Sparks Electrical News June 2020

LIGHTING

14

SHEDDING LIGHT WITH PHILIP HAMMOND

The light at the end of the lockdown tunnel

I 'm sure most of you feel much as we do. Whilst we have coped well with the lockdown, mainly because we have always worked from home and online, we are all COVID-19 maxed out. Whether one listens to the radio or watches TV news channels, there is no end to the virus, but we need some good news too. I look at my son’s little Yorkie; we can tell he is down if his tail droops; when his tail is up, he’s a completely different character. I do not mean to liken any of us to a dog, but we respond similarly by nature. Good news automatically perks us up and we feel better. In fact, so much better that we could perhaps endure more lockdown (though I hope not). There has been good news and good information. Lighting contin-

industry from throughout Southern Africa and the rest of the world. Content focuses on subjects such as Standards and Compliance; the spectral quality of light; lighting economics; lighting design philoso- phy and best practise; and Fourth Industrial Revolution lighting tech- nology and controls. It is easy to complain, become de- pressed, fail to identify opportunities and be reluctant to accept new ideas. However, it is at times like these that we should grab the opportunity to investigate ways to reinvent our busi- nesses, and to strategise for the future and the new way in which we will do business or practise as professionals. There is light at the end of this tun- nel, but that light will only be as bright as we make it by being creative.

some of which relate to marketing and sales and have given me some fresh new ideas suitable for our businesses too. I have been privileged to listen to and participate in webinars pre- sented by some of the leading light- ing designers and engineers in the world, all of whom were presenting from their homes. I encourage readers to look out for webinars irrespective of the subject. There are many being presented so, of course, it is important to look for the most authoritative. I present weekly webinars on vari- ous lighting subjects. The webinars are well attended and, with the num- ber of attendees limited to 100, it is important to register to attend early. They are attended by my students, architects, consulting electrical en- gineers and people from the lighting

ues to develop at a considerable pace. There has been interest in the various types of UV light, though hopefully not because of the sug- gestion that human beings can ingest UV light to protect against the virus as stated by Mr. Trump, but rather because of real interest about how UV light could effectively be used to disinfect hospitals, pub- lic transport, workplaces and retail stores before shops are reopened each day. I regularly attend webinars pre- sented by professional institutions such as the IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers, Chicago, Illinois, USA), the ILP (The Institution of Lighting Professionals, UK), CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers), IESSA (Illumination Engineering Society of South Africa) and various others,

ABOUT PHILIP HAMMOND Philip Hammond is the Director and Principal of BHA School of Lighting which offers a variety of courses from entry level Foundation Lighting right through to Advanced Diploma and Mas- ter Diploma in Illumination Engineering Courses. Other courses include Photom- etry, Lighting Economics, Relux Lighting Design Software courses, and more. Visit www.bhaschooloflighting.co.za

Stay Safe, Stay Home

Unleashing the power of ultraviolet light

ventilation in the room. Contaminated air, at an upper level,passesthrougha ‘UV-zone’whereitisdisinfected. The Foundation also donated mobile UV-C units that can be wheeled to parts of a hospital for the disinfection of surfaces. One of the first hospitals to receive such units was the 1,000-bed Huoshenshan Hospital, in Wuhan, China. This is the hospital which grabbed headlines for being built in just 10 days. ONCE BioShift® UV-C germicidal chambers have also been donated and pressed into action. After five minutes of exposure to UV-C radiation, the non-med- ical items inside the chamber can be reused safely. Safety first UV-C lighting is a technology whose time has surely come. It represents a highly effective means of disin- fection and greatly limits the use of chemicals. How- ever, it must be used with care and systems installed, managed and disposed of professionally. Exposure to UV-C radiation can quickly burn the skin and cause eye damage. It is vital that all safety instructions are followed, and shield- ing is in place and people absent when neces- sary, depending on the type of system being used. Signify foresee wide-ranging applications for UV-C that extend well beyond the disinfection of hospitals. But for now, it is gratifying for the company to know that the lighting technology it is providing is on the front line helping to eliminate the spread of the virus.

SIGNIFY is harnessing the beneficial germicidal and antiviral properties of UV-C to aid in the disinfec- tion of hospitals, schools and more. Its Ultraviolet C (UV-C) product line has found itself in the front line in the fight against the spread of viruses and bacteria. But what is UV-C? How exactly is it help- ing and what products do we currently provide? Breaking down the ultraviolet spectrum The Ultraviolet light (UV) portion of the spectrum spans 100-400 nanometers (nm) and is divided into different types. Most of us are familiar with UV, in the form of UV-A and UV-B in sunlight, which makes people tan. UV-B has medical applications such as the treatment of psoriasis and is also responsible for the formation of bone-strengthening vitamin D in humans. Then there’s UV-C, which is an invisible light that is hazardous to humans and thankfully is filtered out by the Earth’s atmosphere. Found within the range of 200-280 nm, UV-C has beneficial germicidal properties and can break down the DNA of bacte- ria, viruses, fungi and mould spores. Signify’s con- ventional Philips UV-C lamps have the same shape as its well-known fluorescent tubes but without the phosphorous coating. They emit a peak wavelength of 254 nm which has been proven to be very ef- fective for breaking down the DNA of viruses. The slightly blueish hue they emit is due to a small peak at 437 nm, in the visible portion of the spectrum, oth- erwise UV-C is invisible to the human eye. GULF SHORES, in the USA, has installed new solid-state lighting (SSL) based on amber LEDs along coastline areas where sea turtles nest. The monochromatic amber wave- lengths do not confuse hatchling turtles that rely on an in- stinctual attraction of cool-white moonlight reflecting off the ocean as a guide to the safety of the sea. The luminaires fur- ther feature a design that protects the dark sky. Meanwhile, turtles and other wildlife have thrived around the globe this spring with coronavirus-driven restrictions keeping people off beaches. The Gulf Shores specification team ensured that the Lu- minis Maya fixtures did not attract the attention of hatchlings; a reflector directs light downward and the installation includes a shield that is installed under the top reflector on the ocean side of the luminaires. The half-cylinder shield reflects the light inland from the ocean and away from the sand. The luminaires have been installed along streets and boardwalks in beach areas. Luminis is a brand of The Lu- minaires Group having been bought by that company in 2016. More recently, Acuity Brands acquired The Luminaires Group last year.

Present portfolio Signify’s current product range consists of Philips UV-C lamps and drivers that are provided to OEMs that integrate them into systems to disinfect water, surfaces or air. In addition, Signify’s ONCE BioShift® UV-C germicidal chamber resembles an industrial mi- crowave oven in which items can be placed for speedy disinfection. Available in several sizes, it was originally conceived for bio-security applications in agriculture, such as disinfecting instruments, but is now finding wider use. For example, some police stations are using the chambers to disinfect guns, radios and handcuffs. Responding to a crisis In this time of global crisis, Signify have ramped up pro- duction of Philips UV-C lamps as they can play a vital role in OEM products to disinfect hospitals and schools. Long used for disinfecting drinking water, UV-C is also ideal for disinfecting public transportation, as well as offices, industrial, retail, and public buildings. It has a vital role to play in helping to protect people and in preparing and maintaining public facilities for when activities resume. The Signify Foundation has purchased UV-C air and surface disinfection systems and donated them to hospitals in China, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Paki- stan, Philippines, Poland, Spain and Turkey, with more countries to follow. Systems acquired from OEMs include air disin- fection units suitable for use in rooms where COV- ID-19-infected patients are being treated. These ceiling-mounted units rely on natural or mechanical

Enquiries: www.signify.com

Sea turtles thrive with amber LED lighting

Enquiries: www.luminus.com

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JUNE 2020