The quality of indoor air is worse compared to outdoor. Indoor air pollution is responsible for many health symptoms, which makes it important to ensure the air inside your commercial building is safe and clean. This is going to protect the health of your employees and also promote comfort.
What Is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
This is used when describing the quality of air inside a building and its effect on comfort, health, and ability to work. This is a common concern for most businesses, rental managers, and employees because indoor air has a big impact on the productivity and well-being of employees.
There are many studies carried out by the EPA that have shown that indoor air pollution is a serious issue. Most of the commercial buildings out there don’t have any serious issues, but even the well-maintained buildings can sometimes have problems with poor indoor air.
Poor indoor air quality has been shown to lead to productivity problems. The health consequences of poor indoor air quality is costing the government billions every year because of productivity loss and medical care.
What Is the Cause of Poor Indoor Air Quality?
One of the most underrated health concerns in institutional and commercial buildings is indoor air pollution. It is not hard to see why this is the case. When outdoor air is heavily polluted, it can be easily identified by the toxic smell, dark smoke, and bitter taste. It is different for indoor air. You won’t notice it because it is hidden behind the comforting and cool air that the AC blows. Air fresheners make it hard to smell. People cannot see it, which is why most dismiss it.
What makes indoor air polluted? There are many air pollutants that can be found in commercial facilities and homes. The most common are dust, tobacco smoke, chemical pollutants, mold and mildew, and VOCs.
Cigarette Smoke
Even if no one is smoking inside the building, the cigarette smoke is going to remain on their clothes and skin when they smoke. When a smoker gets into a room, you can smell it immediately. There are more than 4000 chemical compounds in cigarette smoke, and most of them are toxic and detrimental to the respiratory system.
Dust
Dust contributes a lot to air pollution. Environmental pollutants like mites do the same. When a room doesn’t have adequate ventilation, the pollutants are going to circulate around the room, which can trigger allergic symptoms in some employees.
Mold and Mildew
When the outside temperature goes down and the indoor air is heated, you will notice condensation around the windows, which results in moisture. The high moisture environment is the perfect place for mold and mildew to grow. If you have any water damage issues in the office, there is a good chance mold and mildew is going to thrive.
Chemical Pollutants
Office equipment and building materials can emit chemical pollutants. Office equipment like wall and floor coverings, furniture, upholstery, and anything manufactured inside the office can do the same. They include polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), formaldehyde, polyurethane, and VOCs.
Detecting Air Quality Issues
Determining the cause of indoor air pollution can be a challenge, especially when in a commercial facility. Most facility managers notice there is a problem when people start to complain about symptoms triggered by indoor air quality.
Different organizations employ different approaches when it comes to detecting indoor air quality issues, but most of them include these steps.
Inspect the ventilation system to determine whether the outdoor air is taken in and then distributed properly throughout the area. making sure the filtration systems are working properly.
Ruling out possible symptom triggers like noise, thermal comfort, poor lighting, ergonomics, etc.
Testing whether there are air pollutants (asbestos, mold, carbon monoxide, toxic gasses, and other chemicals). There are testing kits to use to test these. The samples are then taken to a lab for analysis.
How to Improve your Workplace Indoor Air Quality
Keep Your Workplace Clean
Keeping your workplace clean lowers levels of dust, mold, contaminants, and allergens that can easily spread through the air. Use eco-friendly products that don’t release harmful compounds into the air to maintain a sanitary environment.
Use Air Cleaning Devices
A good way of keeping your indoor air quality at good levels and avoiding the need to hire professionals is getting commercial-grade equipment. Some necessary equipment includes dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, and air purifiers.
Regularly Change HVAC Filters
You need to clean your HVAC system regularly. Change the filters regularly because that prevents dust and pollutants from getting back into your building. When the filters are clogged, it can interrupt airflow or cause polluted air to get back inside. This makes the indoor air quality worse.
Observe Proper Ventilation
When possible, turn on the HVAC system and open the window so that outdoor air can get inside the building. Your air vents should remain unblocked. Placing storage boxes, cabinets, furniture, or chairs in front of air vents is not a good idea because it will affect air circulation, and that can make the workplace feel stuffy. You should consider adding indoor plants to your office because it will help. They are beautiful to look at and they will help the air quality because they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Conduct Regular Air Tests
When you perform air quality monitoring regularly you will have the information and insights that will help you make a plan for ensuring the indoor air is great. Air tests can include checking airflow, humidity levels, odors, mold growth, ventilation, and water damage.
Conclusion
One of the most important things to consider when it comes to the overall health and well-being of people inside the building is indoor air quality. Poor IAQ increases the risk of health problems, from infections to respiratory illnesses. It can even have an impact on mental health.
There are two main options when you want to improve indoor air quality. You can do everything by yourself or hire professionals to do it for you. It is up to you to choose the right option for you.
There is a lot to do to improve indoor air quality in the workplace. They include keeping the place clean, regularly changing filters, maintaining your HVAC system, and regular air tests.
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