Nowadays, most office workers spend no less than 40 hours a week inside buildings. If a building lacks proper management and ventilation systems, it can result in poor indoor air quality that adversely affects the health of occupants in the long term. Ensuring clean indoor air is essential, as good health directly contributes to improved work performance.
What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?
Indoor air pollution refers to a condition where the air inside a building contains contaminants in significant amounts and for durations long enough to harm human health, other living organisms, and the surrounding environment. The sources of indoor air pollution include:
- Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5): These are microscopic particles from construction activities, vehicle exhaust, and combustion processes occurring outside the building. Due to their small size, PM2.5 can easily enter buildings through openings or leaks.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These are commonly found in everyday items such as wall paint, cigarette smoke, curtains, cleaning agents, and printer ink. VOCs evaporate easily and can contaminate the indoor environment, posing health risks to building occupants.
- Allergens: These include dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches, molds, and yeasts. Offices often have areas where such allergens accumulate, such as carpets, wallpaper, HVAC systems, and damp or poorly lit spaces.
Health Risks of Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor air pollution can cause various physical ailments, such as irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and fatigue. These symptoms may lead to both short-term and long-term health problems, including:
- Sick Building Syndrome (SBS): A condition triggered by the building environment itself. Symptoms are categorized into five main groups: eye irritation, nasal congestion, throat and respiratory issues, skin problems and headaches, dizziness, or fatigue.
- Allergic Reactions: Those with pre-existing conditions like asthma, bronchitis, or respiratory allergies may experience worsening symptoms when exposed to pollutants such as dust, VOCs, or mold.
Impact of Indoor Pollution on Work Performance
Indoor pollution not only causes illness but also reduces employee productivity. According to research by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), buildings with polluted air and fine particulate contaminants allow these particles to enter the body and travel to the brainstem via the bloodstream. This disruption can impair cognitive functions, reduce concentration, and affect decision-making abilities, ultimately lowering overall work performance.
Maintaining clean air inside buildings is therefore crucial to employee health and wellbeing, especially in workplaces where staff spend significant time indoors. Building owners should regularly monitor indoor air quality using proper methods and maintain HVAC systems to ensure effective air circulation. Additionally, implementing Bi-Polar Ionization technology can significantly enhance indoor air purification.
Bi-Polar Ionization: Air Purification Technology
This technology replicates the natural atmospheric process within buildings by releasing both positively and negatively charged oxygen ions into the air. These ions damage the molecular structure of pathogens, actively eliminating pollutants at their source. When used in conjunction with the building’s ventilation system, Bi-Polar Ionization continuously cleanses and disinfects the air, creating a safe, pollutant-free indoor environment for occupants.
Clean air is a vital factor in maintaining a healthy workplace. Proper building management and upkeep ensure a safe and clean environment, which contributes directly to employee wellbeing—and, in turn, boosts productivity and business success.
At IFS, we provide integrated facility management services, including advanced air purification using Bi-Polar Ionization technology. This helps reduce the spread of pathogens and enhances indoor air quality, while also promoting health and reducing energy costs related to external air cooling.
For more details about Indoor Air Quality Improvement, please contact:
Call Center: 0 2038 5188
Email: info@ifs-thailand.com
