Keeping hatcheries germ-free – clean air in the halls for maximum hygiene
Controlled air quality for healthy chicks and safe personnel
Air quality is crucial in hatcheries: germs, fungal spores, and dust particles can spread quickly in warm, humid environments, jeopardizing both animal welfare and product quality. At the same time, bioaerosols and pathogenic germs in the ambient air increase the risk to employees.
With Oxytec’s UV-C recirculating air purifiers and air disinfection systems, you can create hygienically safe conditions – in halls, antechambers, sorting areas, and technical rooms. The systems can be integrated into existing buildings, are low-maintenance, and guarantee a verifiable reduction in germs in the air.
What would you like to know?
Simply put your question to our AI. They will answer you individually:
Typical emission sources in hatcheries
| area | Stresses | Special features |
|---|---|---|
| Breeding and hatching compartments | Germs, fungal spores, ammonia, dust | Warm, humid environment – germs spread particularly quickly |
| Sorting and packaging rooms | Bioaerosols, skin flakes, bacteria | High staff presence, animal contact |
| Technical, storage, and airlock rooms | Germs, VOCs, mold spores | Low air exchange rate, dust exposure |
Why Oxytec in hatcheries?
- Air disinfection with UV-C recirculating air purifiers – safe, continuous, effective
- Odor reduction and VOC reduction through plasma and filter technology
- Reduction of infection chains – for animals and humans
- Can be combined with room air technology or used as stand-alone devices
- Cleaning performance up to 99.99% germ-free – validatable
Legal requirements
HACCP, QS, IFS, ISO 22000
- Hygiene in animal husbandry and food supply chains is mandatory
- Air quality is part of environmental monitoring and germ reduction strategy
Occupational safety and animal welfare
- Airborne germs endanger employees by causing respiratory diseases
- High bioaerosol contamination must be minimized
- UV-C & plasma are considered safe and approved methods
Healthy air, healthy animals – safe processes
The air in hatcheries is a critical hygiene factor. With oxytec, you can ensure the ambient air in all production zones is safe—sustainably, effectively, and verifiably.
Get advice now—together we will develop your germ-free solution.
- Active oxidation of organic pollutants in the air
- Optional filter stages for particle separation
- Ideal for sorting, technical, or quiet areas
- Integration into existing ventilation systems or plug & play recirculation modules
- Low power consumption, low maintenance
- Suitable for 24/7 operation in heavily loaded production zones
Typical areas of application
Incubation and hatching areas
Halls and transfer areas
Staff rooms and changing rooms
Pre-delivery or logistics areas
Technical, storage, and supply areas
Your advantages with oxytec
Reliable germ reduction in the air and environment
Improved animal health, lower risk of infection
Protection for employees through lower bioaerosol exposure
Hygienic hall air—verifiable and documentable
Suitable for new buildings and retrofitting
Low-maintenance, energy-saving systems for continuous operation
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
What germs or contaminants typically occur in hatcheries?
Hatcheries typically contain:
- Bacteria and fungal spores (e.g., Aspergillus, Salmonella)
- Viral contamination (e.g., avian influenza viruses)
- Bioaerosols, ammonia, and dust particles containing organic material
These can spread rapidly in the air inside the hall due to warm, humid conditions and high humidity.
How does UV-C air disinfection work in practice?
Our devices continuously draw in room air and pass it through a shielded UV-C chamber, where germs are destroyed by short-wave radiation.
The purified air is then returned to the room—without ozone, without residues, without open radiation.
Is UV-C radiation safe for humans and animals?
Yes – all Oxytec systems are completely enclosed, so that:
- No UV radiation escapes to the outside,
- No ozone is formed,
- the systems can be operated continuously in occupied rooms.
This makes them ideal for breeding rooms, staff areas, and reception areas.
What happens to dust, aerosols, and odors?
Depending on the system type:
- fine dust and aerosols are additionally filtered,
- odors are oxidized by plasma or photolysis,
- combined filter units provide mechanical and chemical air purification.
This allows air quality to be kept stable even with a high number of animals or personnel traffic.
How large is the effective range of a single air purifier?
That depends on the volume of the room. Typical Oxytec systems cover:
- 40 m² to over 200 m² per device,
- if necessary, several devices can be combined in a modular fashion.
- An air circulation rate of ≥ 4 times/hour is recommended for hygiene-critical areas.
We calculate the required usage individually for your hall.
Do the devices require a lot of maintenance?
- UV-C tubes last 8,000–10,000 hours (replacement approx. once a year)
- Filter units are durable and easy to replace
- No ozone, no chemical additives, no liquids
- On request, we offer service contracts with regular maintenance
- (!) Devices must be cleaned regularly – installation of scrubbers is recommended
What are the benefits for animal health status?
Lower risk of infection from airborne germs
Lower mortality in rearing
Stable hygienic conditions → less use of antibiotics
Higher product quality and improved working conditions for staff
What regulations apply to hygiene in hatcheries?
Depending on the application, the following apply, among others:
- DIN 1946-4 (Ventilation and air conditioning in animal breeding and husbandry facilities)
- IFS Food, HACCP, QS Animal Husbandry
- Workplace guidelines (bioaerosols in the workplace)
- Additional animal hygiene requirements depending on the federal state
Our systems help to ensure that these requirements are met on a permanent basis.
Can I also integrate the system into existing halls?
Yes. Our devices:
- are ready to plug in (230 V) and do not require a ventilation connection.
- can be mounted on a wall or ceiling or set up as mobile units,
- can also be integrated into existing HVAC systems if required.
Retrofitting is usually possible without structural alterations.
