Research conducted by the UK Health and Safety Executive found that air quality in the workplace can make a significant difference to health and work of people working in the building.
The instructions of the HSE says that jobs should be adequately cooled in a manner that provides fresh, clean air to be drawn into the building contaminated and be forwarded properly.
This can be as simple as someithing open window, but clearly when the weather is cold it will not be an option. Most large jobs these days are equipped with some form of ducted air ventilation system, which can produce a regular supply of distributed, clean and filtered warm air in winter and cool air in summer.
But crucial to the efficiency of good design, proper maintenance and efficient operation. For example, in winter, hot stuffy atmosphere if ventilation filters were clean and dust free, is likely to be an ideal environment for the spread of seasonal colds or flu, but equally will not contribute to feeling alert and passengers are likely to affect their concentration and performance.
To ensure adequate moisture in the air, some organizations install humidifiers, but one of the best and most effective ways to improve air quality and mental well-being is to have plants in the rooms.
According to the survey increased productivity by 12% when people perform tasks in a room containing plants in comparison with people in a room without plants and have a real office plants can reduce absence, because o 40% of the time off work due to exposure of indoor irritants that cause allergies and asthma.
There is also a psychological effect of having plants around that affects workers and clients or customers, with significant improvement in their sense of wellbeing, which can result in increased sales.
However, while adding some greenery can have physical and psychological benefits of air duct system will still require regular maintenance and cleaning. Fans and filters can become clogged with dust and other debris and ductwork cleaning is essential to remove the deposits collected over time inside the system.
How often do cleaning and maintenance regime is required depends on what operations are conducted in a building. For example, in a production environment, there may be some degree of dust, sawdust or other particulate matter that gets into the air from materials used in making the product.
In contrast, the office is less likely to generate large amounts of particles should be removed from the air. However, regular air duct cleaning is still needed to ensure a clean environment in which to work.
