Doncaster firm using ultraviolet light to kill coronavirus

Until this year, RSM Lining Supplies was a specialist in drainage and repairing pipes – and it still does that work.

But now the firm has also branched out to move into carrying out deep cleans at businesses to remove coronavirus – by exposing the virus to ultraviolet rays.

It has already carried out the treatment at a number of Doncaster pubs, including Biscuit Billy’s on Silver Street and the Otto Wine bar in Sprotbrough. Now talks have started to look into carrying out the same work in schools in the borough.

The firm, based at Coalpit Road, Denaby Main, has brought back former employee Patrick Holden to run the new service which works by placing a powerful ultraviolet light source in the room, destroying the virus.

Mr Holden had left his previous job with the firm in May 2019 to take an international sales job – but that stopped after the Covid 19 crisis started, seeing him instead work at Morrisons running food deliveries.

But he was asked back to run the new service called RSM Speedycare.

He said: “We started working on this six weeks ago, although the technology has been around a number of years.

"I used to do international sales before Covid hit, which used to involve flying around the world, then I worked for Morrisons for five months. We helped the food banks at Bentley library and the Wellness Centre in Intake.

"I hadn’t heard of the technology when I was asked to take the job. But now I know about it and understand the technical side.

"Otto’s Wine Bar in Sprotbrough was the first place that we treated in Doncaster. But we’re now also demonstrating it to schools in Doncaster.”

He said the UV light used killed more than 99.99 per cent of bacteria and deactivated viruses including Covid 19.

He added it used UV light to penetrate the walls of harmful cells and deconstruct the DNA within the cell to kill the bacteria present that was either airborne or on a surface. The size of the room affects how long the disinfection will take, and in a 20 square metre room it would take five minutes to kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria.

He said: “The systems only use light for the disinfection so there is no need for any chemicals and no down time after the disinfection is done to allow anything to settle or dry before people can re-enter the room.

“I have been working closely with the Otto wine bar in Sprotbrough and the surrounding shops who have invested in a system.”

Several schools have been approached with the system, said Mr Holden. He said it could be used to disinfect a classroom in five minutes. The light would reflect off walls to go under furniture, but would be blocked by walls.

The system is triggered by a mobile phone so that no one has to be in the room while the cleaning is taking place.

He said he expected the system to be used by businesses even after the Covid pandemic ends.