Indoor air quality has been a key focus for our blogs this year. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought it sharply into the spotlight highlighting the need to improve it. Below is a summary of those blogs:
- February 2021: Indoor air quality – the striking impact – What indoor air quality is, its impact on health and productivity in the workplace.
- March 2021: Returning to work post lockdown – Guidance on what businesses can do to ensure good indoor air quality and reduce the transmission of Covid-19
- May 2021: Indoor air quality – let our children breathe – Guidance for schools and colleges on how best to protect students and teachers
And if you still needed a further case to put forward to improve your business’ indoor air quality we’re providing you with some more armour!
Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has said that it isn’t just the right thing to do in terms of public health but would also have a significant impact on business profitability and productivity. According to research, carried out by CBI Economics on behalf of the Clean Air Fund, it shows that poor air quality can:
- Reduce health and productivity – see our blog about ‘Indoor air quality’ to understand why
- Shorten the operating life of capital equipment
- Increase maintenance costs.
Clean Air Fund also stated that improving air quality should be a key part of the UK’s journey to net zero and that meeting World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines by 2030 was “a crucial element of the green recovery”.
As a summary, it found that:
- A £1.6bn annual economic benefit to the UK could be realised by meeting WHO guidelines for safe air
- 17,000 premature deaths could be prevented every year from respiratory diseases
- The UK could gain almost 40,000 productive years, which is estimated to provide a £1 billion economic gain in the first year
- An improvement in air quality will reduce work absences, with the UK estimated to gain close to £600 million as a result
- Three million working days could be gained by reducing worker sickness absence or absence due to sick children.
BESA Chief Executive, David Frise, stated “The pandemic has thrust the issue of indoor air quality (IAQ) into the spotlight and this is an opportunity to change things for the long-term good of the country and the economy.”
Jobs boost
Chief Economist, Rain Newton-Smith said “Cleaning up our air would help us to lead healthier and more productive lives, while delivering a green jobs boost to the economy. Businesses from all sectors support a sustainable and green future and many companies are already committed to doing what they can do to help the UK reach its net zero target for emissions in 2050.”
Mechanical ventilation is key to improving indoor air quality
Mechanical ventilation systems can play a key role in giving people the confidence to return to buildings post Covid-19 lockdown and encourage the economy to get back to ‘normal operation’. However, Craig Booth, an air quality specialist, has warned that the country was creating “a new type of slum” referring to the poor quality installations in homes and in particular the misuse of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).”
Booth also stated “Manufacturers are getting the blame for noisy and ineffectual systems, but often it is the installation that is wrong with flexible ducting being squeezed into inappropriate spaces.”
Buy cheap, buy twice
We at Lynx AC have come across several poor quality mechanical ventilation installations and the issues they can cause clients. Unfortunately, in some cases cost becomes the deciding factor for businesses when selecting companies like ours to install mechanical ventilation systems. This often means the client ends up buying twice!
An example of this was a recent project we were called back for. A high-profile client asked us to quote for mechanical ventilation approximately 5 years ago and regrettably we got beaten on price. The client invited us back to requote on fixing what the previous company had installed. The whole system was defunct, badly installed, not the appropriate sized system for the job it had to do and failed after just 5 years:
Lynx AC replaced the whole system that is fit for purpose, including rigid ductwork and will last the client for many years:
Whilst it’s tempting to buy cheap, there’s a good chance you’ll be buying twice.
Lynx AC can help to improve your indoor air quality
Lynx AC are a first class provider of mechanical ventilation and heat recovery installations. We will design the best solution for your building and its occupants. We are a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Quality Partner and a Daikin D1+ Premium Partner, which means you’ll get the best products with the best service for your business. We’re also that confident of our service and products that we provide marketing leading 7 year warranties.
Simply call us on 01522 788799 and we’ll arrange one of our qualified team members to come out to you.