Today, more and more companies are moving their offices from older buildings to modern coworking spaces, to attract young, creative employees who appreciate dynamic working environments. For most people, an office seems like the last place you'd expect to find harmful air quality. Yet research shows that open spaces have some of the worst indoor air quality of all workspaces. This is due to a higher concentration of pollutants within the same space, linked to a greater number of occupants. These pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), biological contaminants, viruses, bacteria, particles and chemical compounds. Their negative effects on employees can include respiratory problems, eye irritation, headaches or asthma. In the long term, too much exposure to pollutants can have a lasting effect on their health. Fortunately, solutions exist to reduce this risk, and a large part of the solution lies in proper office design. Here are 5 ways toimprove the air quality in your workspaces for the health of your employees.
Change your office equipment and supplies, sources of air pollution
One of the primary vectors of air pollution in the office is equipment, furniture and supplies, as well as decoration. It's important to ensure that your office equipment doesn't pollute your air. This is particularly crucial for employees sitting close to printers, photocopiers and other machines releasing large quantities of hydrocarbons into the air. If you have employees who work with solvent-based cleaners, adhesives or paint, it's important to take extra steps to reduce their exposure to VOCs during the working day.
In addition, all office supplies, building materials and cleaning products have been subject to mandatory labeling since January1, 2012. It includes a score ranging from A+ to C, depending on the quantity of pollutants likely to be released into the air. So, if you want to improve the air quality in your workspaces, it may be a good idea to replace your most polluting equipment with supplies benefiting from a better rating.
Install better office ventilation and air filtration
Once you've examined your office equipment and supplies, you can start looking at ventilation and filtration systems. You should also be aware that French law imposes a minimum threshold for indoor air renewal within workspaces. Article R. 4222-6 of the French Labour Code sets this minimum threshold at 25 m3 per hour and per occupant. For workspaces with non-specific pollution, such as offices or open spaces, this implies the installation of a ventilation system that must operate continuously, while complying with this standard.
If you want to have better control over indoor air quality, you may want to consider acquiring measuring equipment. You'll also have access to a wider range of data, such ashygrometry (humidity level), temperature and CO2. The most sophisticated devices can also regulate your office ventilation system, as well as your heating system.
Another good way to improve air quality in your workspaces is to install air purifiers that include a filtration system. These devices, which complement the ventilation system, capture the various pollutants and remove them. They are effective not only on VOCs and particles, but also on viruses and bacteria carried by occupants. However, filters must be changed regularly to ensure optimum efficiency.
Ensure sufficient ventilation to improve air quality in your workspaces
When we think of taking action on air quality in a building, many of us have the reflex to install sophisticated filtration systems and purifiers. However, one of the cheapest and simplest ways of improving indoor air quality in your workspaces is still toair the premises, also known as manual ventilation. This is probably the best way of reducing the concentration of pollutants, in addition to using ventilation systems such as CMV. So, if you have openings to the outside and the configuration of your building allows it, remember to air your workspaces every day. This will also help lower the humidity level in the air. Be careful, however, if your premises are close to industrial or polluting sites, as ventilation may not be recommended due to the pollution outside.
Use depolluting indoor plants
Plants are an excellent way of purifying the working environment. They can remove carbon dioxide from the air and replace it with fresh oxygen. They are also capable of removing VOCs, which can help improve indoor air quality in your workspaces. Plants are particularly useful during the winter months, when windows and vents are closed and air pollution is higher. So, if you're thinking of redecorating your offices, don't overlook the role of plants, which will also have a positive impact on your employees' well-being. Certain species, such as aglaeonema, ficus benjamina and ivy, are highly effective in workspaces thanks to their depolluting properties.
Design your office to reduce air pollution
Improving indoor air quality in your workspaces is an issue you'll need to think about whendesigning your offices. This involves organizing the space in such a way as to limit exposure to pollutants and ensure optimum well-being at work. For example, you can :
- install an appropriate ventilation system in the most polluting rooms;
- compartmentalize spaces to avoid too great a concentration of pollutants in a single area;
- avoid locating your employees' offices close to sources of pollution, such as printers or chemical storage areas.
As you can see, improving air quality in your office is a complex subject that many companies tend to overlook. Fortunately, it's an easy problem to solve if you follow these tips. With the right equipment, the right ventilation and the right reflexes, you can create an office where employees feel healthy and productive.