We have always been told that outdoor air is polluted; however, the lesser-known yet the important fact is that indoor air is more polluted. The reason is that people tend to spend most of their time indoors whether it is at home, workplace, school, or gym.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people may begin experiencing various symptoms after a single exposure, such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, and irritation of the eyes and nose. However, poor indoor air quality may aggravate the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory illnesses, causing more health damage than expected.
This is why indoor air quality is known to be strongly connected with human health and well-being. The better the indoor air, the higher the quality of life and lower the risk of chronic diseases.
Indoor air quality gained significant attention during the outbreak of the pandemic because COVID-19 was declared airborne. It means that when an infected person coughs and sneezes in the shared air, the virus travels via tiny respiratory droplets and remains suspended for a longer duration in a highly-occupied and congested space.
Therefore, improvement in indoor air quality has been crucial since then. Buildings with inadequate ventilation are at higher risk than those with a proper ventilation plan.
Why a ventilation plan for a confined space is necessary?
Before we dive straight into its importance, let’s clear what ventilation actually is. Ventilation is the process in which fresh outdoor air replaces the stale air indoors via constant airflows. There are two main types of ventilation – natural and mechanical.
A proper ventilation plan for a confined space is absolutely essential in order to replace stale air with fresh and safe air as we have already learned. The Environmental Protection Agency also suggests that ventilation plays a vital role in improving indoor air quality.
It has also been proven that an adequate ventilation plan for confined spaces helps lower the risk of airborne transmission such as COVID-19. Ventilation facilitates the circulation of fresh air in indoor spaces, which ultimately dilutes the concentration of viruses and bacteria.
As a result, it reduces the chances of virus transmission and surface contamination due to the elimination of suspended particles.
Advantages of a ventilation plan for confined space
Besides health benefits, there are other advantages of a ventilation plan for confined spaces, and they are as under:
Controls Temperature
A highly occupied indoor space can become hot, and it causes nothing but mere discomfort. A proper ventilation plan facilitates the circulation of fresh air into the room, which controls the temperature and provides comfort to the occupants.
Reduces Condensation
Condensation in a room creates a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. It can also cause various health issues for patients with symptoms of asthma and allergies. However, a proper ventilation plan for a confined space prevents condensation and the growth of mold and bacteria.
Reduces the Impact of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
There are many products we use on a daily basis that release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), such as cleaners, air fresheners, paints, and markers. A proper ventilation system in homes, schools, and workplaces enables the circulation of fresh air and dilution of VOC concentration and other chemical compounds.
How Much Ventilation Does a Room Need?
If you are wondering how much ventilation does a room need, you should know that occupied spaces must be continuously ventilated with fresh air using either natural or mechanical ventilation systems.
According to the recommendation of ASHRAE, formerly known as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, “0.35 air changes per hour but not less than 15 cubic feet of air per minute (cfm) per person” are the minimum ventilation rates to improve indoor air quality and prevent negative health impacts.
Euromate Pure Air Helps in Ventilating and Purifying Indoor Spaces
Euromate Pure Air is a leading provider of air purifier technology across Australia. We have been in the industry for more than 35 years, which makes us one of the best when it comes to planning adequate ventilation and air purification for your residential and commercial spaces.
Featuring innovative and smart engineering and technology, our range of air purifiers is used in schools, offices, and other commercial and industrial settings. Not only do our air purifiers guarantee multiple air exchanges every hour, but they also completely remove pollutants, airborne virus particles, and other harmful contaminants from the air.
Our air purifiers also feature a HEPA filter to remove small particles with more than 99 percent efficiency via a fine mesh.
If you want to know more about our air purification technology, get in touch with us.
