August 23, 2022
Abellio Bus London installs UV-C technology as an added layer of protection from COVID-19 for staff at bus depots
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August 23, 2022
Abellio Bus London installs UV-C technology as an added layer of protection from COVID-19 for staff at bus depots
As we now begin to enjoy life as we knew it in the pre-pandemic days, there is no denying that the fear of infections is something we need live with. However, with the news talking about different variants of the virus, there is also the fear of the unknown, what the next virus will be, and how this will affect us. As COVID -19 cases continue to be reported, however big or small the number, we must take action to prevent infection and transmission and to protect us from whatever the future may hold.
It’s no news that COVID-19 disrupted life in every way for individuals and for businesses. The pandemic created a sudden need to adopt technologies that could keep life as close to 'normal' or to keep services uninterrupted. The impact of the pandemic on businesses has been huge, presenting many firms with challenges such as business continuity, staff welfare and ensuring workplaces are COVID safe.
Abellio Bus London, part of the Abellio Group, a major transport operator in the UK, realized the need to adopt technology to ensure its employees stayed safe and that the wheels were kept in motion for critical workers and people to move around, when and where necessary. Enter UV-C technology.
Viruses spread primarily through three vectors:
One technology attracting interest is ultraviolet C (UV-C) lamps and luminaires. UV-C as a technology isn't new – it's been used in hospitals and agriculture for decades to disinfect equipment, food and produce. The power of UV-C lighting for disinfection is well known, with applications widely tested since the 1930s and 1940s. UV-C has been used for disinfection purposes across air, surfaces, objects, and water. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an acceleration of interest in this relatively under-sung technology. The technology has proven highly effective against all pathogens tested to date, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19.
At a wavelength of 254 nanometres, the UV-C light inactivates viruses and bacteria by breaking down their DNA and RNA, rendering them harmless. For example, recent research conducted by Boston University shows that more than 99% of the virus that causes Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) was inactivated after just six seconds of exposure to UV-C light sources.
For more than 35 years, Signify (the former Philips Lighting) has been at the forefront of UV technology and has a proven track record of innovation and strong application expertise in UV-C lighting. Recently, new families of UV-C products have been launched – from fixed and mobile units that disinfect the air in a room, to chambers that disinfect objects, to ceiling and wall-mounted luminaires that disinfect when no one is present.
Abellio operates over 800 buses over London on behalf of Transport for London. The buses carry over 150 million passengers annually, with 2,500 staff working to keep the city moving. Like most businesses, Abellio Bus London wanted to ensure that staff at its bus depots are given the best protection from COVID-19 and other biological threats with reference to those areas in its buildings where natural or effective forced ventilation is either less than optimal or non-existent.
With growing insights that the amount of virus in the air will build up in poorly ventilated rooms, the need for a safe, healthy, and ventilated environment becomes even more crucial. The effectiveness of UV-C on the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and other viruses & bacteria, has been validated through multiple independent tests & studies. Our UV-C and air disinfection solutions offer the highest effectiveness for reducing the spread of airborne viruses & infections. We are proud to work with Powercor and Abellio Bus London to provide an added layer of protection, help keep staff safe and play our part in fighting the pandemic. – Martin Davis, Channel Partner Manager, Signify.
Martin Davis
Channel Partner Manager, Signify
Leading UK lighting and electrical contractor Powercor introduced Abellio to the Philips range of UV-C disinfection devices, where they opted to add an extra layer of protection to key areas in the depots. As a result, Abellio Bus London decided to install the Philips range of UV-C technology across some of their depots to add that added layer of protection. A total of six depots have installed Philips UV-C disinfection devices to date. Details of a few:
The Control Room in the Twickenham depot: Powercor installed Philips UV-C disinfection active air devices. These wall and ceiling-mounted units use ventilators to pull air from the room into the device, filter it, then submit it to intense disinfection under two 60W UV-C lamps. The clean air then passes out into the room. UV-C is emitted only within the unit itself, so the process can happen continuously in the background, even while people are present in the room.
The training room in Battersea and in the reception area in Walworth: Abellio opted for Philips UV-C disinfection upper-air devices. This wall and ceiling-mounted device make use of specific reflectors and a louvre design to distribute UV-C light at the device level and above. Air is continuously disinfected as it passes through the unit via natural convection, while normal workplace activities continue in the rooms below.
"Abellio Bus chose to install UV-C because we knew it was proven technology- it has been used in a number of different sectors, for decades - so it was the right choice for us. We are certainly seeing staff confidence improve and are looking at data to to inform future installs to include UVC as part of our COVID security strategy going forward"- John Eardley - Managing Director, Abellio Bus London
John Eardley
Managing Director, Abellio Bus London
Chris Wright
Technical Director, Powercor UK
The pandemic heightened the fact that transport is one of the few critical services we need to keep the city running- even in the face of extreme adversity. If staff are to have the confidence to go to work, greater attention must be given to protection from viruses and ventilation in office facilities. Staff must be able to trust the spaces they work in, surfaces they touch, and the air they breathe – pandemic or no pandemic. This is where UV-C lighting makes a real difference with its extraordinary power to disinfect. Just like Abellio Bus London saw an improvement in staff confidence where they installed the units, I can confidently say UV-C is truly a technology for the new normal.
Any UV-C installation must meet important safety requirements. Always seek professional advice before you purchase. UV-C lighting should only be installed by UV-C installers.
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers and lighting for the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact connected lighting systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. In 2022, we had sales of EUR 7.5 billion, approximately 35,000 employees and a presence in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We achieved carbon neutrality in our operations in 2020, have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for six consecutive years and were named Industry Leader in 2017, 2018 and 2019. News from Signify is located at the Newsroom, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors can be found on the Investor Relations page.
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