Buildings Magazine - January 2018

4 HVAC Tips to Improve IAQ

PROTECTING THE AIR THAT BUILDING OCCUPANTS BREATHE REQUIRES A PROACTIVE APPROACH

Indoor air quality is closely linked with workplace productivity and health, so it is imperative that you take the right actions for your building’s occupants to breathe easy. Here are four actions you can take to ensure good quality air in your facility.

1) Listen to Feedback from Building Occupants
In many cases, if most building occupants have something to say about the air
quality of their workspace, it is likely to be temperature-related, as the Center for
the Built Environment at the University of California, Berkeley, found that 42% of
occupants are dissatisfied with the temperature. Maintaining good IAQ is not lim-
ited to reducing pollutants and contaminants in the air; it also requires keeping the
facility at a comfortable temperature and managing humidity so employees in the
workspace can work productively
throughout the day. Creating an
open line of communication for
occupants to provide feedback on
comfort levels will help develop a
more productive workplace.
Even though there is no one
temperature or condition that is
ideal for every building occupant,
a steady stream of feedback will
allow you to identify problem areas
throughout the facility. You can
address areas with a clear pattern
of discomfort by adjusting thermo-
stats or conducting detailed inspec-
tions if the solution isn’t so simple.
While temperature might get
more attention from building occu-
pants, you also need to consider
humidity. Moisture levels in the air
that are too high or too low can
cause problems for workers.
“The presence of moisture and
dirt can cause molds and other
biological contaminants to thrive.
Relative humidity levels that are too
high can contribute to the growth
and spread of unhealthy biological pollutants, as can failure to dry water-damaged
materials promptly (usually within 24 hours) or to properly maintain equipment with
water reservoirs or drain pans (e.g. humidifiers, refrigerators and ventilation equip-
ment),” explains the EPA. “Humidity levels that are too low, however, may contribute to
irritated mucous membranes, dry eyes and sinus discomfort.”
Outside of temperature and humidity, you will also be able to see patterns in
areas where workers are more frequently sick or agitated from some pollutant or
contaminant. Getting firsthand accounts of how air quality is affecting occupants is
one of the best and most cost-effective ways to pinpoint problems.

2) Perform Regular Ventilation Inspections and Tests

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory identifies a correlation with higher ventilation rates being associated with higher standardized testing scores in schools. Researchers also note that the performance of typical office tasks improves when the ventilation rate

VENTILATION IS KEY TO OPTIMIZING PRODUCTIVITY in the workplace. But if the outside air contains pollutants, the benefits of a high ventilation rate are neutralized.

www.spot-coolers.com

800.367.8675

RENTALS & SALES

STAY

THIS WINTER

WARM

HEATING

Heat pumps provide a warm
change for any cold environment:
offices, lobbies, schools,
warehouses, daycare centers,
retail spaces, nursing homes
or any other place
that requires immediate,
reliable, supplemental heat.