Check out this great article by ACHR News, featuring information on IAQ, and why there’s no excuse to be working in a polluted environment.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the growing proliferation of chemical pollutants in consumer and commercial products, the tendency toward tighter building envelopes and reduced ventilation to save energy, and pressures to defer maintenance and other building services to reduce costs have fostered IAQ problems in many buildings. As a result, more building occupants are complaining of odors, stale and stuffy air, and symptoms of illness or discomfort.
But there is no reason why this should be happening, as numerous solutions are available to mitigate most IAQ problems.
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE
Commercial IAQ problems often stem from poorly maintained HVAC systems, which can be ideal breeding grounds for microbial buildup in cooling coils, drain pans, and duct surfaces, said Dan Jones, president of UV Resources. “For this reason, when contractors are trying to isolate an IAQ problem, they should always check a building’s central air conditioning system first — particularly in hospitals, which are seeing a rise in antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Preventing these hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) from taking root is a priority.”
This article originally posted on ACHRNews.com.
