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Our modern lifestyles have driven us indoors and it is estimated that we now spend as much as 90% of our time indoors. Therefore, it is of little wonder that concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ) are growing.

It is generally accepted that poor indoor air quality can result in health problems, which may carry a substantial cost burden. The CSIRO estimates that the cost of poor internal air quality in Australia may be as high as $12 billion per year.

There is no single factor determining the quality of indoor air in an office space. IAQ of an office building is a complexity of factors that influence the link to human health effects. Changes in the activities that occur both within and outside the buildings, cleaning, heating and renovation regimes, the degree of ventilation and the presence of products that emit VOC all influence the concentrations of air pollutants indoors.

Cetec is regularly involved in IAQ audits and in particular carrying out objective measurements of IAQ. The objective or physical measurement of indoor pollutants and thermal comfort factors are a very important part of any IAQ audit methodology. Objective measures involve the monitoring the comfort factors of temperature and humidity, measurement of building ventilation rates, ventilation effectiveness of the ventilation system and the concentration of selected indoor air pollutants.

However, an area of IAQ audits that is often overlooked or ignored by the building owner or facility manager is the subjective measurements of IAQ. In addition to the objective measurements conducted in an office, the effects of the air quality on the health of the office staff should be assessed subjectively. A subjective measure, typically takes the form of a questionnaire, is a critical part of a comprehensive IAQ audit, and should be distributed before any objective measurements are taken.

Complaints from occupants or staff can be very useful information in the assessment of IAQ and provide a subjective feeling on the environment. Staff complaints are usually legitimate and are commonly related to air-conditioning features. The most common complaints relating to air-conditioning are about comfort factors; that the office is too hot, too cold, too stuffy, draughty or smelly. Nevertheless, subjective measurements can also indicative of problems with the ventilation system such as:

• The poor positioning of vents causing local draughts;
• Inappropriate air movement leading to stuffiness due to inadequate number of vents;
• Contaminated air systems; and
• Draughts or stuffiness because of incorrect airflow rates.

Employers have a responsibility for providing staff with a healthy and safe working environment. This includes an obligation to protect staff from extremes of heat and cold by means of appropriate engineering controls or work practices. An employer’s duty of care requires them to take all reasonable practicable steps to resolve any problems.

Even with the best comfort factors or conditions, you will only be able to satisfy 75-80% of staff as personal preferences vary according to the clothing they wear and the work they are doing. IAQ audit methodology is very comprehensive in nature, and Cetec has extensive experience in conducting full IAQ audits along with risk assessment management in OH&S.

When subjective results are collated with the objective measurements as part of an IAQ audit, they can be used to assess the air quality in the offices and make suitable OH&S recommendations. These recommendations are very useful in planning your maintenance program for remedial measures to be either carried out immediately or at a later date depending on the seriousness of the problems found and form part of any OH&S risk assessment program.

Contact us for a free consultation and discover how CETEC can help you with solving your IAQ issues. Contact us here.