What is the difference between UV light and UV-C light?

When it comes to ultraviolet (UV) light, many people have heard of it, but most don’t actually know about the different UV light spectrums and how they work. The term UV describes a range of electromagnetic radiation, and under that umbrella, there is UV-A, UV-B and UV-C light.

Each of these ranges of ultraviolet light occurs naturally, but they are certainly not all created equal. People may be more familiar with the term UV light and have a negative perspective. This is due to the education through organisations on the cancerous hazards from the sun to our skin and eyes.

So what are the differences between these forms of UV light and how can it be harnessed for good?

In the simplest of explanations, these ultraviolet lights vary in wavelength. UV-A has the longest wavelength, while UV-C light has the shortest wavelength. UV-A and B are the main culprits for sun damage to the skin as they are able to get through the ozone layer effectively. The shorter the wavelength, the more harmful the UV radiation is to organisms such as humans, animals, and plants. This may be cause for alarm, but fortunatley this form of UV is not able to penetrate the earth’s atmosphere and thus does not pose a natural risk.

It is this short wavelength and UV-C’s powerful radiation that allow it to be used in man-made technologies such as germicidal UV-C lighting. At STER-UV, we harness UV-C light technology to safely and effectively destroy the molecular structures of pathogens by damaging their RNA and DNA, thus inactivating them. UV-A and UV-B light cannot be harnessed in the same way as their respective wavelengths cannot effectively inactivate or destroy pathogens.

UV-C light is thus unique in its UV class due to its ability to perform germicidal functions. Disinfection occurs when electrical energy is converted into light waves and emitted into the air and onto surfaces and objects. Due to its effectiveness on pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, moulds, and fungi, this light source is extremely effective in keeping people safe by sanitising and disinfecting the indoor air,

This technology has been reactivated due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with UV-C light technology shown to be 99.97% effective in killing viruses.

At STER-UV we know UV-C. We are able to assist organisations across all industries, including but not limited to hospitality, aviation, medical, retail, education, and government, to keep their doors open and operations as normal with confidence. By using our UV-C light technology, they ensure that their people and their visitors are protected from pathogens and know with confidence, they’re protected.