Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Ultraviolet Light

Since its outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, coronavirus has become increasingly concerning. The spread of the virus has had a number of effects on the lighting industry. Much of the lighting industry is located in China. A great amount traditional lighting is now manufactured there, and many LED companies manufacture their products in Chinese plants. Longer Lead Times for Light Fixtures & Bulbs For lighting designers and installers around the globe, the fact...

Whether your are on 23 ft cabin cruiser or a 100 ft yacht, chances are you store fresh water. Marine fresh water tanks are designed for storing potable water. The larger tanks with capacity to accommodate several days away from port are found in yachts, large sailboats and deep sea fishing boats. The water that ends up in these tanks can come from many different sources - when options are limited sometimes the water can...

Learn how blacklights and blacklight fixtures are used in commercial and governmental applications such as admissions control, fraud detection, and organic material inspection. Blacklights may be most well known as a novelty form of lighting, but their use extends far beyond cool lights and special effects at concerts and other events.

Learn why ultraviolet lamps and equipment require specialized ballasts. Beyond space-saving and higher efficiency operation of UV lamps, germicidal ballasts can also provide important safety features for equipment operators and the air or water purification equipment itself.

The germicidal portion of the ultraviolet spectrum provides an extremely powerful method of addressing sanitation issues for both water and air environments. We have already addressed UV water applications in another blog post. In this post we will look at both commercial / industrial and residential applications for using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to disinfect room air. UVGI has been available for decades and used primarily in specialized industrial and medical applications. Increased interest by...

Should water used by the public be disinfected with chlorine or ultraviolet germicidal light? This post looks at the pros and cons for each approach. Whether it’s water used in food processing or water that comes out of a faucet for drinking or water in a municipal swimming pool, elimination of harmful bacteria and other pathogens is a principal safety concern both for government and business entities as well as the general public. For years...

Most germicidal bulbs look like linear fluorescent light bulbs. They have the same shape. They share similar base types. Both use low pressure mercury arc technology. They both have hot cathode and cold cathode lamp types. They both use external ballasts to regulate voltage between the building and the lamp. And both produce the same ultraviolet radiation inside the bulb. However, germicidal light bulbs can't usually be purchased in general home improvement stores, where fluorescent...

The fluorescent blacklight category consists of bulbs with phosphors that create a peak wavelength at 365 nanometers. This part of the spectrum is called UV-A, and it is just inside the boundary with visible light. However, UV-A bulbs are considered ultraviolet bulbs as their peak wavelength is in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. Blacklights have two different designations, which you can usually find at the end of the part number for a given bulb....

Purification of water has become a hot topic in recent years, as new studies have shown that most chemicals that are commonly used for water purification, for example chlorine, are slowly losing the battle against certain bacteria and pathogens. These bacteria have become immune to these chemicals over time. In response, talks have now turned to UV light. There is no known virus or bacteria that is immune to (UV) ultraviolet light. The EPA has...

With Spring finally here in most of the United States, one concern of many homeowners is pond maintenance. Having a pond in backyard can be a great addition to a property's landscaping, especially if there are Koi and other colorful fish in the pond. A water purification system usually includes a UV lamp which serves two functions: sterilizing and clarifying the water. 1. Disinfect Your Pond with UV Light Any pathogens in the water may...

With the arrival of Spring and sunnier skies, it is worth a reminder about the power and harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Sunlight contains both UVA and UVB radiation. These are invisible wavelengths beyond the blue end of the electromagnetic spectrum. UVA, the tanning (and skin wrinkling) portion of the spectrum, is often mistakenly regarded as less harmful than UVB rays. It is true that UVB packs more energy than UVA. Unprotected skin will burn,...

The sounds of Spring. Rain and thunderstorms, birds that are finally coming back after a long winter, and ZAP! That's right, it's time to talk about bug zappers, an invention that has come a long way since it was first patented in 1934. How Bug Zappers Work Bug zappers, despite many improvements in safety and insect luring potential, are basically the same as they were when first invented. An ultraviolet emitting light bulb attracts insects...

For fighting off bugs during the summer months, learn about two lighting options: bug zappers and yellow bug lights. Discover the pros and cons of each. Which one is right for you?