Indoor Air Quality Critical For Well-Being

The World Health Organization (WHO) establishes that health is one of the fundamental rights that every human being must have. They define it as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not only the absence of diseases. Despite this, it is increasingly common for the medical community to present data on the dangers of exposure to air pollution, especially indoor air quality.

A Few IAQ Facts

We spend 90% of our time indoors, with our work, education, and leisure, and we breathe around 3,000 gallons of air a day. The indoor air quality (IAQ) is critical for well-being. Shouldn’t we be thinking about how IAQ impacts our lives? Optimum IAQ, as determined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), is “air in occupied spaces in which there are no known or expected contaminants at concentrations likely to be harmful and no conditions that are likely to be associated with occupant health or comfort complaints and air with which virtually no occupants express dissatisfaction.”

The need to control and maintain an acceptable level of IAQ in commercial buildings, schools, homes, theaters, hospitals, etc., is gaining significant importance in construction practices, although there are still difficulties in achieving this. One of the main problems is the lack of laws or regulations that control such a situation. More than a year ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States (OSHA) released a publication entitled “Indoor Air Quality in Commercial and Institutional Buildings” which exposes and recognizes that the IAQ is a genuine concern for administrators, managers, residents, and construction workers, as it can impact the health, well-being, comfort, and productivity of the occupants of the building. They warn that taking proactive measures to maintain an optimum IAQ is a benefit for everyone.

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is real, affecting 1 in 4 buildings because indoor air can be up to 1000 times more polluted than outdoor air. It affects 64 million occupants with symptoms such as eye and nose irritation as well as headaches. In fact, 1 out of 6 people who suffer from allergies does so because of bacteria and fungi distributed through the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Watch this news segment on SBS

The Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (EPA) includes poor air quality among the five main environmental risks that can harm public health. In addition, the US Green Building Council, an organization focused on promoting sustainable construction, published a report that explains in detail the loss of productivity, therefore, the business economic loss, that generates a bad IAQ in the office buildings. As well as being a problem that affects the health of individuals, it means an economic risk factor for companies.

The EPA has statistics that show that between 10 and 12% of the companies’ productivity reductions are directly related to poor IAQ. If the decrease in labor productivity is added to the economic investment to cover the expenses for medical consultation, medicines, and related premature deaths, the initial investment to guarantee a good IAQ will always be more profitable.

What Are The Solutions?

Absolutely everyone is affected. And, yes, we should all be thinking about how IAQ impacts our lives, but it is hard to think of solutions, right? How can we truly face this situation? Pure Air Control Services, Inc. can help. We have provided IAQ services to governmental agencies, educational institutions, commercial properties, energy engineering firms, and other mechanical contractors. We are sure that at least one of the following services is going to solve the IAQ or indoor environmental problem you may have:

● Building Sciences IAQ Testing. Indoor environments can be scientifically tested for hygienic, engineering, and performance issues that affect building health.
● EDLab IAQ Analysis. Air and surface samples collected during an IAQ investigation can be analyzed to identify and quantify potential contaminants.
● Pure Air Controls IAQ Reporting. Data from field and laboratory analysis is compiled into a report that can recommend specific actions to remedy poor IAQ.
● Building Remediation Sciences IAQ Solutions. Hygienic remediation solutions focused on the HVAC system can optimize the health, comfort, and energy efficiency of a building.

Not only does Pure Air Control Services offer these important testing and improvement services, but our unique turn-key approach of working with institutions, consultants, and architects allows us to resolve any indoor air quality issues quickly and efficiently.

In conclusion, it is important to know that IAQ is a health problem that directly affects our quality of life. We want you to think of us as a doctor giving your system a checkup, diagnosis, and prescription for building health. In the end, we guarantee you will feel better. And remember… Healthy Buildings, Healthy People!

For more information on how our solutions can improve your IAQ please call 1-800-422-7873 or contact us here.