How does the Halo Disinfection System Compare to UV?
By now you know that without effective disinfection, it’s nearly impossible to prevent disease-causing pathogens. The real question that remains is, “what’s the simplest way to achieve whole-room disinfection?”
Whole-room, “no-touch” solutions to disinfection like UV and fogged disinfectants are attractive in the battle against pathogens because they take human error out of the equation. Because the majority of the work is done automatically, it’s not left up to overworked employees with too much to do and not enough time.
The two current whole-room, no-touch solutions that exist are ultraviolet light (UV) or fogged hydrogen peroxide vapor or mist. The major difference that exists between the two currently is regulation. Fogged disinfectants fall under the purvue of the EPA, and are regulated just like any other chemical disinfectant, while UV systems are not.
However, beyond regulation, there are a number of other differences as well.
A UV system only disinfects areas with a direct line of sight. Because of this, bacteria and viruses are allowed to collect in unlit areas. While the majority of the room may be disinfected, the undersides of door-handles and desks, corners of cabinets and micro-cracks and crevices might not be. These areas are already problem areas where pathogens tend to hide, and if a UV system isn’t followed up with manual disinfection, pathogens can grow and replicate in these areas with ease.
Even repositioning the unit several times in order to reach all the surfaces in the room takes time and doesn’t ensure that these problem areas are properly disinfected. It also carries a risk of cross-contamination because it can move pathogens that are hiding on the surface of the UV system from an untreated area to an area that already has been disinfected.
And there’s more.
UV disinfection has material compatibility issues, so textiles must be removed from the room before treatment and windows must be covered. And many common materials may yellow and break down from use.
The Halo Disinfection System
Fogging with an aerosolized hydrogen peroxide system (such as the Halo Disinfection System) achieves whole-room disinfection, even in the hard-to-reach areas that UV systems miss. Because the disinfectant “blooms” like a standard aerosol, there’s no need to reposition the fogger, and the only room prep required is covering the HVAC vents.
Another distinct advantage over UV is that the Halo Disinfection System has been approved by the EPA. That means the HaloMist label, the user manuals, website information and product brochure are subject to ongoing review by the EPA. You can be sure of the claims being made, because they’re tightly regulated. Which is something you don’t get from UV systems.