Indoor air quality is a critical aspect of our lives, as the majority of us will spend most of our time indoors, whether that be at home or in the workplace. It is apparent that pollution levels are increasing, and air quality is decreasing, so it is essential to maintain a healthy indoor environment wherever possible to protect our health and well-being. Unfortunately, in many cases, inadequate ventilation is the main contributor to indoor air pollution, especially in more outdated buildings. In this blog, we deep dive into the negative impacts of poor ventilation and how it can affect the air quality within your premises.

What is poor ventilation?

Poor ventilation refers to the insufficient exchange of fresh air between indoor and outdoor locations, causing air pollutants to remain stagnant in your indoor spaces. When there is a lack of airflow, the air quality can massively decrease, causing the room to feel stuffy and unpleasant to work in. It can occur in any indoor space that doesn’t have enough ventilation, including shops, restaurants, commercial kitchens, and more.

How does it affect air quality?

If the air cannot ventilate throughout your building successfully, air pollutants can build up within the space. Some of the most common pollutants are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5.). All of these are produced from a variety of sources such as cleaning products, vehicles, smoking, fossil fuels, and so on.

• VOCs are chemicals that can cause respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, and eye irritation.
• Carbon monoxide is an incredibly toxic gas that should always be monitored in spaces that might be prone to high levels.
• CO and CO2 can also cause headaches and dizziness, as well as nausea and in extreme cases, death.
• Fine matter particles tend to be more life-threatening as they penetrate further into the lungs and can cause issues such as heart disease.

Its impact on health

The impact that poor ventilation can have on your health is not just limited to physical conditions but can be draining on your mental health and well-being too. Although long-term exposure can induce chronic respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis, it is important not to ignore the mental effects.

When pollutants get trapped in the air, combined with fluctuating temperatures and humidity, the environment can become very uncomfortable to work in. Staff and visitors may struggle to breathe due to the warm dense air, and some may worry about inhaling pollutants which can cause stress and anxiety.

These conditions can also cause condensation and mould growth, which can lead to allergic reactions and other health issues.

Solutions to improve air quality and ventilation

There are many ways to improve the air circulation within your space including general measures, ranging from simply opening windows, to larger installation investments.

Simple day-to-day solutions

If your space is relatively small and doesn’t suffer too much from poor ventilation, you can:

• Open windows and doors to improve airflow
• Use any chemicals or toxic products in cornered-off areas
• Use air purifiers to help remove pollutants
• Swap to more natural products, such as non-chemical cleaning products
• Change filters and clean valves regularly in your existing ventilation systems

Worthwhile investments

For environments that struggle with low air quality, we advise you to update or install new air conditioning and ventilation systems to ensure everyone within your premises is safe. Although it will not necessarily be a quick fix, HVAC investments are incredibly worthwhile, providing your staff and visitors with a clean and safe environment to stay in.

Here at Acme, we provide a number of air conditioning and ventilation services, to ensure you can create the most healthy and comfortable environments for your staff and visitors. You can rest assured that our services will help you improve your current situation, whether you’re looking to control temperatures, humidity, or improve overall air quality.

When you choose Acme as your provider, you can acquire a bespoke air conditioning and ventilation system that fits exactly to your requirements and demands. From wall-mounted to cassette, and split systems to multi-split, we can ensure a tailored plan is devised to suit your needs. Once your HVAC system is installed, we also provide proactive compliance services such as general maintenance, repairs, and servicing to ensure it remains in the best health and is compliant with air quality regulations.

We have over 50 years of experience within the industry, so you can rely on us for our expertise and knowledge, with a team of CSCS accredited engineers and site managers to install the most complex of projects. If you’re looking to invest in high-quality air conditioning and ventilation systems, please feel free to contact us and start your venture with us today.