Businesses Need Clean Air

4/16/2018 (Permalink)

Businesses and commercial buildings can take some simple steps and have a big impact on the quality of indoor air

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says most Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Many spend most of their working hours in an indoor office. Doesn’t that make you want to assure that the air in commercial buildings and businesses is clean and healthy?

It’s a fact that indoor air quality is important to business owners, building managers, tenants, and employees. The air we breathe impacts our health, comfort, productivity, and well-being. Yet many times indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air.

Dirty Air in Buildings Increases Illnesses

EPA studies show that indoor environments sometimes have levels of pollutants that are higher than levels found outside. Pollutants in commercial buildings and other indoor environments can increase the risk of illness. The EPA, states, and independent scientific panels have consistently ranked indoor air pollution as an important environmental health problem. While most buildings do not have severe indoor air quality problems, even well-run buildings can sometimes experience episodes of poor indoor air quality.

Building Air Quality Questions? Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at (860)461-7194

Simple Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality

Businesses and commercial buildings can take some simple steps and have a big impact on the quality of indoor air:

•    Remove anything that block air vents or grilles
•    Comply with the office and building smoking policy
•    Decorate with plants. Water and maintain them properly
•    Dispose of garbage promptly and properly
•    Store food properly
•    Avoid bringing anything into the building that could release harmful or bothersome odors or contaminants
•    Notify your building or facility manager immediately if you suspect an indoor air quality problem

Building Air Quality Questions? Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at (860)461-7194

Suggestions for Office Managers

Building managers and office managers have many responsibilities. Assuring indoor air quality should be one of them. Here are some ideas on how office managers and others can fulfill that responsibility:

•    Maintain a good working relationship with building management on indoor environmental issues
•    Ask tenants and employees to alert you to any air quality issues they notice
•    Place office furniture and equipment with air circulation, temperature control, and pollutant removal functions of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in mind
•    Work with building management whenever responsibility for design, operation, and maintenance of the ventilation system is shared
•    Establish an effective smoking policy that protects nonsmokers from involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke
•    Avoid procedures and products that can cause indoor air quality problems
•    Integrate indoor air quality concerns into your purchasing decisions
•    Make sure the building manager uses only necessary and appropriate pest control practices.  Non-chemical methods are usually preferable.
•    Work with building management and the contractor before you remodel or renovate to identify ways of keeping building occupants’ exposure to pollutants to a minimum and to ensure that the air distribution system is not disrupted
•    Encourage building management to develop a preventive indoor air quality management program following guidance issued by EPA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).                  

These tips are from a free EPA booklet on the EPA website, "An Office Occupant's Guide to Indoor Air Quality."

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