Validation and certification

Reliable disinfection of liquids requires reliable UV-C systems. We offer certainty with our validated and certified UV-C disinfection systems.

Good in theory and in practice

Is the biological quality of water or other liquids important for your business? Then smart UV-C disinfection is a must. However, not every UV-C system available works well. Many manufacturers of UV-C installations calculate the effectiveness of their system purely from a theoretical standpoint. The intensity of the lamp is multiplied by the amount of liquid flowing past it (treatment volume) and this gives an average UV-C dosage. This outcome is not that significant because part of the flow passes through faster and therefore absorbs less UV-C radiation, which means that micro-organisms can survive. The other part of the stream passes through more slowly and absorbs more UV-C radiation, giving it ten times the lethal dose. So, good in theory does not always equal good in practice. Imagine building a system where half of the water absorbs 1 Joule and the other half absorbs 599 Joules: the average is then 300 Joules. Technically speaking there is nothing wrong with that, except that half of the water isn’t disinfected. This may seem like an extreme example, but there are plenty of systems that are closer to it than you would think, or care to imagine.

Van Remmen UV Technology only produces systems that deliver quality both in theory (in calculation models and simulations) and in practice. All reactors in the Validated and Certified series are therefore tested in a standardised practical scenario where the biological degradation is measured with strictly controlled model organisms. This means we can guarantee that our systems break down the micro-organisms in liquids. Our systems are thus not only based on theoretical calculations but also on analyses and practical tests.

Standards and certification

Our high-quality systems are produced and certified according to European standards. We work according to NEN EN 14897:2006+A1 which is identical to CEN, the European standard. This standard differentiates between water treatment and disinfection. Water treatment is based on the technical operation of the system. In other words, the necessary effects can be reasonably observed. During disinfection, the treatment capacities have actually been tested according to the NEN standard, guaranteeing optimal performance.

We test and validate our innovative UV-C systems, ensuring they work well both in theory and practice. By conducting extensive tests, we achieve a removal rate of up to 99.999%

Disinfection or sterilisation

Disinfection is often confused with sterilisation, but they are not the same. With sterilisation, no harmful micro-organisms survive. However, disinfection ensures that the risk of infection is removed. Sterilisation uses a costly method that requires high temperatures, chemicals and intensive radiation. This is bad for the environment and unnecessary for avoiding even the smallest risks. With an eye for our precious planet, disinfection is in many cases a better option that saves costs and cleans liquids.

Theory vs validation

Our validation process

We test our Validated and Certified series with biodosimetric tests. Here, a certain amount of specific bacterial spores (Bacillus subtillis, ATCC 6633) is added to the incoming water flow before the UV-C reactor. These bacterial spores have a constant UV-C sensitivity, are easy to cultivate and are harmless to humans and the environment.

By measuring how many bacterial spores come out of the UV-C reactor alive, the exact degree of removal can be determined. The applied UV-C dose in these validation tests is 400 to 600 J/m2. Our UV-C reactors are always validated for a minimum reduction of 99.9% for Bacillus subtillus.

During this validation process, we also vary the light transmittance (UV-C transmission) of different liquids and the UV-C output of the lamp. As a result, we can guarantee that the set UV-C dose and reduction requirement will be met until the end of the service life of the lamp. The graphs below show the exact benefits of validating

Would you like more information about our reliable validation and certifications or are you interested in working with us? Please do not hesitate to contact us.