Indoor air quality in the office: Your at-a-glance guide

Better air in offices makes for healthier employees, happier tenants, and more efficient buildings. 

Indoor air quality has become a critical issue for employees. In Savills’ What Workers Want survey (2019), 86% of respondents^[1] said they consider air quality one of the most important factors in their workplace. With the recent global pandemic, we expect this percentage to have increased considerably. Many countries have implemented strict rules to follow before employees return to the office, whilst some countries are not ready to open offices back up again just yet. 

Either way, ensuring the air quality in workplaces is safe and healthy has never been more important. To do so, there are two key factors you should look out for, regarding the office air. 

Humidity and the spread of infection

Researchers for the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention found that when humidity levels were at 23%, 70 to 77% of flu virus particles were still able to cause an infection an hour after coughing. Raising humidity levels to 43% reduced the percentage of infectious particles to just 14%². At Airthings we recommend 30-60% humidity levels for a healthy indoor environment. Too high humidity can cause mold growth, too low, (as the CDC research shows) has been linked to the spread of virus. 

Carbon dioxide and clean air

Every day we take up to 23,040 breaths a day³ . In an environment where we are in close proximity, such as the workplace, high concentrations of CO₂ can build up if the air is not ventilated properly. 

For businesses, indoor air quality has always been key to unlocking productivity, retaining workers, and maximizing efficiency. As a result of COVID-19, the emphasis on healthy work spaces has never been more important. Use our at-a-glance guide to keep air quality in offices safe and healthy. 

Takeaways

• 86% of workers say indoor air quality is one of the most important factors in their workplaces.
• To gauge indoor air quality, measure levels of damaging pollutants, like radon, VOCs and carbon dioxide, as well as conditions like temperature, humidity, and air pressure.
• By using indoor air quality to improve wellbeing in your buildings, you can boost tenant satisfaction and avoid complaints.
• On average, spending $40 on improving air quality in a building results in a $6,500 productivity gain.
• Airthings for Business indoor air quality monitors provide the data you need to optimize conditions in your buildings and improve your bottom line.

Sources

1. https://www.savills.co.uk/research_articles/229130/283562-0/what-workers-want-europe-2019 
2. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0057485
3. https://blog.epa.gov/2014/04/28/how-many-breaths-do-you-take-each-day/#:~:text=The%20average%20person%20takes%20between,are%20exposed%20to%20air%20pollution.