You may already be aware that it’s up to employers to maintain adequate ventilation in enclosed areas of their workplaces at all times, but how do you make this a reality?
Ventilation is the process of bringing fresh air in from outside whilst removing indoor air, which may be stale, hot and humid or contain pollutants and other impurities. Stale air can put the health of your employees and clients at risk, so it’s vital that ventilation regulations and guidelines are followed at all times.
Why Commercial Ventilation is Important
Whilst providing indoor spaces with sufficient ventilation and fresh air is the law, studies have shown that well-ventilated spaces are associated with the following:
- Improved health
- Better concentration
- Higher levels of satisfaction with an environment
- Lower rates of absence from work
- Better quality of sleep
- Reduced exposure to a wide range of air pollutants
Not only does ventilation assist with improving working spaces for people, it also has a positive effect on the building itself. For example, proper ventilation in the workplace can reduce the risk of dampness and condensation developing, further leading to residue and mould.
Ventilation is also key in controlling the temperature of a room and ensuring it doesn’t become too hot or cold. Whilst doing so, ventilation also expels air impurities and unpleasant odours, making the workplace safe and pleasant for everybody.
Methods of Ventilation
The method of ventilation used depends largely on the space you’re trying to ventilate. For smaller spaces, this can be as simple as opening a window. However, larger spaces will often require ventilation units to keep fresh air flowing into a building whilst removing and keeping the space free of stale air. These forms of ventilation are known as;
Natural Ventilation
This may include doors, windows or other direct openings, providing fresh air to enter a building whilst pollutants can dissipate outwards naturally. As well as this, less direct openings such as trickle vents, air bricks and grilles provide ventilation through the same natural means.
Mechanical Ventilation
Using fans or pumps to move air into and out of rooms is known as mechanical ventilation. This may scale from simple, small desk fans up to large, industrial air pumps that help ventilate factories or larger indoor spaces.
Larger buildings may require a network of ducts, fans and pumps to keep airflow at an adequate level, which often comes as a bespoke solution for each space. When these solutions are required, many businesses or building owners turn to commercial ventilation experts such as Accurate Mechanical Services.
How Poor Commercial Ventilation Impacts Employees
Poor and inadequate ventilation can have adverse effects on anyone using or working in an indoor space. This is because stale and poorly ventilated air may be high in humidity, CO2, germs, and pollutants. On top of this, poor ventilation is largely responsible for the spread of viruses and other illnesses such as COVID-19 or the influenza virus.
The risk of illnesses and the symptoms listed below increases with poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
- Fatigue and lack of concentration
- Headaches, hypersensitivity and allergies
- Nausea and dizziness
- Rashes
- Increased stress
- Dry throat and dry skin (low humidity can “dry” air out)
- Colds and flu (high humidity can lead to mould and bacterial growth)
Laws on Workplace Ventilation
The laws regarding workplace ventilation are clear. Regulation 6 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations states that employers must ‘ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air’. This means that it’s the duty of every employer and building owner to provide ventilation that keeps their employees and customers safe.
Professional Commercial Ventilation Services From Accurate Mechanical Services
Mechanical and natural ventilation solutions from Accurate Mechanical Services will help to keep any building safe. We’re experts at providing ventilation that works, from industrial air pumps to ventilation shafts and air conditioning. Working with us will ensure your building meets and exceeds ventilation regulation requirements, as our industry-leading expertise in ventilation and HVAC allow us to provide the very best for our clients.