When someone is talking about indoor air quality (IAQ), they’re referring specifically to the quality of air within a building. The quality of the air in a building is determined by the concentration of pollutants in the given space, as well as humidity and temperature. It’s easy to overlook something like air quality, but it’s crucial to the health, comfort, and productivity of your employees. If your workplace has poor IAQ, it could result in your employees getting sick or being unable to perform their jobs.
Commercial Indoor Air Quality
When your employees walk into their workplace, they expect the environment will be suitable for work. That means the office or facility should be comfortable and have clean, breathable air. Trying to perform your daily tasks in an area where this isn’t the case would not only be difficult, but it could also be dangerous.
However, air quality is something that can easily change and happen very quickly if the building’s control system malfunctions, not allowing for proper ventilation, heating, or cooling. If your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is not properly maintained, IAQ can quickly become worse than the air outside. This is not an issue to take lightly if you’re a building owner, manager, or occupant.
What Causes Poor Air Quality?
Many things can affect the quality of air in your building, most notably contaminants. Contaminants are biological or chemical pollutants that get released in the air as gases or particulates. They can include mold, dust, asbestos, and more. Contaminants can come from outside or inside and can pose serious health risks.
A relevant contaminant that is currently making headlines is the virus known as COVID-19 or coronavirus. This virus can be spread in a variety of ways, including through the air. The presence of this virus in your building would lower the air quality in your building.
In addition to contaminants, temperature and humidity also play a role in IAQ. An office that’s too cold, hot, or humid may be too uncomfortable for your employees. Not only can this interfere with productivity, but it can lead to other issues. For example, high levels of humidity can encourage mold growth and low levels of humidity can create an environment for viruses and bacteria to flourish.
How Can You Improve Indoor Air Quality?
A functional HVAC is the key to maintaining good IAQ. Your heating and cooling system is capable of more than just adjusting the temperature; it’s also in charge of cycling the air in the room. Without proper HVAC air filtration, the air in your building will quickly become stagnant and stale. This is especially dangerous with the presence of COVID-19.
Through maintenance and optimization, you can ensure your HVAC is working the way it should at all times. In addition to helping you follow coronavirus safety measures, your HVAC can:
- Keep humidity at optimal levels
- Supply fresh air from the outside to occupants
- Remove contaminated air from the area
- Clean indoor air through filtration and purification
It’s easy to overlook something like air quality, but it’s crucial to the health, comfort, and productivity of your employees.
What If I Notice a Problem?
If you experience a change in your health and there are no clear explanations as to why, that may indicate you’re breathing in pollutants. If you believe you are experiencing symptoms caused by poor air quality, you’ll want to talk to your doctor. It also would be beneficial to alert your supervisors, building manager, or building owner. Another option is to identify potential sources of pollutants. Being aware of the types and number of sources can prepare you for reducing or eliminating the problem.
Your HVAC Solution
At A&G Services, our technicians take indoor air quality seriously. That’s why we offer the comprehensive HVAC services you need to keep your HVAC running smoothly and efficiently. From regular maintenance to emergency repairs, we can handle it. And during this pandemic, you can be assured that our technicians are following the required safety precautions for coronavirus to keep you and us safe.
Contact us today to learn more about how A&G Services can help your business.
