INDOOR AIR QUALITY The importance of effective office ventilation
Studies have shown that poor indoor air quality can be detrimental to our health and wellbeing, and it’s not great for work productivity either. Alan Siggins suggests that investment in effective and responsive ventilation offers benefits to both employees and their employers.
Alan Siggins
www.airflow.com
A
Managing director of Airflow Developments
ir pollution isn’t limited to busy streets in towns and cities. It is becoming a bigger problem inside homes and offices,
with indoor air up to 50% more polluted than outdoor air. The effect of indoor air pollution is particularly prevalent within newer buildings, because the improved build quality means there are fewer opportunities for pollutants to dissipate. Insulation can trap airborne pollutants which can then build up over time and, in turn, affect the health and wellbeing of everyone working inside. Indoor air pollution is linked to causing
and worsening existing conditions, including asthma, strokes and allergies, while in the workplace it has been found to have a negative effect on working
practices. The most common side effects of poor indoor air quality are worsened concentration and productivity levels, and increased fatigue. In a study conducted by BESA, over 75% of interviewed office workers felt that poor indoor air quality in their office was affecting their working practices. Over two-thirds of those interviewed said that opening a window was their most common form of ventilation. However, by opening a window, there is the risk of exposing those inside to harmful pollutants from outside such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter. These pollutants are typically created by traffic, so in many instances opening a window may not actually be an option. By opening a window there will also be an increase the amount of noise entering the workplace, further reducing the concentration levels of those working inside.
Nearly 80% of the respondents
reported that they suffer from lapses in concentration on at least a monthly basis; with over 70% reporting that they suffered
air coming into the classroom ensures pollution levels are minimised and ‘fresh air’ really is coming in. The great thing about mechanical
Over 70% of office workers report that they regularly suffer from fatigue
from fatigue at least once a month. One of the main recommendations from the report was ensuring that there is suitable ventilation in place in the office, as this will help to remove harmful pollutants swiftly and effectively. Although we refer to ‘fresh air’ as the
air coming in from outdoors, how fresh do you really think it is? Depending on your location and distance from towns, cities and busy roads, the air pollution differs. Mechanical ventilation units have inbuilt filters that not only filter the air that is being exhausted, but the air that is being brought in from outside. Filtering the
ventilation is that not only does it let you control your indoor environment, but it also contributes to the temperature of the room. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery units transfer the heat from the extracted air across to the incoming air without any cross contamination. This means the heat is retained in the classroom whilst the air is being ventilated. Adding a CO₂ sensor to the system provides demand control ventilation, meaning the supply and extract flows ramp up and down according to the CO₂ levels. Reducing the level of air pollution within the office will help to improve the health, wellbeing and productivity and concentration levels of those working within the office. This could be through simple extraction to commercial heat recovery units, so why wouldn’t you want to invest in proper ventilation for your workplace? ■
WHY CHOOSE US -+-
DECADES OF EXPERIENCE WITHIN HUMIDITY CONTROL
SPECIALISTS
HUMIDITY CONTROL MADE EASY
-+-
“We partnered with Humidity Solutions because they were fast, flexible and offered complete reassurance. Humidity Solutions came out to site and
understood my project, which made things a lot easier for me. My experience is not in humidity control, so having them look at the entire project as a whole was incredibly helpful.”
CONTACT OUR EXPERTS E:
info@humiditysolutions.co.uk W:
humiditysolutions.co.uk T: +44 (0)1372 571 200
• Free site surveys • Quick turnaround on quotes • Fast lead times with a range of systems in stock • Decades of experience in a variety of industries • Low energy solutions • Free technical support over the phone • Full UK coverage for service and maintenance • Close control of +/-1% relative humidity possible
EIBI | JUNE 2024
29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
