Most of us spend the majority of our lives indoors. The air quality indoors is much different and often times can be much worse than outside. As the public becomes more educated about the problems that are associated with poor indoor air quality (IAQ), many facility owners, property managers, and employees find more of their time devoted to indoor air quality management and concerns. Poor IAQ can have a significant impact on worker health, comfort, and productivity. In addition, poor IAQ or even just the perception of poor IAQ can also lead to serious public relations issues.

Problems and Solutions . . . .
There are many factors that influence indoor air quality and all of them should be dealt with in an effective IAQ management program. Some of the factors influencing indoor air quality include outdoor air, indoor generation of pollutants, pollution depletion mechanisms, weather factors, mold and bacteria contamination, permeability of the structure, and heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) systems. Other factors that can contribute to the perception of poor air quality include lighting, noise, ergonomics and stress. Proactive IAQ management includes baseline IAQ evaluations and implementation of an IAQ management plan. This can help to prevent the causes of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) from arising.

Every year I see renovation projects go into tailspins, at least temporarily, because of unplanned environmental health & safety (EH&S) issues. Read More...