• Siemens Building Technologies is integrating its Intelligent Infrastructure Solutions (I2S) with Violet Defense Technology for implementing and monitoring effective sanitation in a variety of healthcare settings. Facility managers can now sanitize patient rooms, operating and emergency rooms, restrooms, and more, using ultraviolet (UV) technology that can be controlled through building automation and management systems.

Traditionally, such healthcare rooms are cleaned using chemical disinfection such as quaternary ammonium disinfectant (quat) or bleach every few days or in between patients, depending on individual hospital standards. However, a Duke University Medical Center study has found that adding UV to these cleaning solutions can reduce the spread of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) by at least 30 percent. In addition, increasing the frequency of cleaning cycles to multiple times a day when the rooms are vacant can further reduce HAIs significantly.  

“HAIs are of increasing concern in the healthcare industry,” says Brad Haeberle, Vice President, Solution and Service Portfolio, Siemens Building Technologies Division. “Integrating the Violet Defense S.A.G.E. (Surface & Air Germ Elimination) UV products into our APOGEE® building automation system and Desigo® CC integrated building management system (IBMS) will make it easier for facility managers to manage and control disinfection cycles.”

Additionally, building access and occupancy systems that are integrated into the IBMS can increase building occupant safety and also help indicate when rooms are available for cleaning. Using IBMS analytics, facility managers will be able to access sanitation audit trails that indicate when a room was last sanitized, how often, and for how long, thus determining optimal cleaning schedules.

“By working with Siemens, we believe that healthcare facilities can maintain a healthier environment automatically through the building automation controls, to better protect patients, visitors and staff from harmful germs,” said Mark Nathan, CSO for Violet Defense. 

Violet Defense’s S.A.G.E. UV technology uses a combination of pulsed xenon UV light wavelengths to effectively kill fungi, bacteria, and viruses, including E. coli, Salmonella, C. difficile, Norovirus, and even superbugs such as MRSA. Capable of being integrated into new or existing customer sites, the product line brings up to 99.9% clinical-level germ control to everyday spaces, from patient and operating rooms in healthcare settings to commercial kitchens, office buildings, restrooms, hotels, schools, cruise ships, laboratories, and more.

APOGEE and Desigo are registered trademarks of Siemens and/or its affiliates in some countries.