From Sick Building to Thriving Office: Mastering Ventilation for Better Health

Few people realize how much the quality of the air they breathe at work can impact their health. Poor ventilation, for example, often leads to fatigue, headaches, and respiratory infections. But there are some easy things you can do to improve workplace ventilation.

The Importance of Ventilation in the Workplace:

Ventilation is key for any office or workplace that wants to create a healthy environment. By reducing the concentration of pollutants in the air and controlling temperature and humidity levels, you can drastically reduce the risk of respiratory infections and other illnesses among employees.

This healthy office and workplace feature requires projects to bring in fresh air from the outside through mechanical and natural means. This will dilute human- and product-generated pollutants and improve lighting for those occupying the space.

How to Properly Ventilate Your Office Space?

Having proper ventilation in your office is key to keeping a healthy workplace

To improve the air quality in your office, you can:

-Install high-efficiency air filters to trap airborne pollutants, like dust and pollen.

-Open windows frequently to let fresh air from outside circulate throughout the office.

-Use exhaust fans to remove stale air and circulate fresh air throughout the office.

-Place plants in your office; they act as natural filters to improve indoor air quality.

-Make sure there is adequate ventilation for any equipment or machinery used in the office

Design Tips for a Healthy Office Space:

Creating a healthy office space requires more than ensuring good ventilation. Some other design tips to keep in mind are:

-Installing lighting can help reduce eye strain and boost productivity

-Furniture and fabrics should be low in VOCs-Consider ergonomic furniture, like adjustable desks, for better posture and reduced physical discomfort

Benefits:

• It improved the health and well-being of workers.
• It is necessary to provide sufficient ventilation.
• The ventilation in the workplace helps keep productivity at an optimal level and maintains a healthier office environment.

Ensure Adequate Ventilation for All Spaces:

Mechanically ventilated spaces:

For all mechanically ventilated projects, one of the following requirements must be completed:

1. To be effective, a newly installed ventilation system must adhere to the supply and exhaust rates found in one or more of the following guidelines:

• ASHRAE 62.1–2010 ( Ventilation Rate Procedure or IAQ Procedure)
• ASHRAE 62.2–2016
• EN 16798–1
• AS 1668.2 -2012

2. Existing ventilation systems have been tested and balanced to meet supply and exhaust rates set in one or more ventilation guidelines listed above within the last five years.

3. If your project area is naturally ventilated and does not require mechanical ventilation, the following requirements must be met:

At least 90% of the project area must follow one or more of these design criteria for airflow rates:

• ASHRAE 62.1–2010’s Natural Ventilation Procedure
• CIBSE AM10 (published in 2005 or later), specifically Section 2.4 on natural ventilation strategies and Chapter 4 on Design Calculations
• AS 1668.4–2012 or later

Spaces that are poorly ventilated can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

- Headache

- Fatigue

- Dizziness

- Nausea

- Coughing and sneezing

• Shortness of breath
• Ventilation inadequacies also lead to eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation.

This is collectively called sick building syndrome (SBS). Poor ventilation is also linked to increased employee absences, higher business operational costs, and decreased student productivity.

The ventilation requirements in one of the above standards must be met by vents and windows that are permanently open or have controls to prevent their closure during periods of occupancy. The following thresholds apply as an average for the previous year:

• PM less than 15 μg/m3;
• PM less than 30 μg/m3.

One of the following carbon dioxide thresholds must be met in an occupiable space: 900 ppm or less, at most500 ppm above outdoor levels.

Conclusion:

Creating healthy offices and workplaces is essential to the well-being of those who work there. Adequate ventilation design and monitoring are crucial components of healthy office design. A healthy office should have a ventilation system that meets the requirements of one or more of the above standards and natural elements, like light and furniture, that promote healthy posture and working conditions.

FAQs:

What are the benefits of healthy office design?

Healthy office design can reduce symptoms associated with sick building syndrome, increase employee productivity, decrease operational costs, and improve student performance.

What are the critical elements of healthy office design?

Key elements of a healthy office design include adequate ventilation and air quality, appropriate furniture and lighting, for example, healthy posture, and restorative materials for a healthy environment.

What type of ventilation system is best for healthy office design?

A healthy office should have a ventilation system that meets the requirements of one or more of the abovementioned standards, such as ASHRAE 62.1–2010, EN 16798–1, and AS 1668.2–2012. Cross-ventilation can be an ideal way to ventilate rooms and zones naturally simultaneously.