Many companies have had to transition to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now that lockdown rules are relaxing, numerous workers are heading back into the office. It’s essential for offices and shared workspaces to have good air quality and ventilation to help employees be more productive and keep everyone comfortable upon returning to working together. One way of ensuring this is by installing an air conditioning system in the office.
The team here at Accurate Mechanical Services (AMS) have years of knowledge and experience in installing and maintaining air conditioning systems, so we want to share some of the benefits of using air conditioning in the office.
Explaining the Basics of HVAC Systems
Most commercial spaces containing air conditioning technology have their air quality controlled by HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems, which manage numerous air quality conditions to create maximised comfort and flexibility in temperature. Usually consisting of a compact air conditioning unit, boiler, ducts and moisture vents, HVAC systems are low maintenance and can have a long life with regular servicing by an air conditioning engineer. As a result, they make an excellent option for office and commercial air conditioning, giving property owners flexibility over their air ventilation and the comfort of their office spaces.
Benefits of Office Air Conditioning
As mentioned above, there are plenty of viable reasons to invest in office air conditioning. If you choose the right commercial ventilation system, your business could reap the following benefits:
- Ability to Control Temperature – as explained above, installing an efficient air conditioning system helps to provide a comfortable working environment, which, in turn, can boost productivity and happiness within your office space. HVAC systems also allow you to respond to changes in temperature or take heat from warm areas and move it to cooler areas, helping to keep a constant temperature in the property.
- Humidity – An issue whenever it’s too high or too low, humidity can cause real problems for the air quality of your office space. HVAC systems should ideally maintain humidity between 40 and 60%, avoiding potential respiratory issues caused by humidity-created mould and mildew, throat irritation or dry air, which causes problems for staff who wear contact lenses.
- Air Quality – HVAC systems can filter out dust and allergens, helping to reduce respiratory problems and ease comfort for those with allergies. They also help to remove any unwanted odours and pollutants, keeping your office a positive place to work within.
- Energy Efficiency – There’s a common misconception that air conditioning uses up a lot of energy and is bad for the environment, which isn’t the case thanks to modern technology. Today’s office air conditioning and ventilation systems are energy efficient and also affordable. Once the correct type of air conditioning system is installed on your property, energy use will be minimised, which subsequently reduces any utility costs as well as your carbon footprint.
- Keeping Business Critical Equipment at the Right Temperature – offices contain computers and servers, which (much like other electronic equipment) generate heat. This equipment needs to be kept cool to prevent overheating; otherwise, they are likely to break down and cause issues for your business, not to mention the potential repair costs.
The Facts of Office Air Conditioning
To most office workers, air conditioning isn’t a consideration within their day until something goes wrong. As machines, HVAC systems are designed to work quietly and efficiently, providing a benefit to air quality that is hard to notice during the day. However, the need for them becomes apparent if any mechanical problems arise, as uncomfortable temperatures and humidity can quickly occur in an unconditioned building.
Research undertaken by One Poll, as reported by SmallBusiness.co.uk, has shown that 29% of office workers cannot work efficiently for between 10-30 minutes a day due to uncomfortable office temperatures, which could be costing UK businesses up to approximately £13 billion annually. So many office workers have to struggle with uncomfortable temperatures because there is no UK law that states a minimum or maximum office temperature.
Looking at these facts and figures, it becomes clear that installing air conditioning systems in every office building makes both business and financial sense.
Air Conditioning Specialists
Accurate Mechanical Services can provide commercial air conditioning systems to maintain a high level of air quality in your office and ensure your employees’ comfort whilst there. We also offer an air conditioning repair service to ensure that your systems continue to work correctly and efficiently for years to come. If you would like to enquire further about our commercial HVAC services and how we might be able to help you enjoy optimum thermal comfort and air quality in the workplace, get in contact with one of our team today, and we’ll be happy to help.