subject: Air Conditioning And Air-flow Services In The Workplace How To Ensure You Are Conforming And Legitim [print this page] Air Quality Air Quality
Removing nasty toxins and keeping a fresh flow of thoroughly clean air is a must in maintaining a healthy and successful work place.
Insufficient fresh really clean air may lead to tiredness, lethargy, headaches, dry or itchy skin and eye irritation for occupants in an workplace or building.
This is known as Sick Building Syndrome and is supported by The Health & Safety Executive's document HSG202 Guidance for Employers.
Health & Safety
It is essential to maintain heating, ventilation systems and air conditioning ductwork thoroughly clean to avoid the build-up of dust, dirt and other potentially nasty bacteria.
A build up of these components can result safety hazards in the work area and a vital compromise in hygiene standards.
Fire Hazard
Ventilation systems can present a fire threat if fire dampers are not properly maintained.
Fire dampers are fitted in ventilation systems to lessen the spread of fire, and consequently regular safety checks are essential to ensure they are in good working order.
Building and facilities managers have a legal obligation to restrict the risk of fire within the buildings they manage under The Fire Safety Order (2005).
Energy Efficiency
Build up can build up in sections within ductwork and the equipment of a ventilation system, inclusive of the air handling units, volume control dampers, and turning vanes.
These Deposits can lessen the system performance, producing noisy or uncomfortable working conditions plus expensive running costs. The working life of the ductwork and ventilation equipment can be extended through regular maintenance and servicing.
Legislation regarding air quality and ventilation systems has always been greatly important.
However, as the understanding of the impact of nice and clean air and the effect of good ventilation systems has developed, supported by research and scientific evidence, compliance with ever increasing legislation and regulatory guidance has become even more important.
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) refers to the technology used for indoor environmental comfort and air quality.
HVAC Systems are all-important in the design of medium and large industrial and office buildings where safe and healthy building conditions are achieved through the delivery of good air quality.
Ventilation is absolutely vital for the health and comfort of building occupants. It is specifically needed to dilute and remove pollutants emitted from unavoidable sources such as those derived from metabolism and from the a must activities of occupants. Poor ventilation can be associated with unhealthy buildings, where the increased bacteriological concentrations are associated with decreased ventilation rates.
HVAC systems use ventilation air ducts fitted within a building that supply conditioned air to a room through rectangular or round outlet vents, called diffusers; and ventilation ducting that remove air through return air-grilles. The objective of the HVAC systems within a building is to ensure ventilation and thoroughly clean air circulation rates exceed the rate at which air contaminants increase.
