How to Balance both Stunning Architecture and Design with Indoor Air Quality Best Practices

Guidelines for Good Indoor Air Quality in Office Premises

When it comes to guidelines for good indoor air quality in office premises, here are a few key points to consider.

High-Quality Ventilation Systems

Having a high-quality ventilation system allows the indoor air quality to remain at a consistently good level, without any compromise to the interior or exterior of the building. Ventilation systems can work in a number of ways, including mechanical, natural and a combination of the two. So whatever the structure of your existing office premises, Air Quality Plan can suggest the perfect ventilation system solution for you. Once in place, a high-quality ventilation system will seamlessly be able to clean and purify the indoor air, without the need to install insulation or implement air tightening measures. These can often have the opposite desired effect, and instead of trapping high-quality air inside, they actually end up creating a stagnant air environment, where pollutants and dust end up trapped inside too.

Building Design and Architecture Choices

Some architects are now trying to get ahead of these indoor air quality issues, and are adapting their building designs in order to incorporate better-suited façades and materials to allow for improved air circulation. However, not all office premises have been built with these greener solutions in mind, which is why it is so important to take advice from a company such as Air Quality Plan, who will be able to work with your existing building and its structural outlay in order to find the best possible indoor air quality solution.

Natural Ventilation

The process of natural ventilation is appealing to both business owners, as well as staff and clients, as it provides a high-quality indoor air solution without the need for cumbersome ducts or loud and disruptive machinery. Natural ventilation can provide a great money-saving solution too, as its running costs are lower than some other competitor ventilation systems. It also provides a way to bring the benefits of fresh, natural air indoors. However, the downside of natural ventilation is that it can be hard to control as it changes with the seasons, which can pose issues when it comes to different indoor and outdoor temperatures, along with problems with noise pollution as well. Moreover, whilst there may be some areas of an office premises that can enjoy natural ventilation, there may be others where it is simply not safe or suitable. For example, high rise office buildings or those close to a busy main road.

Going Green Indoors

If natural ventilation appeals to you, but is simply not suitable for your office premises, then you can always consider going green indoors as an alternative solution. Adding plants to any business premises immediately helps to improve the indoor air quality, with plants filtering out excess carbon dioxide, as well as other natural pollutants in the air too. The addition of plants and greenery can also help to promote better mental well-being for staff and clients, making the urban jungle feel a little less urban and helping to promote a calmer, less hectic atmosphere. Although going green indoors can be a wonderful way to spruce up the interior of your office premises, just as with natural ventilation, it cannot solve the issue of poor indoor air quality entirely. Air Quality Plan would still recommend using targeted products, such as those from Activ’Air, to effectively remove harmful chemicals in the air, such as formaldehyde, helping to keep your staff and clients safe from airborne contamination.

Although architects and building designs have come a long way in taking action against poor indoor quality, the reality remains that pollution is still a big issue for business owners. Over 7 million people died from pollution-related illnesses worldwide last year alone, so it is important to take action when it comes to preserving good indoor air quality in your business premises, especially with older buildings. No matter when your office premises were built, there are still plenty of ways you can ensure the best indoor air quality all year round.

Interested in finding out more? Contact our expert team today, we can test your current indoor air quality and provide a bespoke solution.