Q.
|
What are
mW/cm² units measured by Solarmeters and other
UV radiometers? |
A.
|
Industry standard quantification of UV or Visible
irradiance in output intensity per unit of area.
|
Q.
|
When measuring UV lamps,
what should the reading be? |
A. |
100W flourescent UV tanning lamps typically emit
between 15-25 mW/cm² total UV, and 0.30 - 1.60
mW/cm² UVB. 160W+ lamps 25-50+, and high pressure
UV lamps emit 80-150 or more total UV. Lamps need
to be measured when new to determine what they "should"
read in OEM equipment. |
| Q. |
If my lamps are not new,
how will I know what they should read? |
A.
|
Replace two adjacent lamps with new ones of same
kind. Compare new to old lamps to determine relative
difference. |
Q.
|
When should lamps be
replaced? |
|
A. |
When readings fall 30% (to 70% of new values).
Eg: 15.0 new x 0.7 = 10.5 mW/cm². |
Q.
|
How can the Model 6.0
UVB meter help? |
A. |
Two ways: Determine % UVB and check acrylic transmission.
You will need both Model 5.0 (total UV) and Model
6.0 (UVB) to calculate % UVB. Eg: Model 5.0 reads
17.3 - Model 6.0 reads 1.30. Percent UVB = 1.30
/ 17.3 = 0.075 = 7.5%. To check acrylic transmission,
take UVB reading w/out acrylic and with acrylic.
Most UVB should pass thru acrylic, or it needs replacement.
As acrylic ages, it blocks/absorbs UVB quickly vs.
UVA. |
Q.
|
How can the Vitamin D
meter (Model 6.4) best be utilized? |
A. |
The meter can measure outdoor solar or indoor
UV lamp irradiance and readout the estimated quantity
of Vitamin D3 IU proportional to the amount of MEDs
(minimal erythemal dose) exposure. The display is
in IU per minute for type 2 untanned skin at 10%
body surface area (typically face and lower arms).
An Excel software utility is provided (by email)
with the meter to allow entering meter reading,
percent body exposure, skin type, percent tan, age,
and SPF if any to determine approximate IU for particular
individuals. |
| Q. |
What is the purpose of
Model 6.5 outdoor UV index (UVI), and does it relate
to indoor UV lamps? |
| A. |
The primary usage of UVI meter Model 6.5 is to
monitor outdoor erythemal UVR, as defined by the
EPA/NWS/NOAA/WMO. It is very useful for Sunwise
School programs, and vacationers interested in UV
intensity readings, to help prevent sunburn.It can
also measure UVI from tanning lamps. |
| Q. |
What is (is not) the
purpose of a MED meter? |
| A. |
The Model 7.0 MED meter utilizes the same detector
spectral response as the UV Index meter above. The
difference is that this meter is calibrated to read
in MED/hour and can be used to estimate the time
it will take to reach 4.0 MED (Te) which is the
maximum exposure time that a sunbed is allowed to
deliver, and the time it takes to reach 0.75 MED
which is the initial session time. These values
can also be used to help monitor sunbed compliance
in the tanning salon and to help develop skin type
(subtype) based exposure schedules that neither
overexpose, nor underexpose the clients of indoor
tanning salons to UVR. The meter is not intended
to extend Te time beyond FDA labeled maximum...
rather the lamps should be renewed as MED/hr falls
~30% from new readings. |
| Q. |
What is the UVC meter
designed for? |
| A. |
Model 8.0 UVC meter is for measuring germicidal
lamps in the purification industry. Eye and skin
protection is mandatory when using this meter. |
| Q. |
How can the visible
light meters be used? |
| A. |
These breakthrough radiometers offer direct irradiance
measurements of both LED and lamp output in the
Visible light bandwidths. For the first time, users
can readout mW/cm² of Blue Light ( Model 9.4
) or Red Light ( Model 9.6 ) from various phototherapy
light sources. |
