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use of synthetic building materials and furnishings. Furthermore, the use of chemically formulated personal products and cleaning supplies has added to the problem.
can easily build up in badly ventilated rooms. The results of this can vary from a lack of productivity to fatigue and illness.
Workplace facilities, and any other buildings where large numbers of people congregate indoors, are at greater risk of indoor air quality issues, as CO2
As the significance of air quality has only come into the spotlight in recent years, it is not uncommon for employers and staff to be completely unaware of an issue with their air quality until extreme symptoms are exhibited. In many cases, low air quality may never be detected, and minor issues such as fatigue or recurrent headaches are written off as stress or other factors.
Currently, many offices rely on manual ventilation. However, this is not only inefficient, with marginal impact on air quality, but can also contribute to workplace discomfort with draughts and potential noise distractions entering through open windows.
Best pracce
When weather conditions are not conducive to natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation becomes the practical option. If working effectively, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems can significantly boost a building’s indoor air quality (IAQ) by keeping the temperature, humidity and air pollutants at safe and comfortable levels. However, if the HVAC system is outdated or not working properly, the quality of indoor air can quickly deteriorate.
The latest Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) solutions work by regulating the intake of air into a space based on the changing levels of CO2
in the
environment, extracting stale air at the same rate. Bringing in outside air before filtering it delivers consistent circulation throughout the space, no matter what changes occur in the office throughout the day.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY BSEE
What is particularly smart about DCV systems is that at times during the day where levels of CO2 could become incredibly high, for example during company meetings when all staff congregate in the same enclosed area, the system kicks in and ensures that the IAQ remains at the optimum level. In addition to controlling CO2
levels, a well-
designed ventilation system can also help control warm, summertime temperatures by utilising secure night-time purge ventilation. This lowers the temperature within the space when external temperatures are lower.
Because fresh air is only vented at the time and rate it is required, DCV can be as much as 23 per cent more efficient than fixed rate ventilation practices, such as opening windows or constant volume ventilation units. This can provide building managers with significant energy savings, which can be a major boon to smaller companies who rely on keeping running costs low.
Workplace wellbeing is a growing concern, and according to a report by business psychology firm Robertson Cooper and the British Safety Council, employers need to take a “forward- thinking view” when developing their employee wellbeing strategies, because today’s health and wellbeing risks are unlikely to be the same as those in the future.
Tax breaks
The report, Future Risk: Impact of work on employee health, safety and wellbeing, even goes so far as to suggest that the Government looks into tax breaks for employers who implement health and wellbeing programmes.
As part of this, indoor air quality is likely to remain a priority, especially as we learn more about how it can affect employees throughout their working days and across their working lives as a whole. Reports on construction activity show that, in the third quarter of 2017, growth in office construction was up 11.2 percent to £4.5 billion. This means that there is an opportunity to directly address the issue
of indoor air quality by future-proofing the corporate buildings of the future. Specifiers and building managers have an important role to play by recommending solutions that can really make a difference.
Deploying DCV, in conjunction with a highly efficient mechanical ventilation system can help companies provide a healthy environment for employees, which not only increases productivity, but protects against the negative issues associated with low air quality.
www.jaga.co.uk
http://smallbusiness.co.uk/wellbeing-strategies-improve- engagement-2537123/
https://www.ft.com/content/cb204aa0-566c-11e7-80b6- 9bfa4c1f83d2
http://theconversation.com/research-shows-if-you- improve-the-air-quality-at-work-you-improve- productivity-76695
https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/ future-workforce-wellbeing/
uIndoor air quality is likely to remain a priority, especially as we learn more about how it can aect employees throughout their working days and across their working lives.
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BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2018 31
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