Saint-Georges-de-Mons (France) (AFP)

A luminaire that disinfects the office at night: a company located in Saint-Georges-de-Mons (Puy-de-Dôme) has developed a system for professionals facing the headache of disinfecting their premises to fight against the coronavirus.

This "hybrid" lamp allows both to illuminate offices or spaces welcoming the public, then to disinfect surfaces at night or when the premises are empty, explained Didier Prouteau, general manager of the Dietal group, located in France and In Romania.

"The notion of disinfection will return to habits for months, even years" and for professionals, "in companies, in transport or places welcoming the public, this represents a significant cost, economic but also ecological", he exposes.

From where the idea of ​​this luminaire baptized "Quadro UVC Covid" equipped with led UVC: the radiation of ultraviolet allows to sterilize a surface while eliminating the infectious character of the virus.

This known technology has been used for a long time, especially in hospitals, but "Dietal provides a real solution thanks to the hybrid nature (lighting and disinfection)" of the connected luminaire, according to the director.

Switching from the lighting function to the ultraviolet disinfection function is automatic and can be done remotely. Presence sensors are used to deactivate ultraviolet rays, which are harmful to humans.

"It is not necessary to change all the lights in a space, a few copies are enough depending on the surface," says Mr. Prouteau.

The prototypes are in the approval phase, before being manufactured in a "mini-series" this summer and first deliveries are planned from the end of August to the beginning of September.

Dietal, whose turnover fell by around 30% due to the coronavirus crisis, continued its activity during the confinement.

The company employs 200 people in Romania and 140 in Saint-Georges-De-Mons, where a social plan had led to the loss of 70 jobs in 2019.

cca / ag / ide

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