How Important is Indoor Air Quality?

4/3/2023 (Permalink)

Having excellent indoor air quality is critical to businesses

New Report Indicates Office Employees are Highly Concerned about Indoor Air Quality

Honeywell Building Technologies has released results from their second annual study on workers' perceptions and feelings about the health and safety of the air quality in their office workspace. The study surveyed over 3,000 office employees who typically work in large buildings with 500 or more employees. The study occurred across the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, and the Middle East. The following information summarizes the key findings of the Honeywell study.

Unhealthy Indoor Environments Can Drive Employees Away

With more persons returning to offices, business owners need to know how employees feel about their workspace's indoor air quality.

• 89% of the persons surveyed in the six regions of the world believe that indoor air quality impacts their health and well-being.
• 91% of Americans believe the quality of the air they breathe has a direct impact on their health and well-being.
• 74% of respondents believe indoor air is less healthy than outdoor air.
• 65% of American respondents said they would consider leaving their job over an unhealthy indoor environment.

There is a Lack of Knowledge About Indoor Air Quality

Despite the agreement that safe IAQ has significant health benefits,  U.S. office workers do not understand the factors contributing to Indoor Air Quality. Nearly three in five surveyed U.S. office workers (57%) cannot correctly identify the factors contributing to IAQ. Over three-quarters (77%) have little or no knowledge of their building's IAQ.

Thanks to educational information concerning Covid, the public knows that viruses are spread more easily within indoor environments. However, there is little information about other factors that affect indoor air quality, such as airborne particulates caused by carpet fibers, dust, dander, gases, cleaning chemicals, moisture (humidity), and mold spores. Indoor air quality testing usually only happens when a fire, chemical spill, sewage backup, or flood event occurs. Perhaps routine air testing should be conducted every quarter in a building with a certain number of employees.

There are remedies to improve our indoor air quality in office spaces and public buildings and including the following:

• Air filtration using HEPA technology and Ultraviolet light
• Frequent clean air exchange
• The use of HEPA vacuuming during routine office cleaning
• Reduce dependency on certain cleaning chemicals and products
• Emphasize the use of EPA and CDC-approved cleaning products
• Install cleanroom technology where appropriate
• Regular cleaning of HVAC and air handling systems
• Air quality testing

SERVPRO of Yuma East, Foothills, provides HVAC cleaning in commercial and public buildings, including cleaning PTAC units.

We can also provide air quality testing during and after the cleanup of smoke damage, biohazard events, sewage backups, water damage, and mold remediation. We use many of the cleaning agents that are EPA and CDC-approved or recommended.

SERVPRO of Yuma East, Foothills, has completed cleaning projects in hospitals, medical offices, hotels, and senior living communities where indoor air quality is always top of mind. We are always available to consult or help with mitigation projects. For details, call 928-247-1180.