Improving Air Quality In Your Office

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Poor air quality can be a serious health hazard. It can lead to headaches, nausea and respiratory problems (collectively known as Sick Building Syndrome). Office buildings are notorious for having poor air quality. This can be the result of numerous chemicals and contaminants including:

  • Mould

  • VOCs

  • Dust

  • Radon

There are lots of ways to improve air quality to keep you and your employees safe. Here are just some of the ways to keep air clean and fresh.

Ventilate

Ventilation allows dirty air to get out and can be important when dealing with build-ups of natural gas like radon. Opening windows is an obvious way to keep a building ventilated. However, this may not always be the best option if it’s cold or your office is situated in a heavily polluted area. In these cases, extractor fans and ventilation systems may be better for pumping unclean air out.

Dehumidify

Too much moisture in the air can lead to mould growth. Not only is mould unsightly - breathing in spores of mould has been linked to the development of respiratory conditions such asthma and legionnaires, making it a hazard to you and your employees. Many HVAC systems are able to keep air dry but in some cases there may still be additional need for industrial air dryers. It’s important to also look out for leaks and repair them as soon as possible – water from damaged pipes or rainwater seeping in through cracks could lead to moisture build-up and mould.  

Purify

Air purifiers can be an additional way of cleaning air – they suck in air and remove any contaminants such as pollen or dust, before pumping out the clean air. Electric purifiers are the most effective option, but you can also purify air using charcoal air purifying bags and office plants (many plants will absorb contaminants in the air, as well as serving as a fresh source of oxygen).

Keep clean

Keeping your office’s surfaces clean will keep the air clean. If you’re not regularly removing dust from surfaces, it will build up – when disturbed it will get into the air. If you haven’t got the time for cleaning, you could always hire professional cleaners to come into your office. An occasional deep clean could help you to remove dust from all surfaces. Consider culling clutter in your office such as unnecessary paper files and equipment – removing this clutter will make cleaning easier and result in less places for dust to build up.

Go green

There are ways in which going green can improve the air quality within your office. Many cleaning products contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are thought to be linked to respiratory issues and headaches. Switching to cleaning products containing low VOC levels or no VOCs could make your office a healthier environment. VOCs can also be found in some paints, so take this into consideration when renovating your office.

Alison Morgan