How to improve the air quality in your office (and why you need to)
With so many people in a relatively small space air quality in the average Australian office can be very poor. Dust, debris, residue from chemical cleaning and airborne pathogens linger in the air causing health problems and hampering employee productivity.
In fact, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation estimates that poor indoor air quality costs the Australian economy a whopping $12 billion a year. It could be costing your business too.
Luckily, there’s a solution. Toshiba Air’s indoor air quality experts and world-leading, custom HVAC systems can help improve the air quality in your office to create a safer, cleaner and more productive environment.
How can you improve the air quality in your office?
With the rise of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to provide healthy, clean air in office spaces. Not only for the health and safety of your employees and the productivity of your business, but also to help reduce the risk of virus transmission.
Improving the air quality in your office and reducing risk from airborne pathogens is a three-step process:
- Assessment: Assess the performance of existing building systems and identify areas for improvement.
- Upgrades: Implement a range of solutions, including upgrades to existing HVAC systems, installation of new HVAC systems, fire safety and building controls. These upgrades aim to improve air quality, building efficiency and the overall health of building occupants.
- Operations: Install advanced controls, digital solutions and remote management to help ensure your system performs to a high standard and is continually optimised.
Toshiba Air are world leaders in commercial HVAC systems. We take a comprehensive approach to improving the quality of the air in your building and improving the health of all occupants, working closely with you and tailoring a solution.
We offer systems for all commercial buildings, from offices, hotels and healthcare facilities, to education facilities and retail. After installation we are available to help manage, maintain and optimise the system.
Challenges when improving air quality in offices
To improve the air quality in your office, you’ll have to address a number of challenges using smart systems and high tech equipment. From improving ventilation to filtering air and optimising humidity – these are the key challenges to consider:
- Better ventilation to bring more fresh air from outside to replace stale indoor air. This can help reduce airborne pathogens and other contaminants.
- Effective filtration: Air filters are installed in HVAC and ventilation systems to remove airborne pathogens and contaminants from the air. These use ultraviolet germicidal radiation and other advanced technologies.
- Humidity optimisation: the optimal humidity in an office building is between 40 and 60%, according to experts.
- Thermal health: if the temperature in your office is too high or too low, it may be unhealthy for occupants or cause them to feel tired or distracted. A good HVAC system will help you maintain a constant temperature throughout the entire building.
While improving air quality can be a difficult challenge, particularly in older buildings, the benefits are worth it. The greatest of all these benefits is usually healthier, more productive employees who take fewer sick days – and of course the improved health and safety of all building occupants.
Better air quality and COVID-19
Another benefit of installing a quality HVAC system is the reduction of airborne pathogens and diseases transmissible by air, such as SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.
By reducing the airborne concentration of COVID-19 HVAC systems can be an effective tool in stopping or slowing the spread of the virus in buildings (along with occupancy planning, social distancing, handwashing and the adequate cleaning of facilities).
Do you want to improve the quality of the air in your office? Contact Toshiba Air Conditioning to provide advanced solutions and systems.