Indoor Air Quality - Reducing COVID-19 Risk
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of the building occupants. There has been a strong emphasis placed on IAQ over recent years and with the emergence of COVID-19, this has become ever more important.
Poor indoor air quality can have a significant impact to human health, increasing the transmission of airborne bacteria and viruses, asthma, headaches, fatigue and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Improving IAQ is critical to ensuring the well-being of building occupants.
During lockdown, air conditioning and ventilation systems may have been left dormant, providing an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria in areas such as condensate drip trays, drains and heat exchangers. Non-operational air conditioning systems may also suffer from bad odours and component failures. Following a period of dormancy, it is standard practice to recommission systems, carrying out standard maintenance and improving hygiene through sanitisation.
As businesses return to work, emphasis should also be placed on improving IAQ and sanitising air conditioning and ventilation systems to reduce the spread of the virus and safeguard occupants.
How can you improve IAQ in your building?
Ventilation
Air Handling Units (AHU’s) supply filtered and tempered air to buildings. Conventionally, the air within a building is reused and mixed with fresh air, ensuring oxygen levels are within acceptable limits. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, industry guidelines have been revised to improve IAQ and reduce the risk of transmission by supplying 100% fresh air only and expelling used air.
To further improve IAQ, ventilation times within buildings can be extended by running ventilation equipment for extended periods, ensuring more fresh air is circulated.
Representatives of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) Guidance
Air Filtration
Before air is allowed to pass through heat exchangers and air distribution systems, it is filtered to capture airborne particles. The efficiency of filtration is dependent upon the quality of the filter and how well it has been maintained. It is imperative that filters are cleaned and replaced regularly. This is a routine task carried out as part of our planned preventative maintenance services on an annual contract.
To improve IAQ and in turn create a healthier environment in your building, consideration should be given to increasing the cleaning and replacement frequency of filters or upgrading to high-efficiency filters capable of capturing minute particles including viral spores.
UV-C Technology
Ultraviolet-C radiation is a known disinfectant for air, water and surfaces that can help mitigate the risk of acquiring an infection and has been used extensively for more than 40 years. All bacteria and viruses tested to date, including various coronaviruses, respond to UV-C disinfection. In laboratory testing, Signify’s UV-C light sources reduced SARS-CoV-2 virus infectivity on a surface to below detectable levels in 9 seconds. UV-C light can play a valuable part in your protection strategy.
Air Purifiers
High-quality air purifiers provide multiple stages of air filtration to improve IAQ. Stages range from activated charcoal filters to control odour to HEPA grade filtration capable of removing up to 99.99% of contaminants. Many air purifiers combine HEPA filters with UV-C treatment, both effective in reducing the spread of airborne viruses.
Our Services
Sanitisation and recommissioning of systems
Cleaning, replacing and upgrading filters
Installation of air purifiers and UV-C technology
Review of maintenance schedules to improve ventilation and reduce infection risk