commARCH - October 2017

Page 43

PROJECT

hvac

UV Technology Fights Infection Student health benefits from the use of ultra-violet rays.

ORDINARY ROOFS WASTE ME

HYDROTECH ROOFS LEVERAGE MY POTENTIAL

UV fixtures at Schenectady County Community College, Schenectady, NY, fight a war against infectious diseases, providing a healthier campus.

A

s the winter months approach, the threat

plained Yauney. Part of his infection-fighting arsenal

of cold and flu lingers in the back of every-

is an electrostatic fogging machine that decontami-

one’s mind. This is especially true at col-

nates an entire room, even under the tables, during

leges and universities, where thousands of students,

an outbreak. “All of our disinfecting agents are envi-

faculty, and staff congregate, bringing germs with

ronmentally friendly,” underscored Yauney, as he

them, sharing them in confined spaces.

explained a pressure washer he uses to clean bath-

At Schenectady County Community College,

rooms once a week. In fact, his stockpile of disinfec-

Schenectady, NY, director of facilities, Alan Yauney,

tant has even become a source for other local facility

has been fighting the war against infectious diseases

managers when they run out of sanitizing agents at

for the past seven years. He previously spent 13 years

their facilities.

in a similar position at the Univ. of Alaska. It’s a war

Recently, he deployed another weapon in infec-

the veteran facility manager is well armed to fight,

tion control–Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) germicidal irradi-

bringing a host of infection-fighting technologies to

ation–which has fostered an affordable level of up-

the battle, and not just hand sanitizer (although

per-air purification previously unattainable.

there is certainly plenty of that). “We have sprays over our bathroom door handles

WHY UV-C?

that periodically release germicide to eliminate the

UV-C systems have been used to control airborne

viruses and bacteria that people leave behind,” ex-

infectious diseases in schools and hospitals since the commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

OCTOBEER 2017

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

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