A groundbreaking Harvard-led study has found that healthier indoor air quality (IAQ) equates to increased productivity and more satisfied employees. It revealed that increasing ventilation rates from 20 cubic feet per metre (cfm) to 40 cfm per person and significantly lowering volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from typical levels can more than double an office worker’s productivity.
These findings help strengthen the argument for investment in green buildings. As a result, we would advise employers to revisit their air filter management programme.
How can this affect your company?
Improved productivity and greater end-user satisfaction can affect a company’s success in at least three ways:
- Costs: higher productivity means that it takes fewer people to do the same job, saving on both space and work assets.
- Recruiting and retention: a green environment is important for employers seeking to attract and retain the best employees.
- Employee health and well-being: an improved indoor environment can help reduce communicable respiratory diseases, allergies and asthma, and non-specific health and discomfort effects.
Steps to improve your workplace indoor air quality
Mechanical ventilation systems in the workplace (including air conditioning systems) should be regularly and properly cleaned, tested and maintained to ensure they are kept free from contamination. CFP offers a comprehensive range of ventilation system services. These include initial surveys, reporting, planned maintenance programme development, full system cleaning and refurbishment, as well as bacteriological sampling and analysis.
Contact our friendly team today on 0161 406 5050 to talk about how we can help improve the indoor air quality of your workplace.
To access the full research study, click here.
