In short: Pentair BioShield 80 W UV treatment system, for a maximum flow rate of 45 GPM. 27 W UV-C output, 30 mJ/cm² dose. 120/240 VAC power supply, 2-inch union connections, flow sensor included. NSF certified and cUL approved. Pentair part number 522636.
Water that smells like chlorine and irritates the eyes?
The smell of chlorine and red eyes are not caused by too much chlorine. They are caused by chloramines, the byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with sweat, body oils, and urine. The more people swim, the more they form.
UV treatment tackles the problem differently. Water passes through a chamber where a high-intensity ultraviolet lamp acts on microorganisms and chloramines. The result, in residential use, is more comfortable water with less combined chlorine.
The BioShield 80 W is the model designed for systems with a flow rate not exceeding 45 GPM.
Official Pentair specifications
| Part number |
522636 |
| Maximum flow rate |
45 GPM |
| Lamp power |
80 W · 27 W UV-C output |
| UV dose |
30 mJ/cm² |
| Power supply |
120/240 VAC, 50/60 Hz |
| Amperage |
0.98 to 0.43 A (installation manual value) |
| Dimensions |
43 in x 5.75 in |
| Pressure drop |
Less than 0.5 psi |
| Maximum system pressure |
50 psi |
| Connection |
2 in unions (Pentair part 523122) |
| Flow sensor |
Included, with 10 ft extension cable |
| Replacement lamp |
Pentair 523036 |
| Lamp life |
5.5 years at 6 hours per day · 1.4 years at 24 hours per day |
| Certifications |
NSF certified, cUL approved, EPA number 102540-FL-1 |
| Pentair warranty |
2 years |
Source: BioShield UV system manual, BioShield product page, and replacement parts sheet published by Pentair.
What the BioShield does not replace
The Pentair manual is clear on this point: the certification covers the device as a water conditioning device, not as a secondary disinfection method. The BioShield is therefore a supplement to chlorine or salt treatment, not a substitute. You continue to maintain a residual chlorine level in the pool.
Frequently asked questions
How to choose between the 80 W and the 120 W?
By your system's flow rate, not by the pool volume. The 80 W model (522636) accepts up to 45 GPM, the 120 W model (522637) up to 62 GPM. If your pump exceeds 45 GPM in filtration, you need the 120 W.
Where is it installed in the circuit?
After the filter, on the return line, connected with 2-inch unions. The pressure drop is less than 0.5 psi, so the impact on flow is negligible.
When should the lamp be changed?
Pentair expresses the lamp life in years according to the daily hours of use: about 5.5 years at 6 hours per day, about 1.4 years at 24 hours per day. For a residential pool filtered 8 to 12 hours per day, this represents a few seasons. The replacement lamp is the 523036.
Does it reduce my chlorine consumption?
In residential use, UV treatment reduces the contaminant load that chlorine must oxidize and acts on chloramines. The chlorine residual remains necessary. We do not publish a reduction percentage: Pentair does not publish one for this model.
Installation and service on the North Shore
Piscines Geyser sells and installs Pentair BioShield UV systems in Blainville and the Laurentians. We verify the actual flow rate of your system before recommending a model.
