BlueWave® MX-Series 1 Channel Curing Systems User Guide
9
Dymax UV Light-Curing System Safety
Considerations
Operators must understand these three concepts to use the LED light source safely: UV
exposure, high-temperature surfaces, and bright, visible light.
UV Exposure
Figure 1. UV Spectrum
Standard Dymax UV light-curing systems have been designed primarily to emit UVA and
Visible energy (Figure 1). Depending on the model of LED head used, the energy emitted
from a
BlueWave
MX-Series 1CH curing system can either be in the upper end of the
UVA portion of the spectrum (PrimeCure® and RediCure®) or in the lower portion of the
visible spectrum (VisiCure®). UVA energy is generally considered the safest of the three
UV ranges: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Although OSHA does not currently regulate UV-light
exposure in the workplace, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) does recommend Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for ultraviolet light.
The strictest interpretation of the TLV (over the UVA range) for workers’ eyes and skin
allows continuous exposure up to 1 mW/cm
2
(intensity). Unless you are placing bare
hands into the curing area, it is unusual to exceed these limits. To put 1 mW/cm
2
limit
into perspective, a cloudless summer day will typically exceed 3 mW/cm
2
of UVA light,
and also include 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, only visible light. A radiometer should be
used to measure stray UV light to confirm the safety of a UV light-curing process. A
