UV-C disinfection lighting brings additional safety

EDEKA Clausen in Hamburg is the first EDEKA market in Germany that is installing these UV-C disinfection lighting solutions. The retailer is installing 31 Philips UV-C disinfection upper air luminaires to cover the 1,315.70m² large branch in Hamburg, one-fourth the size of a football field. EDEKA Clausen will also start using one Philips BioShift UV-C disinfection chamber.

"We are proud that we are the first supermarket in Germany to provide both our shoppers and our employees an additional layer of protection," said Dr Dirk-Uwe Clausen, Managing Director of EDEKA Clausen. "We have been working with Signify for many years in the field of lighting and have a common goal to provide our customers with the best possible shopping experience."

UV-C breaks down the DNA or RNA of microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria, thereby rendering them harmless. Signify's UV-C lamps emit a peak of radiation at 254nm, which is near the peak wavelength for germ deactivation, and therefore ideal for disinfecting air, surfaces, and objects.

The Philips UV-C disinfection upper air luminaires at EDEKA Clausen are installed at a height of 3.2 to 3.5m on columns and walls. Additionally, Philips UV-C disinfection upper air luminaires are equipped with shielding and optics to prevent exposure to UV-C radiation, so employees can safely fill the shelves, while customers find their groceries.

The UV-C disinfection upper air luminaires continuously disinfect the air that flows through the upper areas of the store thanks to natural convection, or air circulation. This also ensures that the disinfected air flows back to the lower part of the store space and mixes with the air.

"The health of our customers and employees is our top priority. We are committed to creating a safe and high-quality shopping environment for our customers. Our self-employed merchants pay strict attention to compliance with the applicable hygiene and clearance regulations in their stores," said Stefan Giese, Managing Director of EDEKA Nord. "Dirk-Uwe Clausen is now testing a new disinfection system in his market and we fully support these innovative applications being implemented by the merchant," Giese added.

In addition to the upper air luminaires, EDEKA Clausen will use the Philips BioShift UV-C disinfection chamber, adding another layer of safety to employees and customers. This chamber is used to disinfect objects and (shared) devices. At EDEKA Clausen, for example, hand scanners used by several employees can be disinfected quickly and effectively. The chamber inactivates SARS-CoV-2 to Log6 level. It’s equipped with additional security tools to prevent accidental door opening to offer the highest levels of security.

"Over the last decades we have developed a strong application competence in the field of UV-C disinfection. We are very pleased that we can give people in many everyday areas a piece of 'new normality' with our products, and we hope that many retailers will follow EDEKA's example," said Christian Goebel, Sales Director Public at Signify DACH.

UV-C light should always be used by professionals in accordance with the safety requirements and instructions to avoid humans and animals from being exposed to protect their skin and eyes from potential damages.

Signify has been at the forefront of UV technology for more than 35 years and has a proven track record of developing innovative UV-C disinfection solutions. Signify's UV-C lighting is designed, installed and used according to the product-specific safety instructions, and manufactured in controlled industrial processes.