Ultraviolet Air and Surface Treatment
ASHRAE Technical Committee 2.9

The ASHRAE Handbook is published in a series of four volumes, one of which is revised each year, ensuring that no volume is older than four years.  The Handbook can be purchased at the ASHRAE Bookstore by clicking on this link.

The TC is responsible for the following chapter in the HVAC Systems & Equipment Volume
Ultraviolet Lamps
This chapter includes a review of the fundamentals of UV-C energy’s impact on microorganisms; how UV-C lamps generate germicidal radiant energy; various components that comprise UV-C devices and systems; and a review of human safety and maintenance issues.

The ASHRAE HVAC SYSTEMS & EQUIPMENT HANDBOOK may be purchased from the on-line bookstore by clicking on the highlighted text.

The TC is responsible for the following chapter in the HVAC Applications Volume
Ultraviolet Air and Surface Treatment
This chapter discusses common approaches to the application of short-wave ultraviolet (UVC) products. It also surveys the most recent UVC design guidelines, standards, and practices and discusses energy use and economic considerations that arise when applying UVC systems. Other UV-based HVAC applications, such as photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), are not discussed in this chapter.

The ASHRAE HVAC APPLICATIONS HANDBOOK may be purchased from the on-line bookstore by clicking on the highlighted text.

Comment on the Handbook: ASHRAE welcomes your comments on the Handbook or a specific Handbook chapter.  To submit a comment about any aspect or part of the Handbook series, you can use the Handbook Comment Form.

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Technical committees develop and sponsor technical sessions at the winter and annual conferences. Information about their future technical program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Program Subcommittee meeting

ASHRAE publishes papers and transactions from presentations at its conference events. In addition, ASHRAE records most of the seminar sessions from its conferences on DVD. These DVDs are ideal for use at chapter meetings, in university courses, or company lunch and learns. Products available from the most recent conference may be found here.

Recent programs sponsored by this TC

Chicago 2015
Seminar 38: (INTERMEDIATE)
Effective Deployment of UVC in Healthcare Environment
Track: Hospital Design and Codes
Sponsor: 02.09 Ultraviolet Air and Surface Treatment, Environmental Health Committee
Chair: Sam Guzman, Member, American Ultraviolet Company, Schooleys Mountain, NJ
This seminar covers the use and application of UVC (short-wave ultraviolet radiation) energy for the next generation of healthcare facility design, construction and retrofit applications. The session opens with a discussion of the ASHRAE position paper on airborne infectious diseases. The subsequent presenters discuss the use of UVC for in-duct and in-room air and surface disinfection as a preventative measure for infection and disease transmission and control in health-care environments.
1. ASHRAE Position Paper on Airborne Infectious Diseases Shelly L. Miller, Ph.D., Member, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO
2. Upper Air UVC in a Health-Care Setting Richard L. Vincent, Member, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
3. UVC for In-Room Surface Disinfection Ashish Mathur, Ph.D., Member, UltraViolet Devices, Inc., Valencia, CA
4. UVC for In-Duct Healthcare Applications William P. Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Presidential Fellow Life Member, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

New York 2014
CONFERENCE PAPER SESSION 6 (INTERMEDIATE)
Indoor Air Quality: Impact of Variables
Track: Indoor Environmental Health / Indoor Environmental Quality
Room: Sutton North
Chair: John Dunlap, Dunlap and Partners, Richmond, VA
4. Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) in Hospital HVAC Decreases Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (NY-14-C023) Robert Scheir, Ph.D., Member and Timothy Leach, Steril-Aire, Burbank, CA

Denver 2013
Analysis of Chemical and Physical Effects of Ultraviolet Bulbs on Cooking Emissions
1.Farrell -- Analysis of Chemical and Physical Effects of Ultraviolet Bulbs on Cooking Emissions
2.DESPATIS -- UVC for Kitchen Ventilation Systems: How and Why It Works

Technical Committees are responsible for identifying research topics, proposing research projects, selecting bidders, and monitoring research projects funded by ASHRAE. Information about their specific research program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Research Subcommittee meeting.

This TC has the following active research projects

1724-RP:  STUDY THE HVAC SYSTEM PHOTO-DEGRADATION CAUSED BY THE LOW LEVEL UVC LIGHT IRRADIANCE USED FOR COIL MAINTENANCE AND AIR STREAM DISINFECTION
The results of the research will remove barriers to the use of UV for energy savings.

1738-RP:  FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND MODELING OF UVC COOLING COIL IRRADIATION FOR HVAC ENERGY USE REDUCTION
There is anecdotal evidence that UVGI is effective for bio-fouling mitigation with an associated increase in system efficiency, but no independent, third party research exists to back up these claims. Results from this project will enable the adoption of and energy saving technology and will assist vendors, design engineers, and owner/operators in the design and maintenance of healthy, high-performing buildings.

ASHRAE writes standards for the purpose of establishing consensus for: 1) methods of test for use in commerce and 2) performance criteria for use as facilitators with which to guide the industry. ASHRAE publishes the following three types of voluntary consensus standards: Method of Measurement or Test (MOT), Standard Design and Standard Practice. ASHRAE does not write rating standards unless a suitable rating standard will not otherwise be available. ASHRAE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and follows ANSI's requirements for due process and standards development. Standards may be purchased at the ASHRAE Bookstore.

The TC is Cognizant for the following:

Proposed Guideline: GPC 37P: Guidelines for the Application of Upper-Air (Upper Room) Ultraviolet Germicidal (UV-C) Devices to Control the Transmission of Airborne Pathogens
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 185.2: Method of Testing Ultraviolet Lamps for Use in HVAC&R Units or Air Ducts to Inactivate Microorganisms on Irradiated Surfaces

This TC is a member of the following Multidiscipline Task Group

MTG.O&MEE:  Operations and Maintenance Activities That Impact Energy Efficiency
This MTG will coordinate TC/TG/TRG activities to help support the application of ASHRAE guidelines, Standards and other technical resources to support regulatory bodies, utilities, building owners and others who are attempting to enhance efficiency of existing buildings. Responsibilities include suggestions for research, development and presentation of technical programs of all types on maintenance and its impact on energy consumption and efficiency. It will be especially involved with interactions with those who are introducing and evaluating strategies for building efficiency enhancements.

ASHRAE Technical FAQs are provided as a service to ASHRAE members, users of ASHRAE publications, and the general public. While every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy and reliability, they are advisory and provided for informational purposes only, and in many cases represent only one person’s view. They are not intended and should not be relied on as an official statement of ASHRAE. Technical questions not addressed may be submitted to the ASHRAE Technical Services department at tse@ashrae.net.