Indoor Air Quality: the key component of a healthy building
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a critical component of any healthy and productive workplace as poor levels of it can lead to health problems, decreased productivity, and increased absenteeism.
But it's not only that - Indoor air quality is also subject to numerous regulations, building certification programs, and sustainability initiatives. Therefore, as a health and safety manager, it is essential to prioritize indoor air quality in your workplace.
Here are our top four reasons why:
- Health & Productivity
As we mentioned above, poor indoor air quality can lead to a range of health problems, including respiratory issues, headaches, and fatigue. These health problems can reduce productivity and increase absenteeism, ultimately affecting your bottom line.
In fact, according to the World Green Building Council, improving IAQ can result in an 8-11% increase in productivity. And while this number is very impressive, the World Health Organization has estimated that up to 30% of all buildings may still have indoor air quality problems.
Check this article to find out more about the most common symptoms of poor indoor air quality in a building.
- Indoor Air Quality regulations
The Indoor Air Quality at workspaces and offices is subject to numerous regulations, including those set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These regulations set standards for a range of IAQ parameters, including carbon dioxide, temperature, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs).
As a health and safety manager, it is essential to stay up-to-date with these regulations to ensure compliance and protect employee health.
- Green and healthy building certification
Indoor Air Quality is a key factor in building certification programs. In fact, certifications such as BREEAM, LEED, and WELL include Include Indoor Air Quality as a decisive factor in determining a building’s overall sustainability and healthiness.
These programs evaluate a range of IAQ parameters, including ventilation rates and air filtration. By prioritizing Indoor Air Quality in your workplace, you can help your building achieve certification and demonstrate a commitment to employee health and sustainability.
Take a look at this page to get the full overview of how many points you can reach in BREEAM, LEED, and WELL with Clairify’s solutions.
- Sustainability standards
Our last point of this list is sustainability standards, as indoor air quality is a critical component of sustainable building design and operations. By improving Indoor Air Quality, you can reduce energy consumption, decrease the environmental impact of your building, and help you save costs.
Did you know that improving your building's indoor air quality can actually help you reduce your building's CO2 emissions?
Take a look at our solutions page for our Indoor Air Quality Check and Ongoing Indoor Air Quality Monitoring to learn more about all of these points, or get in touch with us to schedule a personalized (and free!) consultation.