Did you know that the indoor levels of pollutants can be two to five times—occasionally even more than 100 times—higher than the levels of outdoor pollutants? That fact comes from an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) article titled, Why Indoor Air Quality is Important to Schools.
When you realize most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, the importance of indoor air quality becomes apparent. A person can take steps to improve the indoor air quality in their home, but when they spend time inside a school or a work environment, they put their trust in the facility manager’s hands.
What Impacts the Air Quality Inside Commercial Buildings?
When you manage a facility, Some of the factors that impact air quality are beyond your control. For example:
- Pet Dander. Cat allergens have been discovered in schools, hospitals and other public buildings, places where the animals never enter the buildings. These allergens easily become airborne, entering buildings on people’s clothing and hair.
- Cigarette Smoke. Just like animal dander, cigarette smoke enters buildings through a person’s skin and clothes.
- Chemical Pollutants. Many of the furnishings and equipment necessary to run an office–think wall and floor coverings, office furniture and building materials– emit chemical pollutants.
In addition to the factors mentioned above, poor air quality can result from dust, humidity, mold and mildew. It’s a complex web of conditions that result in poor air quality. You also have to take into consideration the amount of ventilation in your building.
How Can I Improve the Air Inside Commercial Buildings?
Having your ductwork professionally cleaned can make a drastic difference in the air quality inside your building. Your air ducts can be contaminated with all of the factors listed above, plus spores from black mold and bacteria.
Studies show that office workers sometimes spend 10 hours at work, making the air they breathe a critical factor in their overall health.
When looking for a professional to clean your ductwork, ask if they provide before and after testing and photos. That’s the best way to make sure the ductwork is thoroughly cleaned. At Bactronix, when we clean air ducts, we also treat them with an EPA registered, hospital grade disinfectant and deodorizer. Afterall, if you take the time to clean your air ducts, why not disinfect them at the same time?
We’ll be happy to explain our commercial air duct cleaning procedure to you. Contact us to learn more.
