AirMergency: How are Businesses responding To This Crisis

Our living and working spaces now need to evolve to address critical issues for air pollution for overall health and safety. Optimizing spatial wellness and building comfort is crucial for ensuring

occupants are productive and comfortable.

 Breathing clean air is a basic human right that promotes individual health and fosters a positive work environment. When you are exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants, indoor air pollution can disrupt your mental and physical equilibrium. Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) is a crucial factor for both the comfort and health of office workers. It directly impacts their productivity and ability to perform tasks. Air quality is considered the most important factor, followed by cleanliness and furniture adjustability. The cleaner you breathe, the better your overall wellness is.

The most likely reasons for poor IAQ in your workplace are:

●        Overcrowding or poorly managed space

●        Lack of adequate ventilation

●        Improperly handled and defective HVAC system

●        The infusion of outdoor air pollutants through openings and ventilation systems, etc.

●        Generation of indoor pollutants from interior furnishings (Paint, fabrics, laminates, adhesives, polishes), cleaning materials and IT equipment

Here are the 3 IAQ Parameters to manage to ensure Wellness and Building Comfort:

Particulate matter (PM)

Indoor PM, just like outdoor

PM, is a crucial aspect of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), primarily affecting air quality. While building occupants may not experience immediate discomfort from particulate matter, unlike VOCs or even carbon dioxide, it still has serious health impacts that can accumulate over both short-term and long-term exposure. Therefore, particulate matter remains a significant factor in determining building comfort.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Indoor carbon dioxide levels have consequences for occupant comfort and wellness but are typically not a safety risk. Most indoor carbon dioxide originates from human exhalation. In smaller, less ventilated spaces, such as meeting rooms and cabins, carbon dioxide can accumulate, causing discomfort at slightly elevated levels (generally above 1000 ppm). Occupants may feel drowsy and find concentrating more difficult. Occupants may experience headaches and fatigue at higher levels (2500-5000 ppm), causing discomfort and distractions.

TVOC

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have implications for both physiological impacts and occupant perceptions of comfort and wellness. Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from electronic equipment, building materials, furniture, flooring, and cleaners may result in irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, along with the potential for headaches and more serious long-term health effects.

IAQ is inseparable from wellness and building comfort. Given the huge impacts of indoor air on health and cognition, no other wellness initiative can be effective if occupants can't first 'breathe pure.' Failure to guarantee this may result in sick building syndrome and its potentially

ravaging effects on occupant's physical and mental health, and productivity. Fortunately, by mitigating CO2, TVOCs, and PM, you can target and ward against the worst in your air, establishing the primary conditions for an indoor space that is both comfortable and well.

Workplace emissions and air pollution can be effectively controlled by organizations to reduce morbidity and mortality, not only in workers but also people in the broader environment. Nirvana Being (NB), a leading IAQ consultancy and engineering firm, provides turnkey assessment, design (integrated HVAC & IAQ), system implementation, and real-time air quality monitoring. For over nine years, NB has been delivering health and safety compliance as it relates to air for clients like PVR Cinemas, American Express, UNICEF, JW Marriott, Jindal Steel, JK Cement, Times of India, The Quorum Club, The Ardee School, and many farmhouses, apartments, and single-family homes.

Authored by Mr. Jai Dhar Gupta, Founder Nirvana Being

Disclaimer from Renous

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the views of our publication. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be considered as professional advice. The reader should always conduct their own research and due diligence before taking any action based on the information provided in this article.