The Big Sky Decon Area Decon Unit, or ADU, is a portable UV-C decontamination system built for areas where microorganisms, contamination, or persistent odors need more than routine surface cleaning. It can be used in vehicles, work areas, holding spaces, commercial environments, residential properties, and other locations where an adjustable open-system unit makes sense.

​

The ADU is Big Sky Decon's only open-system decontamination unit. It is constructed from stainless steel, is easily adjustable, and plugs into a standard 15-amp, 120-volt outlet. That makes it practical to move the unit to the area that needs treatment instead of requiring contaminated items or spaces to be brought to a fixed decontamination system.

The unit uses high-intensity ultraviolet-C, or UV-C, germicidal light technology to inactivate microorganisms on exposed surfaces. A standard decontamination treatment can be completed in approximately three minutes, while odor treatments generally require 10 minutes or longer depending on the application and severity of the odor.

​

For customers who want to see the testing behind the equipment, Big Sky Decon publishes Area Decon Unit UV-C testing results, including testing performed inside a vehicle.

​

How Does the Area Decon Unit Work?

​

UV-C works by delivering germicidal ultraviolet energy to microorganisms. The amount of UV-C energy a target receives matters. Different microorganisms require different UV-C doses for inactivation, which is why simply turning on a UV light doesn't tell you much about the actual treatment.

​

Placement matters too.

​

The Area Decon Unit is adjustable and repositionable, allowing the operator to direct UV-C treatment toward different sections of a room, vehicle, or contaminated area. Big Sky Decon's vehicle testing measured the UV-C dose at multiple locations inside the vehicle rather than assuming that every interior surface received the same exposure.

​

UV-C is a line-of-sight treatment

​

UV-C energy has to reach the area being treated. Objects, corners, equipment, furniture, seats, partitions, and other physical barriers can create shadows. That is a practical reason for having an Area Decon Unit that can be moved and repositioned.

​

For a patrol vehicle, for example, one position may be used to address one portion of the interior and the unit can then be moved when another area requires exposure. Big Sky Decon's testing also found that vehicle windshield and door glass effectively blocked the UV-C generated during its interior vehicle test.

​

You can review the actual measurements on our UV-C science and testing page.

​

Where Can the Area Decon Unit Be Used?

​

The ADU was created for larger areas and exposed surfaces rather than individual pieces of equipment. Big Sky Decon offers other enclosed products when smaller items need treatment, so choosing the right unit starts with looking at what actually needs to be decontaminated.

Law enforcement and first responder environments

​

Patrol vehicles, holding areas, detention spaces, evidence-related work areas, offices, and other first responder environments can encounter bodily fluids, microorganisms, narcotics residue, and persistent odors.

​

The Area Decon Unit gives agencies a portable option for treating larger spaces and surfaces. Smaller pieces of contaminated equipment may be better suited for one of Big Sky Decon's enclosed systems. Agencies can compare these applications on our first responder decontamination page.

​

Vehicle contamination deserves particular attention because seats, flooring, doors, cargo areas, and equipment storage can all be involved in the same incident. Our article on fentanyl residue in patrol cars explains why elapsed time alone doesn't determine whether a contaminated vehicle is ready to return to service.

​

Commercial and industrial spaces

​

The ADU can also be incorporated into decontamination procedures for commercial environments where exposed surfaces and work areas need an additional UV-C treatment step.

​

Big Sky Decon has developed a specific application for butcher shops and meat processing facilities, where the Area Decon Unit can supplement existing sanitation procedures by treating exposed surfaces and areas with UV-C.

​

UV-C should be viewed as part of the facility's overall sanitation process. It doesn't physically remove dirt, grease, biological material, or other debris that needs to be cleaned from a surface first.

​

Vehicles and property decontamination

​

The adjustable format also makes the Area Decon Unit useful for vehicles and property environments where odor and microbial contamination may affect more than one surface.

Big Sky Decon uses UV-C technology in applications involving smoke odors, pet odors, bodily fluids, garbage, mold-related odors, and other persistent odor problems. Odor treatment with the ADU generally requires longer exposure than the three-minute microbial decontamination cycle, with treatment beginning at 10 or more minutes depending on the problem.

​

Decontamination and Odor Treatment Are Different Jobs

​

It's easy to lump odor removal and decontamination together. They aren't always the same problem.

​

A surface can require microbial treatment even when there is no noticeable smell. A property can also have a strong odor problem that requires a longer treatment period than the standard UV-C decontamination cycle.

​

The Area Decon Unit gives operators the ability to adjust exposure time for the application. Big Sky Decon's testing notes that exposure times can be increased or decreased to change the UV-C dose delivered to the treatment area.

​

For difficult property or vehicle odor problems, the first step should be identifying what is causing the odor and where the affected materials are located. Masking the smell with fragrance doesn't address the underlying source.

​

Why UV-C Dose Matters

​

Germicidal UV-C isn't measured simply by minutes. UV-C treatment is based on the energy delivered to a particular area, commonly measured in millijoules per square centimeter.

​

Different microorganisms respond to different UV-C doses. Distance from the light source, exposure time, physical obstructions, and placement can all affect how much UV-C reaches a surface.

​

This is why Big Sky Decon tests its equipment using measured UV-C dosage. Customers and agencies evaluating the ADU can review those measurements instead of relying only on general claims about UV light.

​

The CDC also describes germicidal ultraviolet as a technology that can inactivate microorganisms when an appropriate dose is applied. For more background on the technology itself, see the CDC information on germicidal ultraviolet technology.

​

Operating an Open UV-C System Requires Safety Procedures

​

The Area Decon Unit produces germicidal UV-C radiation, so operators need to follow the equipment's safety instructions. Big Sky Decon requires safety glasses while operating the Area Decon Unit.

​

Direct UV-C exposure also needs to be taken seriously. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that direct UV-C exposure can injure the eyes and skin. Operators should follow Big Sky Decon's instructions for placement, exposure, protective equipment, and safe use rather than treating the ADU like an ordinary room light.

​

Departments and businesses considering the unit can also view Big Sky Decon's product and decontamination videos and customer testimonials to see how the equipment is being applied in working environments.

​

Frequently Asked Questions About the Area Decon Unit

How long does an Area Decon Unit treatment take?

The standard decontamination process is approximately three minutes. Odor treatment generally requires 10 minutes or longer. Exposure time can be adjusted depending on the treatment objective and required UV-C dose.

Can the Area Decon Unit be used inside a vehicle?

Yes. Big Sky Decon has performed UV-C dose testing with the Area Decon Unit inside a vehicle. Because interior surfaces are positioned at different angles and distances, the unit can be repositioned to treat multiple areas.

Does the Area Decon Unit use chemicals or ozone?

The ADU uses germicidal UV-C light as its treatment technology and doesn't require chemical foggers or ozone to generate the UV-C treatment.

Does UV-C clean dirt or biological material from a surface?

No. UV-C treatment doesn't physically remove dirt, fluids, residue, or debris. Cleaning and UV-C decontamination serve different functions, and existing cleaning or sanitation procedures should still be followed where appropriate.

Can the Area Decon Unit treat an entire room from one position?

Physical barriers can prevent UV-C from reaching shaded areas. The adjustable, portable design allows the ADU to be repositioned when different surfaces or parts of a space need direct UV-C exposure.

​

See If the Area Decon Unit Fits Your Application

​

The Area Decon Unit gives businesses, law enforcement agencies, property professionals, and other organizations a portable way to add high-intensity UV-C treatment to larger contaminated areas and exposed surfaces.

​

If you're comparing decontamination equipment, start with the area that needs treatment, the type of contamination involved, the surfaces that need exposure, and how the unit will be positioned during use. Big Sky Decon can help determine whether the ADU or another Big Sky Decon product is the better fit for that application.

​

Contact Big Sky Decon to ask about the Area Decon Unit, government purchasing, product applications, or professional decontamination services.