The air quality in your workplace is important for many reasons. Many people spend the majority of their day working in the office. It is worth the time it takes to properly care for the air quality in the building.
High air quality in the workplace is essential for performance and concentration, as well as the health and well-being of the employees. This may seem like a huge undertaking when a large group of people are crowded in a small space where dust and dirt can quickly build up. Read on to discover how Ambient Edge can help you improve the air quality in your office building.
Have Your Office Building Air Quality Tested
Before you begin wondering where to start with improving the indoor air quality of your office building, it is a good idea to test its current state. You can hire professionals to check for leaks, airflow, and ventilation. In addition, they will measure each of the critical components, including water damage, mold growth, humidity levels, and more.
Alternatively, you could purchase an indoor air quality monitor that tracks the quality of the air. This electronic device runs constantly and tests and reports pollution levels indoors. It can test for humidity, chemical pollutants, and particulate matter and track temperature, depending on the device.
Another indoor air quality issue that should be tested for includes the presence of the silent killer carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and can kill a person when they are exposed in large amounts.
Regularly Replace Air Filters
Whether using a commercial air purifier or air duct filtration system, changing the filter is very important. A filter collects the dust and debris that easily move through an office building. A clogged filter can do more damage than having no filter at all.
The time between the replacement of filters will vary depending on the location of your building, the number of employees, and access to fresh air in the building. If you have a larger building with more employees, you may need to change your air filters more often. For smaller buildings or when there are fewer employees, air filters may not need to be changed quite as often.
A good rule of thumb is to replace filters every 3-6 months to avoid clogging and prevent airflow from being impeded. When filters become clogged, the particles that filters are meant to collect could be recirculated in the air ducts, causing further air pollution. Certain specialty equipment filters have maintenance sensors that notify building owners when they must be replaced.
Make Fresh Air a Priority
Those working in an office building are typically indoors for 6 to 8 hours at a time. Closed-off spaces such as offices tend to have stagnant air. Office employees have little access to fresh air throughout their day.
When working in a closed space, allow fresh air in the building whenever possible. Keeping windows open allows a steady stream of fresh air for employees. If weather and location permit, propping doors open for a time will allow for natural ventilation and remove any stale air.
If possible, creating an outdoor break area for employees will encourage them to seek fresh air when windows and doors are open is not a possibility. In addition to improving the air quality, fresh air boosts employee morale. By far, one of the easiest and cheapest ways of improving air quality in office buildings is prioritizing fresh air.
Introduce Indoor Plants to Your Office Building
Plants not only create a beautiful pop of color in your indoor atmosphere, but they are also an efficient way to cleanse the air. Choosing a variety of plants will add to the visual appeal of their presence. With their small tropical flowers or large glossy leaves, their benefit to the air, mind, body, and soul will be numerous.
Plants are a powerhouse when it comes to cleaning the air. Through their leaves, gasses are absorbed, turning light and carbon dioxide into energy through photosynthesis. Plants also absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde from cleaning products and benzene from fabrics and plastics from the air.
Plants reduce carbon dioxide levels while also increasing humidity in the air. Adding plants to a room helps to keep air temperatures down, making a building more efficient. In addition to reducing benzene and formaldehyde, plants also lower nitrogen dioxide levels in the air.
Be Aware of Humidity Levels in the Building
Working in a building with air that has a heavy moisture content can create breathing difficulties for employees. Creating a balanced relative humidity ensures your office employees can remain healthy, stay focused, and work comfortably. A variety of issues and risks occur when humidity levels are not kept consistent, which can easily alter employee’s safety, performance, and overall happiness.
Happy and productive employees are crucial for any company. Therefore, it is important to keep safe humidity levels throughout the building. The safe zone for humidity falls between 40 and 60% RH.
In addition to breathing issues, poorly humidified areas in the office can create a breeding ground for infectious bacteria. When drier conditions are present, airborne aerosols can effectively travel through the office. Overly high or low humidity introduces a variety of issues, including irritated skin and eyes, respiratory issues, reduced mental focus, and overall discomfort.
Keep the Office Clean
Cleaning may seem like a no-brainer, but keeping the office tidy is crucial. Dirt and dust easily accumulate when an office is filled with many people. Frequently cleaning through the use of vacuuming and sanitizing will keep air quality at its best.
Quickly removing garbage from an office space prevents it from having time to affect air quality. Wiping down unused spaces will prevent dust from accumulating. Individual workspaces can be maintained by employees.
Hire a Professional HVAC Team for Preventative Maintenance
Hiring a professional HVAC team can help. Professionals know which areas need the most work. Schedule an annual duct cleaning and inspection from Ambient Edge to prevent extra dust from floating in the air and landing on workspaces.
Fill out our online contact form today. Or, call our office and we will be in touch to schedule an appointment. Get a free estimate today and improve the air quality in your home or business.