The air quality within structures is called indoor air quality (IAQ). The quality of indoor air is significantly poorer than outdoor air quality. Indoor air pollution arises when fresh air circulation is limited and hazardous substances are present throughout the indoor space. Many factors could lead to the dropping of air quality, such as tobacco smoke, dust, mould, and mildew. Employers must ensure the safety and cleanliness of the air their employees inhale as more sectors resume entire operations following the endemic phase of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Employees spend hours inhaling the same air cycle at their desks each day. As a result, businesses must ensure optimal indoor air quality and ventilation. Indoor air pollution aggravates or causes a wide range of health issues among office workers, including itching eyes, headaches, nausea, flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties, and asthma-like symptoms.
Many occupational health accidents are due to indoor air pollution; hence it is vital to keep the air inside your commercial facility clean and safe. More employees are adopting various ways to improve the air quality within their commercial buildings with the instalment of proper ventilation, the usage of air filtration systems, and indoor air quality assessments now and then. The air quality in an office can significantly impact employees’ cognitive function, such as response times, focus capacity, and productivity.
A new study conducted by the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health on participants in offices from various industries such as engineering, real estate investing, and architecture on the effects of increased concentrations of delicate particulate matter (PM) 2. 5 and lower carbon dioxide (CO2) ventilation rates led to impaired cognitive function, such as slower response times and lower accuracy on a series of cognitive tests.
The study included approximately 300 people ranging in age from 18 to 65 who worked in the same office buildings for at least three days each week in China, India, Mexico, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Each workstation received 2. 5 PM concentrations, CO2, temperature, and relative humidity. The participants administered their performance using cognitive tests and surveys in a specifically designed application. Participants in the study had to complete tests and questionnaires at set times or when environmental sensors detected PM2.5 and CO2 levels lower or higher than predetermined limits.
The first test required employees to identify the color of the presented text; the purpose of this test was to examine cognitive speed and ability to focus on crucial information while being exposed to irrelevant stimuli. The second test was a series of simple arithmetic questions to assess cognitive speed and working memory. As the amounts of PM 2.5 and CO2 in the atmosphere grew, so did the response times and accuracy of the first colour-based test. Only an increase in CO2 was linked to slower arithmetic-based response times but increased concentration in both influenced individuals to complete fewer questions correctly within the timeframe permitted.
Employers can improve air quality within their office buildings by conducting indoor air quality assessments, installing air purifiers, and inspecting and removing pollutants. Enviro Group urges enterprises to ensure the cleanliness and safety of their employees’ air circulation. Read on to know about some of the initiatives employees may take to enhance the indoor air quality of their workplace.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT
The purpose of an indoor air quality evaluation is to identify issues about the quality of air in your facilities and establish long-term solutions to these concerns. Monitoring the indoor air quality in a building or enclosed space can be the most effective strategy to address health issues caused by poor indoor air quality. At Enviro, the processes of indoor air quality assessments are as follows:
- Overall walkthrough inspection of the building/selected areas
- Inspection of the Air Duct System and Mechanical Ventilating and Air Conditioning (MVAC) system
- Surveying building occupants IAQ health risk by distributing a questionnaire
- Conducting in-situ IAQ sampling, data collection, and testing
- Laboratory testing for microbial contamination
- Detailed reporting of the IAQ Assessment approved by an IAQ Assessor Registered with DOSH.
HEALTHWAY AIR PURIFIERS
An air purifier is a device that filters and eliminates contaminants from space to improve indoor air quality. It improves interior air quality by filtering out odours, smoke, dust, furniture cleaning, and pet dander and releasing purified air.
Enviroverks (M) Sdn. Bhd. carries only the best air purifiers. One of the most important elements to examine is whether the air purifier employs a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, the standard recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association. Furthermore, Healthway air purifiers use Disinfection Filtration System (DFS) Technology, which is 40 times more effective than HEPA technology.
While HEPA filtration technology is the standard set for an air filtration system that captures 99.97% efficient at 0.3 microns, DFS Technology captures 99.99 percent of all particles as small as 0.007 microns. In addition to removing odour, pet dander, and smoke, this DFS Technology can eliminate viruses in the air; something HEPA filter cannot do.
MOULD REMOVAL SERVICE
Mould spores can be found practically anywhere and can infiltrate a private residence with a susceptible atmosphere, such as warm, damp, and humid circumstances. Mould can spread throughout a property in 48 hours, introducing allergens and irritants that might harm one’s health. Accessing the facility to discover the likely root causes of the mould infestation is part of our mould decontamination and restoration process. Following this, a thorough remediation process is done to eradicate and return the environment to its before condition.
AIR DUCT CLEANING SERVICE
Air ducts are significant elements that interact in a building to produce indoor environmental conditions. The maintenance of air ducts and air conditioning systems is sometimes overlooked, resulting in various concerns such as contamination of collected debris, jeopardised assets owing to contamination build-up, and deterioration of duct insulation.
Enviroverks (M) Sdn. Bhd. is one of the few companies in Malaysia having a NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) certification, which ensures that systems are cleaned professionally. We scour the entire air duct system by the American standard ACR 2006.
The COVID-19 outbreak has prompted people to focus more on developing new measures for limiting the spread of the virus and other infectious diseases, such as providing sufficient ventilation, filtration systems, and maintaining indoor air quality. We at Enviro Group are committed to helping businesses to improve indoor air quality in office buildings. Providing fresh indoor air creates a healthier working environment, allowing your employees to perform better and become more productive. The healthier the indoor air quality and atmosphere of the workplace space, the more engaged and productive employees will be.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
