With the recent trend towards health and indoor air quality concerns, much attention is being drawn to the indoor air quality in workplaces all over the country. St. Louis is no different, and many businesses here are finding that their building’s air quality is much worse than expected. Various things can impact a building, thus resulting in poor air quality at work. While many building owners believe they are getting the best from their HVAC systems, contaminants don’t just originate from inside the building. Indeed, the outside of the building must be considered as well.
If you’re concerned about how your heating and air conditioning system may be contributing to poor air quality in the office, contact the experts at Galmiche & Sons in St. Louis today!
Common Factors Impacting a Building’s Indoor Air Quality
Poor air quality at work is a major concern for those in the workforce. However, there are many causes of poor indoor air quality that we may not even typically consider.
Some of the factors that can contribute to poor air quality at work include:
- Airborne Chemicals
- Bacteria
- Fungi and Mold
- Pollen and Dust
- Office Equipment – such as photocopiers and printers
- Cigarette Smoke
In addition to those physical factors, there are environmental factors that can create poor air quality at work as well, such as:
- Temperatures
- Humidity
Employees & Their Impact on Indoor Air Quality at Work
Quite often employees can contribute to poor air quality at work without realizing their impact. For example, as each person enters a building, they may bring in with them the following contaminants:
- Dust
- Consumer Products
- Personal Hygiene Products
- Pet Hair and Pet Dander
Employees may also unwittingly cause obstructions that may prevent an HVAC system from performing at its most optimal level, thus adding to the issue of poor air quality at work. Such incidents may be inadvertently blocking vents or even storing food incorrectly which can lead to vermin and, of course, strong food odors.
Building Environmental Factors Impacting Air Quality
Many other environmental factors can help create poor air quality at work as well. These are not necessarily anything to do with an HVAC system or occupants, rather they are more to do with the general environment within a building.
Such factors contributing to poor air quality at work can include:
- Dusty Surfaces – Examples are areas that may often get missed by office building cleaning crews, such as the top of the HVAC system or behind equipment and furniture.
- Chemicals, Building Materials, & Furnishings – Building materials, cleaning supplies, and furnishings can also release chemicals, fumes, and other hazardous particles in to the air, reducing indoor air quality.
- Stagnant Water – Leaky pipes can pool and create the perfect conditions for bacteria to grow. Once these conditions have developed, the possibility of allergic reactions and foul odors arrives.
Let Galmiche & Sons Help Resolve Your Poor Indoor Air Quality at the Office
At Galmiche & Sons, we’ve seen it all in the St. Louis HVAC world. We know how numerous contaminants can originate both inside and outside a building that owners or occupants are usually unaware of.
Our expert technicians regularly deal with HVAC systems in this sort of environment, and are highly adept at mitigating the sources of poor air quality at work. We can perform a full system check and make sure your entire HVAC system is working at peak efficiency, as well as check your ducts and all your air intakes to make sure there are no areas that are creating poor air quality in your St. Louis building.
If you’re ready to tackle your poor air quality at work, call our St. Louis heating and air conditioning experts today!
