Associations
THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY
By Eurovent
Air pollution has become a major issue around the world , with a growing range of voices calling for legislations in the form of clean air acts .
Concern over poor air quality has been backed by evidence in the form of a publication by Britain ’ s leading medics pointing out the links between pollution and a worrying range of health issues . Every breath we take : The lifelong impact of air pollution from the Royal College of Physicians notes that both outdoor and indoor pollutants can create many health risks , including cancer , asthma , stroke , heart disease , diabetes , obesity and changes linked to dementia .
While much of the current focus in the UK is around reducing pollution from diesel vehicles , one of the key conclusions of the report is the need to ‘ strengthen our understanding of the key risk factors and effects of poor air quality in our homes , schools and workplaces .’ The report notes that therefore it is essential to better measure and monitor indoor air quality .
The report also notes that , “ beyond better-known indoor pollutants such as second-hand tobacco smoke , there are other risks that occupants can be exposed , ranging from NO2 from gas cooking to solvents that slowly seep from plastics , paints and furnishings to , ironically air fresheners which can react chemically to generate air pollutants .”
Fortunately , ventilation technology in a variety of forms – from MVHR ( mechanical ventilation with heat recovery ) to positive input ventilation - can provide a healthy air supply , filtering out pollutants , while also performing another key air quality role in preventing the build-up of condensation , which can in turn create lung-damaging mould spores .
On top of this , HVAC representative bodies believe that buildings can provide a necessary defence against outdoor air pollution too – in the words of one : ‘ stopping air pollution at the door ’. In this context , the age-old method of simply opening windows for ventilation will only serve to bring the pollution into the building .
By contrast , the Building Engineering Services Association claims that ‘ a well-sealed building envelope combined with effective filtration of incoming air can reduce particle penetration by 78 %.’
As campaigners continue to call for new legislation to reduce outdoor pollution , the HVAC bodies are calling for improved air quality standards in buildings too , such as using Building
Denys Nevozhai | Unsplash
Regulations to mandate use of mechanical ventilation .
There is also recent research evidence that good air quality in offices can improve the thinking of workers too . A study by three universities – Harvard ’ s TH Chan School of Public Health , State University of New York ’ s Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University concluded that improved indoor environmental quality significantly improved cognitive function .
The study found that employees ’ cognitive performance scores averaged 101 per cent higher in green building environments with enhanced ventilation compared to a conventional building environment .
This study suggests that ‘ indoor environments can have a profound impact on the decision-making performance of workers , which is a primary indicator of worker productivity ’ according to Dr Joseph Allen of TH Chan - the principal investigator for the study .
So , mechanical ventilation and air conditioning systems that are fitted with appropriate filters ( drop-in NOx filters to defend against the effects of outdoor diesel can now be purchased alongside conventional filters ) should increasingly be seen as an essential specification to ensure better air quality to improve the health - and productivity - of occupants . RACA
Both outdoor and indoor air quality is being targeted by roleplayers around the globe .
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2022 19