Ventilation is a critical aspect of indoor air quality that affects people's health in the workplace. Poor ventilation can lead to various health problems, including respiratory issues, headaches, fatigue, and trouble concentrating. Sick building syndrome is a common problem that arises from poor ventilation in a building, and it's characterized by occupants experiencing acute discomfort and health problems linked to a building's environment.
Poor ventilation in buildings is caused by a lack of proper air circulation within a space and the poor design of the mechanical ventilation system. It is crucial for building owners and employers to take steps to improve ventilation in their workplaces. This blog post explores the causes and effects of poor ventilation on people's health and offers four ways to fix the problem of inadequate ventilation.
Causes of Poor Ventilation
Poor ventilation in buildings is caused by a lack of proper air circulation within a space and the poor design of the mechanical ventilation system. In general, buildings are designed with energy efficiency, business objectives, and the bottom line in mind, and many companies fail to seriously consider the ventilation systems and the overall human health ramifications that go with poor ventilation.
Poor Air Circulation
Poor air circulation refers to a lack of air movement altogether. This means the air is just sitting stagnant in a space. A healthy space rotates air at a rate of 5-6 air changes per hour (ACH), but most buildings only rotate 1-3 ACH. Poor air circulation can be combated with simple actions like opening a window to get more outdoor air flowing through the facility, adding portable air purifiers with HEPA filters, or turning on a ceiling fan to remove stagnant air.
Poorly Designed Ventilation System
A poorly designed ventilation system is one that is not properly or effectively pushing air. This is caused by poor placement of outdoor intakes or blocked vents due to room arrangements. Indoor air pollutants and contaminants often exacerbate these system shortcomings, and poor air circulation also exacerbates these pollutants and contaminants.
Effects of Poor Ventilation on Health
Poor air ventilation in offices and schools is linked to significantly impaired cognitive functioning, including an altered ability to think clearly and creatively. Some of the other adverse health effects due to poor ventilation include headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritation of nose, eyes, throat, and lungs, and trouble with analytical thinking. In addition to these adverse health effects, indoor air pollution and sick building syndrome have also been linked to more serious health problems like asthma, Legionnaires Disease, hypersensitivity, pneumonitis, humidifier fever, and even cancer due to asbestos.
Four Ways to Fix Poor Ventilation
Indoor air quality is not a choice. It’s an essential requirement. The EPA, CDC, OSHA, NIH, and ASHRAE all indicate that employers must provide health and comfort for their employees, and they have set IAQ standards for eliminating contagions and viruses, managing humidity, controlling heat, and reducing pollution. Here are four ways to fix poor ventilation:
Know Your HVAC Needs: It is essential to determine the HVAC requirements of the building before making any changes to the ventilation system. This involves evaluating the existing system, determining the ventilation rate, and making necessary adjustments.
Manage Humidity Levels: Humidity control is essential for maintaining good indoor air quality. High humidity levels can promote the growth of mold, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms. On the other hand, low humidity levels can cause respiratory problems.
Use Portable Air Purifiers: Portable air purifiers with HEPA filters can help remove airborne pollutants and contaminants from the air. These devices can be placed in individual rooms or workspaces to improve the air quality.
Add Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans can improve air circulation in a space and help remove stagnant air. This can be particularly useful in rooms with poor air circulation or in areas
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