Stay informed about air quality on Clean Air Day 2022

Today is Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest air pollution campaign. Focusing attention on air pollution, Clean Air Day aims to improve public understanding of air pollution busting behaviours.

Air quality is one of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineer’s (CIBSE) key technical themes. CIBSE set up an Air Quality task group to advocate for improvements in air quality, both inside and out, to build links to other organisations with similar goals, and to raise awareness of the issue of air quality in the built environment. The group has since informed CIBSE’s technical output – feeding into guidance documents and documenting best practice to improve the standard of air in buildings.

Exposure to air pollutants can have both acute and chronic health effects, from mild to severe, and whether pollutants are perceived by occupants or not.

The likelihood and severity of effects occurring depend on age, any pre-existing medical conditions and individual sensitivity. The effects also include temporary discomfort and annoyance (or pleasure) from odours and negative impacts from some pollutants on cognitive performance.

Indoor air quality is to a large extent dependent on outdoor air pollution; in addition, the indoor environment contains many sources of air pollutants from building materials, consumer products, occupants, and their activities.

There is more information about CIBSE guidance and resources on air quality via https://www.cibse.org/News-and-Policy/Policy/Technical-Themes/Air-Quality

Find out more about #CleanAirDay and take action via www.cleanairday.org.uk