Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a critical environmental factor that influences human comfort and well-being. It can impair cognitive function, raise the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and cause fatigue and irritation.
Indoor air quality has become even more critical during COVID-19. According to experts, such air quality conditions will intensify COVID-19 transmission and mortality.
We all know how important it is to keep the air we breathe clean, but where do you begin?
We’ll go through seven best practices to remember when supplying safe indoor air to your occupants in this blog.
Choose the best air filters for your specific requirements.
Air filters are available in a wide range of styles, efficiencies, and costs. Using ASHRAE guidelines, make sure you have the best-performing filter for your specific situation, taking into account your HVAC system and ventilation setup. Using a MERV-13 or higher filter class will ensure that the air is properly cleaned before entering the room.
To get the best output out of your air filters, make sure they’re properly sealed.
If there is a leak or a hole in the installation, the filters cannot do their job properly. Particles and contaminants in the air can move through gaps or crevices in the filter and reach the space before being fully filtered. Make sure the filters are well-sealed, with no gaps between the filter media and the place where it will be mounted.Ensure that there are enough air exchanges in the room.
To keep fresh air levels up, make sure your HVAC system and ventilation efforts are flushing out polluted air on a regular basis. If air filters alone aren’t achieving the optimal exchange rates, a portable air cleaner may be a viable option for providing fresh air.
Cleaning should be done on a daily basis to reduce pollutant levels.
Certain products in your building can emit chemicals that are potentially hazardous to people’s health. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from upholstery, paints, and aerosols, as well as particulate matter (PM) from machines and dust-carrying objects, are examples of these. You may reduce the amount of particles and gasses that enter the air by cleaning on a regular basis.
Remove potential sources of pollution.
Indoor emissions may often originate from within a vacuum. This can happen when something unusual happens, such as a chemical spill, a fire, or a system breakdown. When indoor air quality is harmed as a result of an incident like this, it’s critical to address the cause of the problem as soon as possible.
When air cleaning machines are needed, they should be considered.
Indoor air pollution can be reduced with the use of portable air cleaners in enclosed spaces. Filters remove toxins from the air, but these devices may also use technologies like Ultra-Violet Germicidal (UV-G) Lightbulbs to deactivate viruses and contaminants. When filters alone do not provide enough fresh air, an air cleaner is recommended.
Implement continuous IAQ monitoring.
Air quality should be monitored by Indoor air quality monitor on a continuous basis is an excellent way to evaluate, enhance, and preserve safe indoor air quality. IAQ sensors are used in this method to collect data on the indoor climate. Pollutant levels such as carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and others are measured by sensors. You can monitor patterns in your air using this real-time data available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to identify and address problem areas. To learn more, read the full guide to IAQ monitoring.
