Workplace Air Quality Assessment

Building Related Illness has a direct effect on productivity either as a result of days lost to specific illness or through complaints from employees. This leads to poor relations between occupants, management and the facilities department. Rarely is any one factor the cause of complaints and occupants own perception of their work environment, although accurate in how they feel, can often be imprecise as to the specific cause.

Air Conveyance System Assessments are an essential part of air quality investigations. The condition of plant and components therein will affect air quality, ventilation effectiveness, and thermal comfort control. Maintaining plant in efficient order (efficient from the view of health, safety and welfare) is a requirement of the Workplace Regulations 1992. Assessments ensure effective maintenance programmes are in place and help to eliminate air- handling plant as a factor in building related illness. CIBSE and BSRIA maintenance standards are assessed.

Ductwork Cleanliness Inspection is undertaken to ensure satisfactory cleanliness and to identify conditions that may affect air distribution. This includes activated fire dampers, damaged insulation, torn flexible connections, blocked heaters and deteriorating sound attenuators. Dirt and debris can support microbial growth which when ejected into the workplace may cause infection, dirt staining and objectionable odours. Cleanliness standards are provided by the HVCA and BSRIA to determine whether cleaning is required.

Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort Measurement helps to identify parameters that may affect occupant health, comfort and welfare. Common indoor air contaminants are measured including respired CO2, dust, bacteria, moulds, noxious gases and compared with HSE and WHO guidance. Air temperature, radiant heat, air movement and relative humidity are monitored to ensure compliance with the CIBSE and ASHRAE guidance. In addition workplace lighting and noise can be carried out to ensure optimum working conditions are maintained.

Air Handing Unit Refurbishment. Maintaining air handling plant in optimum hygienic condition is the surest way of protecting building occupants health and reducing the need for more costly ductwork cleaning. Air handling plant should be fully cleaned on an annual basis, prolonging the useful life of plant and improving energy efficiency. Disinfection of wetted surfaces and condensate drain trays is required to prevent bacteria growth.

Ductwork & Kitchen Extract cleaning. Air conveyance system decontamination is carried out in accordance with BSRIA and HVCA guidance. Cleaning is undertaken to remove gross contaminants that can support microbial growth and be ejected into the workplace or that may cause a risk of fire spread. Cleaning should be carried out as required following a fall in air distribution effectiveness or following contaminant deposit sampling and comparison with HVCA guidance. Deep fat friar extracts almost certainly require annual degreasing.