How To Setup Air Quality Control At Your Business

Posted in Air Quality, on May 05, 2015

Are your employees constantly experiencing recurrent headaches, breathing difficulties or respiratory infections? You may need a thorough air quality evaluation to establish whether the origin of these signs is environmental.

The indoor setting in every building is the outcome of the interaction between the climate, site, building system, subsequent modifications in the mechanical and structural systems, and building occupants. Air quality testing is a significant component of establishing the health of our surroundings. The air quality we breathe is extremely important especially because we spend more than 90% of our life indoors. Most of the indoor pollutants are invisible and don't necessarily generate an obvious odor. An indoor quality evaluation is therefore vital because it can offer valuable information regarding the indoor setting and pollutants that are possibly making your workers sick. If you're still unsure about the benefits of air quality assessment, check this out.

Sources of Indoor Contaminants

Indoor air pollutants can originate outdoors or within the building. If pollutant sources remain uncontrolled, indoor air quality (IAQ) issues may arise in spite of a well maintained and properly designed HVAC system. Pollutant sources may fall into either of these categories:

1. External Sources
2. Polluted outdoor air. These include pollen, fungal spores, dust, and industrial pollutants
3. Emissions from close sources. These include exhaust from cars on near roads and odors from dumpsters
4. Equipment
5. HVAC system. These include dirt or dust in ductwork or other elements as well as improper venting by combustion products.
6. Human Activities
7. Personal activities
   • Smoking
   • Cosmetic odors
   • Cooking
8. Housekeeping activities
   • Cleaning procedures and materials
   • Emissions from trash or stored supplies
   • Use of fragrances and deodorizers
   • Dirt or airborne dust

Quality Testing of Indoor Air

IAQ is vital in every office and home-wherever you spend time indoors. There are numerous advantages to good IAQ-from the health of your loved ones to the quality of your work setting. Air quality encourages good employer-employee relationships, decreases absenteeism, enhances productivity, and generates a healthy and safe workplace. While mold, chemical contaminants, and particulates contribute to health or comfort challenges in businesses and homes, professional testing services aim to establish the presence of contaminants and their concentration. A professional testing company will generate protocols for enhancing the air quality for commercial and residential properties after establishing a baseline for pollutant levels.

Benefits of Quality Testing for Your Business

• Easier Breathing

Inhaling cleaner air is the most apparent benefit of having professionals test your air quality. In addition to promoting a healthier setting, enhanced air quality can help decrease the likelihood of an asthma attack while protecting inhabitants from experiencing allergic reactions.

• Enhance Value

If your business has a region that's virtually unusable because of dampness or bad odors, you'll certainly hear about it from prospective buyers when you decide to sell your place. Eradicating those negative elements could help you recover the "lost" business space.

• Odor Suppression

Poor air filtration and circulation can cause bad odors to live and thrive in particular areas for instance the basement. Such areas are usually dark and damp, making them the ideal spot for the development of mold. Enhancements to air quality won't merely decrease smells in those regions-the whole space can also benefit.

• Enhanced Productivity

Enhancements in air quality have a direct correlation to employee productivity. Therefore, if your staff members are constantly complaining of bad odors, headaches etc, you should consider professional air testing.

Legal Implications of Air Testing

Adjustments to the Criminal Code stipulated in Bill C-45 (Safety & Health Negligence) took effect March 31, 2004. The revisions imply dramatic new roles, new risks of prosecution and investigation along with the likelihood of workplace-based criminal responsibility for individuals and organizations. Simply put, any employer could be criminally responsible for not offering a safe work setting for employees. Under this law, poor air quality or environmental pollution, which is harmful to an employee, could result in civil and criminal prosecution. Therefore, it's imperative you decrease your corporate and personal liability by ensuring regular testing of air quality in your work setting.

Are your staff members constantly complaining of poor air quality? Perhaps you should consider engaging the services of a professional testing company to avoid possible legal liabilities. If you suspect your business is experiencing issues related to air quality, please contact us so we can help (416) 414-5690