Industrial indoor air quality is vital to any operation, as it can have negative long-term effects on the productivity and health of your company.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is the condition of the breathable air in or around your building. IAQ accounts for the amount of outside air entering the building, temperature, humidity, and airborne contaminants. The Environmental Protection Agency has declared indoor air pollution a top five environmental public health risk due to the many complications it can cause.
Airborne contaminants exist everywhere. One lane for contaminants to exist is due to unregulated or outdated systems releasing harmful gases into the air, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Non-biological particles like synthetic fibers become inhalable at a diameter of 10 micrometers or less. Microbial contaminants such as fungi, bacteria, and dust mites can also be sources of air pollution.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are the most common indoor air pollutants. VOCs are 10 times likelier to appear indoors instead of outdoors and can stem from household items like solvents, pesticides, adhesives, paints, and disinfectants. VOCs can cause difficulty breathing, harm to your central nervous system, and irritated eyes.
A good tactic to neutralize VOCs and bolster IAQ is to take regular readings on air quality and be aware when and which contaminants are present. Once enough data has been compiled, solutions can be discussed on how to mitigate the threat. It’s also a good idea to protect all workers with the appropriate safety gear. Employees across the United States wear respirators at their jobs to protect themselves against harmful dusts, smokes, gases, vapors, and low oxygen levels.
All businesses need to make sure that their workers are protected, and that the equipment remains regularly updated. For more information on how to check IAQ and improve it, please see the provided guy created by Kelair Dampers.
Infographic created by Kelair Dampers, specialists in industrial ductwork
