UV Medico, a Danish manufacturer of filtered UVC systems, has installed a UV222 Wall at a pharmaceutical facility in Europe.
The newly installed UV222 Wall from UV Medico is designed to provide an additional decontamination step at this point in the personnel flow, using filtered 222 nm Far-UVC.
The UV222 Walls make the transition between gowning and entry into a classified cleanroom an important point for contamination control.
The system is mounted flat against an existing wall at the cleanroom entrance, allowing personnel to stand in front of the unit before crossing into the classified area.
According to UV Medico, the installation adds a 20-second cycle to the existing entry routine without requiring major changes to the cleanroom layout.
Wall-mounted approach
The UV222 Wall is an adaptation of UV Medico's UV222 Booth, developed for facilities where available floor space is limited.
Rather than enclosing the operator, the wall-mounted system presents a single emitter plane against the existing wall. Personnel stand on designated floor markings and activate the system without touching it.
This format is intended particularly for existing or brownfield cleanroom facilities, where introducing additional contamination-control equipment can be difficult because the layout and personnel flows are already established.
By using the wall rather than a freestanding enclosure, the system can be positioned within circulation space while leaving existing personnel routes and sightlines largely unchanged.
The unit is specified according to the entry point it serves, with the installation designed around the requirements of that particular location.
Does the UV222 Wall have any health and safety impacts?
There have been concerns raised from individuals involved in the pharmaceutical industry regarding how the UV222 Wall might impact operators' eyes.
“Operators using the Wall wear protective glasses as part of their cleanroom gowning. Far-UVC is blocked by those glasses. In addition, each decon cycle stays within national and international exposure limits for eyes and skin,” wrote a representative from UV Medico on LinkedIn.
222 nm is largely absorbed in the outer, non-living layers of the skin and eyes, which is why the UV222 Wall can treat gowned operators directly, within international exposure limits.
The UV Medico representative said that the company works based on the scientific evidence and exposure limits currently available.
“Our systems are designed to operate within those limits, and if the science or regulations change, we will adapt accordingly.”
20-second decontamination cycle
Once fully gowned, an operator steps onto the marked position in front of the UV222 Wall and hovers a hand over the start sensor for two seconds.
The system then runs its 20-second cycle, applying filtered 222 nm Far-UVC to the operator before they proceed into the cleanroom.
Activation is touch-free, with the same sensor used to stop the cycle if required.
An emergency stop is also provided for servicing and cleaning.
The UV222 Wall isn't an air shower. It acts on surfaces.
"Even after correct gowning, microorganisms can be on the gown surface, and the Wall adds a 20-second step to inactivate them before the operator enters the classified area. It's an additional layer, not a replacement,” wrote a representative from UV Medico on Linked In.
An integrated status light indicates the operating state of the system, including ready, starting, in use, complete and fault conditions.
The status indication combines colour and audio signals, allowing operators to check the system without using a touchscreen, display or handset.
The absence of physical controls and adhesive labels is also intended to support use in classified environments, where surfaces need to remain smooth, cleanable and resistant to shedding.
Far-UVC at the cleanroom entry point
The UV222 Wall uses filtered 222 nm Far-UVC, a wavelength technology that UV Medico says is designed for use in occupied spaces when installed and commissioned in accordance with applicable exposure limits.
The approach provides a chemical-free decontamination step, with no chemical residues introduced into the personnel flow.
For cleanroom operators, the system is therefore positioned as an additional contamination-control measure between gowning and entry into the classified environment, rather than as a replacement for existing gowning or cleanroom procedures.
“Operators might keep generating contamination once inside, where gowning, operator behaviour and Air Changes per Hour (ACH) remain the main controls. But, the data from our multiple customers says otherwise, as we have significantly reduced their environmental deviations,” wrote a representative from UVMedico on LinkedIn.
The installation at the pharmaceutical cleanroom demonstrates how Far-UVC technology can be incorporated into an existing personnel route without requiring a substantial change to the surrounding cleanroom infrastructure.
