UV-C in the Fruit and Vegetable Industry - Advanced Air Hygiene

Advanced Air Hygiene have identified the problem and created a solution for the prevention of cross contamination of bacteria in the fruit and vegetable industry.

The Problem
Over the last 50 years global demand for fruit and vegetables has significantly increased especially in high-income countries as people start to focus more and more on the health benefits. Due to the perishable nature of these products one of the biggest obstacles to meeting this increase in demand is from food spoilage. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has estimated that about 25% of all worldwide food production is lost after harvesting due to insects, bacteria and spoilage. Economic losses due to insects and microbes have been estimated to be as high as $17 billion yearly in the US alone.

Depending on the specific fruit or vegetable and their individual growing and harvesting conditions they can arrive at the storage, processing and packing stages contaminated to varying levels by these micro-organisms. Over a short period of time they multiply until there are millions of them in the air, causing cross-contamination of nearby products, accelerating their spoilage and of greater concern potential health issues for workers who are ingesting large quantities of these microorganisms.

It is during these stages where the UV-C products supplied by Advanced Air Hygiene can really help reduce the levels of these airborne spoilage bacteria resulting in a longer product shelf-life and improved health of workers.


The Solution
Consistent disinfection of the circulating air in all production and storage areas with the stand-alone circulating air units AirStream C or AirTube C or as additional equipment for ventilation systems in the form of AirStream , and AirStream V for circulating air evaporators. This regular cleaning of the air stops the colonies of microorganisms from developing into huge numbers helping to maintain the health of workers and preventing products from being further contaminated.

In addition to this using their product decontamination tunnels as close to the product packing stage of the process will improve the product shelf life further by destroying many of the microorganisms that are already on the surface of the food.


A further application is surface disinfection with the SurTech system or an integrated solution with the Compact lamp IP 65.

For more information and to see their products, look on Advanced Air Hygiene's website or contact them today.

UVC Air Conditioning for Offshore Oil and Gas Industries

Air hygiene for offshore oil and gas industries improves the health of employees by effectively destroying micro-organisms which build up in air conditioning systems through UVC and air oxidation. Effective UVC systems prevent health issues accruing in employees by providing air quality in accommodation rooms, offices and recreational areas.

While there are many different companies offering similar systems with the same benefits it can become a daunting task to appoint which system is best for you, your business and employees health. This article focuses on the issues that develop in offshore oil and gas systems particularly in heating, ventilation and cooling systems which then causes health problems among staff, we then look at the solutions and benefits of using UVC.

Advanced Air Hygiene state that their effective UVC and air oxidation will improve the air quality in HVAC systems. Below are the areas which are affected most by contamination:

Return Air and Fresh Air Mixing Chamber
Pre Filter and Mixing or Bag Filter
Cooling Coil Section and Drain Pan
Supply Air Ducting (From The AHU to the conditioned rooms)
Occupied Rooms
Return Air Ducting (From the conditioned Rooms to the AHU)

Return Air and Fresh Air Mixing Chamber 

This is where the contaminated air returns from occupied areas which may contain viruses and bacteria. The fresh air may also be contaminated depending on where it has come from, but will most certainly contain particulates.

Pre Filter and Mixing or Bag Filter 

Filtration is essential in any HVAC system to stop particulates. The normal system would have an F7 pre and bag filter. The bag filter is designed with concave chambers to increase the surface area so that the capacity of the filter to hold particulates is increased. The Filter density can be increased to HEPA which will filter very small particulates and some microscopic pathogens. Increasing filter density will increase the pressure drop within the system which in turn will increase the load on the Fan and therefore, increase the running cost of the system. Some HEPA Filters are impregnated with disinfectant but this can degrade very quickly in adverse conditions such as High Humidity.

The filters do not kill living organism which in fact double every 4 hours with viruses doubling every 2 hours. Due to the conditions within the cooling coil, chemical cleaning is not an option and will not prevent the increase of microbial colonies.

Cooling coil section and drain plan 

This is where the main cause of air pollution occurs within the HVAC system. Again chemical cleaning is not an option due to conditions within the cooling coil and the regularly this would have to take place to be effective.

UVC emitters should be fitted across the cooling coils which will then emit continual dose of light. Because the cooling coil is in a fixed position, a low amount of UVc will produce a large dosage over 24 hours. This will keep the cooling coil completely free of Bio-Film which in turn will significantly improve the general air quality.

Cooling coil without UVC 

Cooling coil with UVC

Over the past 5 years air oxidation has been developed to operate in high volume HVAC systems which you would find in the oil and gas industries. 

Supply Air Ducting

 a) A UVc Duct Module should be fitted into the discharge ducting. This can be either by a large plenum installed in between the AHU and the first division of the ducting or a number of smaller UVc Modules installed in each ducting leg. The most important point to understand when employing this method is that the UVc emitters must run in line with the duct. The Dosage of UVc applied must be calculated based on the size of the duct in section and the speed of the air as it passes through the duct. By offering the UVc emitters to run along the length of the duct we can ensure that the air is exposed to the UVc for as long a time as possible. b) When it is not possible to find the space for a UVc Duct Module or for a retro-fit, we can use Advanced Oxidation Probes to achieve the result.

Typical UVc Duct Module 

Occupied Rooms 

In sleeping quarters a build up of viruses and bacteria occurs often and can be prevented by utilizing of the Air Treatment as described above. In Modular Accommodation the deployment of a standalone UVc Air Disinfection Unit in each room will solve the problem.

Return Air Ducting

If it is not possible to deploy either UVc modules or Advanced Oxidation probes in the supply air ducting for occupied rooms, a reasonable alternative would be to fit UVc or Advanced Oxidation Probes into the return air duct. This method alone will not improve the general air quality without treatment to the cooling coil but it will prevent cross contamination by eliminating the Viruses before they can get into the supply air system.

You can find the full article on: www.aahygiene.com/news/uvc-air-conditioning-for-offshore-oil-and-gas-industries/

For more information on UVC, air oxidation and air hygiene systems please visit www.aahygiene.com

Improving your Employees' Health with Advanced Air Hygiene

Sick days can be troublesome in many workplaces. It always appears that a colleague or employee is off sick when you need them the most. A great way to improve the health of you and your employees is by opting for Advanced Air Hygiene.

Contaminated air coming through your ventilation in the workplace can be an often overlooked common cause of many health problems. UV-C Technology cleanses the air coming in through your ventilation systems to bring any microbes down to almost zero.

Our research on the affects of UV-C on health found that having cleaner air in the work place, which is one of the places that you spend the majority of your time, can have really positive affects on the health of both you and your employees.

Our research was a double blind trail, therefore participants had no way of knowing whether or not they were feeling the affects of cleaner air. When the results were collected, one that stood out the most was that participants had 40% less problems with breathing and less respiratory problems. This fact alone shows how much of a difference cleaner air can have, it can literally improve your breathing to inhale cleaner air.

A result that stands out the most to employers however is that all participants had fewer absences from work after their ventilation was changed to UV-C. 30% also had less mucous membrane problems and 50% had less problems with muscle pain. Overall, the results showed that making such a simple change in the workplace can have a really positive effect on your staff. Healthier employees are happier, work harder and stay motivated for longer.

So make the one simple change now that can seriously improve the health and motivation of your employees today. Visit Advanced Air Hygiene.

Cooling your Baked Goods with Advanced Air Hygiene

Bread Cooling can make or break your product. If it's done right, the bread remains light and tasty as it should, however if it's done wrong, the bread can become stale or even soggy, not very appetising at all, is it?

Advanced Air Hygiene will not only make sure that the bread cooling process is done right, but makes sure your bread and any other baked goods are safe from micro organisms and germs. It is very important during the cooling process of any baked product that the process is not rushed. The products can not be reduced to a temperature too cool, or too hot. The UV-C air conditioning system is under high control to assure that any of your cooling products are reduced to room temperature in perfect, steady timing.

After choosing to use UV-C Air Conditioning, the microbial contamination in the air is reduced to virtually zero. This leads to your products being fresher, for longer and often exceeding their expiry date. Less micro-organisms in the air means less micro-organisms reaching the products, less chance of contamination and a longer life for the product.

We assure you that you can put your trust in us to make sure that the bread cooling process of your products is done at the highest level of hygiene and control. Our UV-C disinfection systems use spiral coolers to constantly provide you with fresh, clean and disinfected air.

Visit our website to find out more about how you can make the most of your product life - http://www.aahygiene.com/industries/bakery/

Food Safety through Surface Disinfection Systems

Within the food industry it is crucial that food hygiene and safety standards are always met and achieved, otherwise health risks in staff and customers could arise and also food spoilage.

Health issues in people and food spoilage is caused by the build up of microorganisms such as bacteria, mould, yeast and viruses which are passed through the air by air conditioning and refrigeration systems. You also find, typically in the food industry, conveyor belts, surfaces, filling machines, foil and plastic lids become contaminated with microorganisms.

Surface disinfection systems offer the perfect solution to prevent and reduce the build up of microorganisms on all the above surfaces and equipment by providing effective disinfection through intensive radiation with UV-C. UV-C technology can effectively destroy 99.9% of bacteria.

Below are the different surface disinfection systems from Advanced Air Hygiene, who provide their air hygiene solutions to all industries across the UK and Internationally.

Surface Disinfection Systems 

SurTech Surface Disinfection System 

Provides effective hygiene and disinfection to through UV-C radiation for conveyor belts and cutting belts within the food industry. For more information please click here. 

UV-C Compact Luminare Surface Disinfection System 

The UV-C compact fixture has been designed to provide excellent disinfection to small areas and spaces through UV-C compact emitters. For more information please click here.

UV-C Moisture Proof Luminare Surface Disinfection System

The UV-C moisture-proof fixture, which complies with protection class IP 65, has been specially developed for use in particularly damp and dusty environments. For more information please click here. 

IP 65 UV-C Compact Lamp

The IP 65 UV-C compact lamp provides highly effective protection from dust and water through UV-C compact emitters. For more information please click here. 

Knife Sterilizers 

UV-C sterilizer for knives uses germicidal UV-C rays which destroys up to 99.9 % of microorganisms including bacteria and viruses. For more information please click here. 

All surface disinfection systems displayed are from Advanced Air Hygiene who also specialise in air disinfection systems, water disinfection systems, exhaust air purification systems and power check for all types of industries. 

Please visit www.aahygiene.com for more. 

The Benefits of Air Hygiene in the Food Industry

Food hygiene is crucial to everyone's health so it's of crucial importance specific measures and systems are put in place to ensure high standards of hygiene is always met for everyone. 

Systems such as air hygiene can provide the correct air disinfection using UV technology. They use germicidal effect of UV-C radiation which effectively prevents the microbial build up found in air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

The systems will improve the health of your staff and customers and the hygiene of your food products, increasing the shelf life of food during the food processing stages and storage. The systems will also help to improve the HVAC efficiency.

How does UV-C technology improve health?

When air is contaminated with microbes in the ventilation systems it can cause health problems. UV-C air hygiene systems prevent this from happening by reducing the concentration of microbes and endotoxins by up to 99%!

Advantages of UV-C air hygiene to health:

• 40% fewer respiratory problems **
• 30% fewer mucous membrane problems **
• 50% fewer complaints about muscle pains **
• Fewer absences due to illness **
• Healthier staff **

** Dick Menzies, Julia Popa, James A Hanley, Thomas Rand, Donald K Milton. Effect of ultraviolet germicidal lights installed in office ventilation systems on workers’ health and wellbeing: double-blind multiple crossover trial. The Lancet – Vol 362 – pp. 1785 - 1791, November 29 2003 – www.lancet.com

How does UV-C air hygiene improve shelf life? 

Food is spoiled when the air is contaminated with bacteria, moulds, yeasts and viruses. The UV-C air hygiene solutions prevent this from happening by reducing the microbial contamination by up to 99%. 

Advantages of UV-C Technology to the food industry:

• Extended shelf life
• Customer complaints are reduced
• Fewer product returns
• Improved freshness
• Contributes to HACCP and improves hygiene standards
• Quality assurance
• Fewer product losses - more profit!

How does UV-C air hygiene improve HVAC efficiency? 

Air contaminated by bacteria, moulds, yeasts and viruses causes microbial build-up on the heat exchange plates, primary condensate drain pans and intermediate drain pans of the cooling coils and eliminator sections in air handling units. This problem also affects the system ductwork, resulting in increased resistance to air flow and a loss in thermal efficiency.

The UV-C air hygiene solutions from Advanced Air Hygiene will help to prevent the microbial build up by reducing the contamination up to 99% on a recurring basis. 

HVAC Advantages of UV-C preventing microbial build up

• Improves Heat Transfer
• Reduced Compressor run time
• Reduced Compressor maintenance 
• Compressor life increased
• HVAC system life increased
• Net cooling capacity improved
• Thermal comfort increased

The following benefits can also be realised:

• Lower density filters can be used
• Between a 10-20% reduction in energy consumption
• Can go for years without cleaning coils, drain pans & ductwork, which can be a significant cost saving.

Advanced Air Hygiene have provided their UV-C air hygiene solutions to a vast range of industries including butchery and meat, bakery, fruit and veg, fish, dairy, health, elite sports facilities, modular buildings, oil industry and ventilation and air conditioning across the UK and Internationally. 

If you would like to know about how you can improve the health of your staff and customers, increase the shelf life of your food and more through air hygiene please visit aahygiene.com

Reasons to Use Advanced Air Hygiene's Technology

Advanced Air Hygiene aim improve the air quality of your establishment through their innovative technology that is able to clean the air of a building. They are the UK's leading specialists in Air Disinfection using UV Technology. Their systems use the germicidal effect of UV-C radiation to prevent microbial build up in Air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration systems. Pioneers in their field they can offer the best possible quality machines to help clean the air in your work place and insure that this is done effectively. Advanced Air Hygiene has a strategic partnership with Ferguson Engineering Northern Ltd to design and manufacture bespoke UV-C product decontamination tunnels for the food industry, thus ensuring that they can offer the best possible products. Based in Cheshire they can offer their service to a range of areas such as Warrington, Manchester, Liverpool and many other areas. Advanced Air Hygiene can also offer their service on an international level meaning that they can send their advanced technology to other countries as well.

3 reasons to use their technology:

Helps to prevent sickness- by simply having clean air rather than pumping the same air around the office you can prevent the spread of sickness by stopping germs from spreading around your office by simply using this technology.   

Keeps employees from taking sick leave - by reducing sickness in the office you are effectively preventing the number of people who call in sick as you will prevent sickness from spreading around the office, thus costing you money and time. 

UV-C Technology Increases Shelf Life of Food- Air Hygiene plays a key role in the longevity and food safety of raw materials and products because micro-organisms that cause spoilage and food poisoning are able to spread easily via the air causing contamination. The disinfection systems from Advanced Air Hygiene provide an efficient remedy to this problem.

Here are all the advantages of  UV-C Technology:

• Prevents germ build-up in HVAC systems by up to 99.9% on a long-term basis
• Fulfils the hygiene requirements of VDI 6022
• Disinfects 24 hours a day
• Is proven to reduce sickness figures helping to increase productivity
• Can extend Shelf Life of food
• Is practically maintenance-free
• Dispenses with the need for chemical cleaners which can be expensive and harmful to health and the environment
• Has an excellent price/ benefit ratio
• Are easy to integrate into existing and planned systems

Click here to find out more information about Advanced Air Hygienes technology. 

5 Reasons To Choose Advanced Air Hygiene

Advanced Air Hygiene strongly believe that clean and uncontaminated air in the work place can help to improve productivity of you staff as it means that less staff members will become ill through the spread of infection. They have created a system that uses UV technology to draw in microbes like fungi, bacteria and germs in order to subject them to the radiation, which will destroy 99.9% of all microbes that are exposed. Air Hygiene systems can be vital in food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries but can also be used in office blocks, factories, hotels, ships, elite sporting facilities and accommodation and work-space modules. Advanced Air Hygiene are based in Cheshire in the United Kingdom but are able to offer their solutions to clients all over the globe.

5 reasons to chose Advanced Air Hygiene Systems:

1) Improved Air Protection - it can reduce the spread of infection as it will destroy 99.9% all micro-organisms using it's UV radiation. This will help to stop the spread of any infections as all microbes will be drawn into the system and terminated, thus protecting your products.

2) Increase Shelf Life of Food - air hygiene can help play a key role in the longevity and food safety of raw materials. The micro-organisms that can cause food spoilage or even food poisoning can easily travel by air which makes this system highly effective in helping increase longevity of food.

3) Reduces Carbon Emissions - this system is able to prevent the possibility of  microbial and bacterial accumulation on the primary cooling coils and condensate drain pans in HVAC systems. Thus, this system will help to make sure that your HVAC Unit system is kept well maintained and functional, whilst still being able to save you money on your energy bills as it produces less carbon emissions.

4) All Day Protection - the system will be active all day, every day in order to ensure that their products are able to be utilized at all times. 24/7 protection means that your workplace will always be protected from threats of micro-organism that may spread infection and illness.

5) Healthier Staff - by making sure that air quality is improved the system makes sure that your staff are fully protected and can work productively at all times. Advanced Air Hygiene's system is proven to reduce respiratory problems by 40% thus showing how effective this system can be as it will help to reduce absences in your work place.

For any further information please click here.

Air Disinfection system | Advanced Air Hygiene | Cheshire

Air hygiene may not seem a big concern to an employer, but it can be crucial to both your business and your staffs wellbeing. Advanced Air Hygiene are the leading pioneers in the field of air disinfection as they have created a way of using UV technology to help tackle this problem. This unique system uses the germicidal effect of UV-C radiation to prevent microbial build up in Air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration systems, thus making your work environment's air much cleaner in general. Based in Weaverham, Advanced Air Hygiene can cater its services across all of the North West, the UK and Globally.

One of their most popular products is there Air Disinfection system that is able to reduce the risk and spread of bacteria, fungi, germs and viruses. Not only can these cause health issues for your staff but they could also contaminate your products if you work in the food and beverages industry or even the medical sector. However, their system can also be applied in office blocks, factories, hotels, ships, elite sporting facilities and accommodation and work-space modules. Advanced Air Hygiene’s systems work by exposing the contaminated air to UVC radiation which will then destroy up to 99.9% of the microbes. Once again showing how effective and efficient their solutions can be.

Here are some of the main reasons why their technology is so effective:

• 40% fewer respiratory problems
• 30% fewer mucous membrane problems
• 50% fewer complaints about muscle pains
• Fewer absences due to illness
• Healthier staff

For any further information about Advanced Air Hygiene and to learn why air hygiene is so important click here.