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Dymax BlueWave® LED Prime UVA User Guide
UVA light, which includes the more dangerous UVB light, primarily responsible for sun tans, sun burns, and
skin cancer.
Checking the Workstation
The human eye cannot detect
“pure” UV light.
A radiometer should be used to measure stray UV light to
confirm the safety of a UV-curing process. A workstation that continuously exposes an operator to more than
1 mW/cm
2
of UVA light should be redesigned.
Protecting Operators
Light-curing technology can be a regulatory compliant, "worker-friendly" manufacturing process when the
proper safety equipment and operator training is utilized. There are two ways to protect operators from UV
exposure: shield the operator and/or shield the source.
Shield the Operator
—
UV-Blocking Eye Protection - UV-blocking eye protection is recommended when
operating UV light-curing systems. Both clear and tinted UV-blocking eye protection is available from Dymax.
UV-Blocking Skin Protection
—
Where the potential exists for UV exposure upon skin, opaque UV-blocking
clothing, gloves, and full-face shields are recommended.
Shield the Source of UV
Any substrate that blocks UV light can be used as a shield to protect workers from stray UV light. The following
materials can be used to create simple shielding structures:
Sheet Metal
–
Aluminum, steel, stainless steel, etc. Sheet metal should be coated black or black anodized to
minimize reflection of UV and visible light toward operators.
Rigid Plastic Film
—
Transparent or translucent/UV-blocking plastics (typically polycarbonate or acrylic) are
commonly used to create shielding where some level of transparency is also desired.
Flexible Film
—
Translucent UV-blocking, flexible urethane films can be used to quickly create workstation
shielding. This UV-blocking, flexible urethane film is available from Dymax. Call for assistance.
High-Temperature Surfaces
Surfaces exposed to high-intensity curing lights will rise in temperature. The intensity, distance, exposure
time, cooling fans, and the type/color of the surface can all affect the actual rise in surface temperature. In
some cases, exposed surfaces can reach temperatures capable of producing a burn or causing damage to a
substrate. In these cases, care must be taken to ensure either a more moderate surface temperature or
appropriate protection/training for operators. No infrared radiation is produced by these LED systems, so
surface temperatures will be lower than with conventional lamp systems. Empirical testing should be used to
verify the exact temperature rise in each application.
Ozone
The Dymax
BlueWave LED Prime UVA
does not generate UVB or UVC, therefore no ozone is generated while
operating this equipment.
