The management has been quite vigilant about indoor air quality. Therefore, your organisation has every certificate on the wall demonstrating compliance with indoor air quality standards. Carbon dioxide levels are below the exposure limit, and ventilation standards comply with ASHRAE guidelines.
Everything looks good on the surface, but why do occupants complain about indoor air quality? The entire fourth floor of your building complains about stuffy air. You seem confused because you invested quite a lot in upgrading your systems and air quality monitoring.
The truth is, compliance is not a guarantee – it is a baseline. Building occupants actually experience the quality of the air. If the building has ventilation issues, its occupants suffer, and their well-being declines over time.
This blog post seeks to answer: if your building meets ventilation standards, why are occupants still complaining? Let’s find out.
What Do ASHRAE Standards Say?
ASHRAE standards and their subsequent versions for commercial, residential and institutional buildings have been among the most notable standards since 1973. These standards state minimum ventilation requirements to protect occupants’ health and well-being. According to the definition of acceptable air quality, it is when there are no harmful pollutants in the environment, and 80% of occupants do not express dissatisfaction.
What does this imply? It suggests that even if the indoor air quality is clean, 20% of occupants exposed to that air are not satisfied. It is a statistical inevitability, not a failure of your air purification equipment. If you have 100 workers in your building, the math says you will have 20 who are unsatisfied with the air quality.
What Really Happens Behind the Scenes?
Theoretically, ventilation systems are designed to deliver fresh, filtered air for occupants’ well-being. In practice, it is more complicated because buildings are messy. Let’s see what happens at the occupant’s desk.
Air Filtration Systems Are Broken
Air quality monitoring and compliance are often tested when air filtration technology is new, and the building is not yet fully occupied. However, months later, things start to change. Air quality degrades, absenteeism increases, and sick leaves become more frequent. Compliance testing shows that poor indoor air quality in offices is often due to poorly maintained ventilation systems. There could be several issues, including clogged vents, exhaust vents pulling in contaminated air, and much more. Hence, in reality, we often see a discrepancy between the intent of the ventilation system and the actual field performance.
Unreachable Stagnant Zones and Corners
Some workplaces have an open-plan infrastructure featuring high shelves, glass partitions and tall cubicles. Such designs act as windbreakers, hindering proper filtration of indoor air. So you may have industry-compliant indoor air in your office, but a person sitting behind a glass partition is still inhaling contaminated air. The core claim is clear: the big picture may seem perfect, but the micro-environment tells another story.
You Could Be Measuring the Wrong Thing
People usually think that higher carbon dioxide levels usually lead to poor indoor air quality, but the reality is a bit beyond that. While CO2 is a good indicator of indoor air quality, it is not the only one. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that air quality in offices comprises several pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from paints, cleaning agents, furniture and mould, biological contaminants, and dust particles.
What's the Solution?
It’s time to chase worker satisfaction. How do we fix this?
Assumption Is Never the Solution
You have a CO2 sensor installed at your workplace, and it shows good CO2 levels – but the story doesn’t end here. Don’t assume this is the end. Start with a thorough inspection of air pollutants that are present in your office environment. Ask your indoor air quality experts to look for blocked vents, mould growth and airborne bacteria.
Install Advanced Air Purification Technology
It’s important to install appropriate air-purification technology throughout your building to protect your staff from exposure to harmful contaminants. Euromate Pure Air offers reliable air purifiers that feature HEPA technology to capture pollutants, chemicals and airborne bacteria.
Aim for 100% Satisfaction
Standards say 80%, but you should aim for 100%. The ultimate goal should be to satisfy as many workers as you can. Current policies are shifting towards more stringent building ventilation standards, with a focus on maximising workers’ performance and health.
Final Thoughts
Good enough that your building is compliant with indoor air quality and ventilation standards. It shows that you are not negligent, and you care about industry protocols and worker safety. However, there still needs to be a lack of consideration because building occupant complaints are piling up – they feel stuffy, are getting sick, and showing a lack of productivity. It means there lies a discrepancy. Opt for a thorough inspection by an expert service provider and install highly efficient, commercial-grade air purifiers for maximum protection.
