SARS-CoV-2 complicates our everyday life enormously. Conventional air purifiers are no longer sufficient. Heraeus Noblelight’s air purifier uses pure UV light to disinfect 99% of the viruses and bacteria in a room. Find out why UV-C (UVGI) air purifiers from Heraeus are practically and technologically superior to HEPA filter purification devices.
Soluva UV-C light versus HEPA filters
UV-C (UVGI) light is more effective, saves costs and maintenance
Heraeus UV disinfection unit Soluva® Air W compared to HEPA purification devices

UV-C (UVGI) air purifiers are technologically and practically superior to filters
HEPA filters only collect active viruses instead of destroying them and therefore need to be replaced regularly. UV air purifiers inactivate the viruses immediately, including all SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Due to the long life of the UV lamps, maintenance is much less. UV-C air purifiers make hardly any noise and can be used during continuous operation.
UV-C Air Purifier (Heraeus Soluva® Air W) |
HEPA device 1 | HEPA device 2 | |
---|---|---|---|
Acquisition cost (net) | 2,199.- € | 3,375.- € | 2,900.- € |
Delivery costs | Included | 72.- € | 120.- € |
Installation costs | 90.- € | None | 90.- € |
Packing weight | 35 kg | 90 kg | 200 kg |
Dimensions (LxDxH) | 998 x 197 x 685 mm | 690 x 610 x 1300 mm | 712 x 508 x 2,354 mm |
Lifetime assuming 1600 operating hours/year (lifetime Heraeus UV-C lamp) | 10 years (= Oper. 16,000 hrs) | Reference value 10 years | Reference value 10 years |
Cost / energy consumption / year | 78.- € (351 kWh / 1600 Oper. hrs.) | 60.- € (276 kWh/1600 Oper. hrs.) | 98.- € (447 kWh/1600 Oper. hrs.) |
Filter costs/year (change every 6 months) Filter, change, disposal/year | 0€ | 1.390.- € for 2 filter sets/year 200.- € change and disposal |
828.- € for 2 filter sets/year 200.- € change and disposal |
Test under real conditions - e.g. Fraunhofer Institute, Biotech, Uni Tübingen | YES | NO | NO |
Total net acquisition and operating costs over 10 years |
3,069.- € | 19,947.- € | 14,250.- € |
Expert opinions and practical tests confirm the facts
Statement of the Indoor Air Hygiene Commission (IRK) on the use of mobile air cleaners in schools
- In the case of techniques which develop their effect by inactivating the pathogens, these tests require trials with real pathogens (bacteria, viruses) under the planned operating conditions and not just basic proof of the effect under laboratory conditions.
- Prior to procurement, it is recommended to obtain corresponding test certificates of the devices under real conditions from the manufacturers.
Initiated by the Munich University of Applied Sciences
- Device is much too loud
- Because of the loud noise, can utilize only about one third of the device power
- Maximum 50% of the particles filtered
- Effective operation not possible without additional ventilation
- School principal Heike Frenzel: "It makes no sense to place these devices all over the place".
The above-mentioned test certificates are available for Heraeus equipment and meet these requirements.