

While I tire of hearing of “bending the curve” or “flattening the curve,” especially in my state where we still are hearing about thousands of new cases per day, from what I understand, the shelter in place order is really about keeping the hospitals from becoming inundated with incoming patients. But the “Why can’t the immune-compromised and elderly stay home and let those ‘healthy’ people return to their normal lives” discussions have dominated some circles. Yet the caution here is that people who have it can be asymptomatic for a few days before showing symptoms and could be carriers unknowingly. Again, the dilemma. What to do? What to do?

But, you see, we Americans can be spoiled. You can’t infringe upon our constitutional rights and civil liberties. I can’t say I completely disagree with this. The collapse of the U.S.—and global—economy could have more lasting detrimental effects on families, jobs and mental well-being.

Nevertheless, huge props go out to all of the healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store employees, all of those who still get after it daily. We work in an industry where tradespeople are considered essential, and they continue to go to work every day. Yet, most contractors and service techs tell me they don’t need the accolades, they just want to do their job, and do it well, and safely, of course. Some contractors are adjusting by wearing facial coverings—masks and eyewear—and practicing safe social distancing to keep themselves safe and give the customer peace of mind. Supply houses are adjusting protocols to offer curbside or parking lot pick-ups or letting a few people in the building at a time.

My hope is that we find a cure or some mixture of drug therapies that, if we contract the virus, there’s a very good chance we won’t die if we take the drugs. I’ve been reading success stories regarding plasma infusions that contain the corona antibody, an Ebola drug Remdesivir, and the malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine. All have shown promise in some cases, but potentially deadly—or with debilitating side effects—in others. Some of these controlled trials may take months to fully understand the efficacy, or to issue as an FDA-approved drug therapy.

And another thing. I keep hearing about not enough ventilators: Hospitals are running low on ventilators to help keep people alive. However, in a recent report, nearly all COVID-19 patients put on ventilators in New York’s largest health system died. In fact, a friend of mine recently wrote a piece from the University of Chicago that shows “remarkable” success using ventilator alternatives as a way to treat critical care patients. Something to think about. (https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/uchicago-medicine-doctors-see-truly-remarkable-success-using-ventilator-alternatives-to-treat-covid19)

All signs point to a vaccine as the only way to fully get past this. I recently saw a headline that read “Vaccine Coming Soon.” When I clicked on the story, it mentioned that the vaccine will be here by next spring. SOON?! There will be rioting in the streets if progress isn’t made as early as this summer—or at least opening up the economy in gated stages, which in some parts of the country are starting to implement.

How the world has changed over these past few months. So, where do we go from here? That’s the question we all have been asking ourselves. Information, misinformation, rumors, fake media, etc. all can play into education, and fear. I’ll continue to maintain safe and healthy procedures, heed the advice of people that know more than I do, and always support and commend those that are going above and beyond.