How Important Is Air Quality in the Office?
The air quality inside a Frankford, Delaware, building — whether a business or home — can impact productivity, comfort, well-being, and health for everyone inside. In the U.S., most people spend 90 percent of their time indoors. A majority of the daily business conducted in our country occurs in office settings. It may surprise you to know that studies show pollutant levels can sometimes be higher indoors than those measured outside.
What Makes Indoor Air Quality Bad?
Many complex factors contribute to poor air quality inside an office, and these factors change constantly. The nature of indoor air quality (IAQ) is difficult to define due to these changes, but poor air quality can be due to some of these variables:
- Operation, design, and maintenance of ventilation systems.
- Sources of odors or pollutants.
- Insufficient fresh outdoor air or contaminated outdoor air brought inside.
- Moisture due to humidity or leaks.
Inadequate maintenance of HVAC systems can have the most significant impact on the condition of the air inside an office. Poor ventilation can fail to dry out humid air and leave more polluting air particles. Contaminants in the air can come from many sources, both inside and outside:
- Dust
- Airborne chemicals
- Pollen
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Cleaning chemicals
- Metabolic wastes
- Office equipment (printers, fax machines, etc.)
- Cosmetics or fragrances
How Can Indoor Air Quality in an Office Be Improved?
A properly operating ventilation system and related air quality tools can reduce air pollution in an office. You want to ensure the healthiest and safest environment for your workers. Improving the indoor air quality is a way to help with any discomfort workers may experience and can boost productivity.
At Custom Mechanical, we have certified technicians who can check the quality of your indoor air and can provide air purifiers and other products and services to improve it. Call us today at 877-696-0808 to get a free estimate or to schedule service.
Image provided by Shutterstock