We are all aware of the dangers in the air around us outdoors, whether that means breathing in city street pollution or coping from allergies when there is a lot of pollen in the air. But what about the air quality in the workplace and indoor areas where we spend most of our time?
Better indoor air quality can lead to employee productivity improvements of 8-11 percent. When I walk into a building with poor air quality, I notice it immediately. I can notice right away when the air does not smell fresh, and if it is particularly bad I’ll begin sneezing soon after. Symptoms like itchy eyes, headaches, and fatigue can be even worse for those asthma sufferers.
Indoor air pollutants may be two to five times, and occasionally up to 100 times, higher than outdoor levels, according to the EPA. Here’s what you can do to start improving upon your building’s air quality:
1. Give your building a tune-up
Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB) is the process where measuring and adjusting air and water flows allows technicians to meet design requirements. The TAB process is comprised of using test instruments, sensors, and monitors to verify the appropriate temperatures, airflow, and other characteristics within the HVAC system. If the spaces are not achieving the appropriate airflows, they are corrected.
Essentially, this is a tune-up for the building’s ventilation system. This is necessary because your building may not be operating with the proper air flow that it was originally designed for. TAB can help to ensure spaces are properly ventilated and it can possibly help your building operate more efficiently.
2. Choose the right furniture
Materials like vinyl and PVC are associated with environmental and health hazards. Look for bio-based alternatives and solution-dyed fabrics.
PVC-free upholstery has proven to be a popular choice as well as easy to maintain. These materials can be easily cleaned with appropriate agents and help eliminate stains. As technology advances, many of these textiles are produces in more energy-efficient ways.
Paints and finishes around your building can also contribute to off-gassing, which is when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the air. Choose low-or zero-VOC paint options and reduce risks from off-gassing by allowing newly painted areas to be well-ventilated. Formaldehyde-free furniture finishes can often result in increased durability, while eliminating harmful chemicals.
3. Increase air circulation
Depending on how the system is designed, a part of the TAB process can measure and possibly adjust the amount of outdoor air coming into the building. In response to buildings reopening after the novel coronavirus, the CDC recommended to “increase percentage of outdoor air” coming into circulation indoors.
Regularly airing your indoor spaces is not limited to commercial buildings. It is often recommended to open windows and limit the burning of candles in residential areas as well. A common solution shared by commercial and residential spaces is the introduction of indoor plants. However, a few potted plants in the office will not do much to change your VOC count—but they still look good!
4. Check your cleaning routine
Scents from cleaning supplies can negatively impact people with asthma, according to the American Lung Association. More sustainable cleaning solutions can help to reduce this risk to people in your building while protecting indoor air quality.
To minimize the airborne droplets of a cleaning product, it is recommended to apply the product from the bottle directly onto an absorbent cloth or wiper. This will help to reduce the amount of chemicals released into the building air.
Avoid over-wetting surfaces to prevent mold or mildew growth. If mold and mildew is found in your facility, address it right away. Keep your cleaning equipment clean and dry them before storing to reduce the risk of any mold growth on these items.
Be sure to always follow the instructions on chemical labels. Chemicals should never be mixed with another chemical unless instructed to by the manufacturer label. Accurately dilute cleaning products according to instructions as well. Purchasing highly concentrated cleaning products will help lower levels of chemicals introduced to your building. Purchasing ready-to-use chemicals will likely be less cost efficient than concentrated chemicals and they will ultimately produce more empty plastic bottle waste.
5. Replace your old unit
Now might be the ideal time to replace an old unit. Many older buildings were not designed with ventilation systems that meet the minimum standards today. A new system retrofit can achieve that.
If your building is still not at its full occupancy, replacing a system now would not disrupt people in surrounding workspaces as much as it could when your building is back to full occupancy. Completing a system update prior to people returning to their workspaces can help reduce anxiety of diseases spreading through poorly ventilated spaces.
The best way to practice clean indoor air is to remain mindful of the cleaning agents, paints, and finishes introduced into your building while maintaining a well-functioning HVAC system. Find environmentally friendly solutions from Best Plumbing Specialties and spend some time focusing on healthy indoor environments for your building tenants.