Natwerk Designs

Why do commercial kitchens have those blue flourescent lights on the walls?

I have worked in a few different commercial kitchens in restaurants and catering and they all have these blue fluorescent lights on the walls. They obviously aren't for light, and they are on all the time, does anyone know what they are for? Attracting bugs perhaps? Something else entirely?

Public Comments

1. Yes, they are for bugs.
2. If you notice, if they are properly placed they are as far away from the prep area as possible. they are designed to attract insects away from the food areas. Inside the units are glue boards, after the light attracts the insect it gets stuck to the glue board. They don't use the "zapper" type in kitchens because the "exploded" bug parts become airborne (not a good thing) The lights are blue because insects are most attracted to that frequency of the light spectrum. They are placed on the walls rather than the ceiling because a more efficient "catch basin" can be designed than if they were overhead lessening the possibility of "drop-out".