Italian lighting brand Artemide has developed a way of turning lamps into room sanitisers that emit antiviral ultraviolet light when people are not around.
Called Integralis, the patented technology can be fitted to light fixtures and programmed via an app to emit normal light when rooms are occupied and ultraviolet (UV) rays when they are empty.
While invisible UV light can kill pathogens including viruses, it can be harmful to humans. However, the blue spectrum of visible light can also have an anti-microbial effect.
Integralis technology works with Artemide products including the magnetic Vector spotlight
"In the presence of people, emission frequencies and doses of energy that are not harmful to the eyes and skin can be used, which nonetheless act to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mould and fungi," Artemide CEO Carlotta de Bevilacqua told Dezeen. "In the absence of people, higher energy levels and frequencies such as UV rays can be used, which also act on viruses."

The technology can be used in a wide variety of different fixtures, although it cannot be retrofitted.
"Integralis adapts to a wide range of our products, so as to offer the ideal solution not only for sanitising a space but also for lighting performance in a variety of different environments," de Bevilacqua added.
"It can however only be integrated into new lights as it would mean rewiring the entire system of a pre-owned light."
The Nur ceiling light fitted with In...