ADVICE & OPINION
COMPLIANCE
BREATHE EASY
12 JULY 2019
Greg Davies, Director of Market Development at Assurity Consulting, an
organisation with over 30 years’ experience in independently monitoring
indoor air quality looks at some of the issues surrounding IAQ
“Each year in the UK, around 40,000 deaths
are attributable to exposure to outdoor
air pollution, with more linked also to exposure
to indoor pollutants.”
“Air pollution plays a role in many of the major
health challenges of our day, and has been linked to
cancer, asthma, stroke and heart disease, diabetes,
obesity, and changes linked to dementia.”
“The health problems resulting from exposure to
air pollution also have a high cost to society and
business…In the UK, these costs add up to more
than £20 billion every year.”
“Air pollution plays a key role in the process of
climate change, which places our food, air and
water supplies at risk, and poses a major threat to
our health.”
These are just some of the issues raised in a
2016 report “Every breath we take - The lifelong
impact of air pollution” released by the Royal
College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College
of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The RCP
further commented “the report also highlights the
o en-overlooked section of our environment - that
of indoor space.”
So, what are the issues for FM?
THE REGULATORY TRACK
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)
Regulations 1992, cover several areas of the
workplace environment including, lighting
(Regulation 8), cleanliness (Regulation 9),
temperature (Regulation 7) and ventilation
(Regulation 6), the latter stating:
"6.- (1) E ective and suitable provision shall be
made to ensure that every enclosed workplace is
ventilated by a su icient quantity of fresh or purified
air."
L24 the Approved Code of Practice associated
with the Regulations highlights:
» 28 - Enclosed workplaces should be su iciently
well ventilated so that stale air, and air which is hot
or humid because of the processes or equipment in
the workplace, is replaced at a reasonable rate.
» 29 - The air which is introduced should, as far as
possible, be free of any impurity which is likely to be
o ensive or cause ill health.
» 30 - In many cases, windows or other openings will
provide su icient ventilation in some or all parts
of the workplace. Where necessary, mechanical
ventilation systems should be provided for parts or
all of the workplace, as appropriate.
» 32 - In the case of mechanical ventilation systems
which recirculate air, including air conditioning
systems, recirculated air should be adequately
filtered to remove impurities. To avoid air becoming
unhealthy, purified air should have some fresh air
added to it before being recirculated.
» 33 - Mechanical ventilation systems (including
air-conditioning systems) should be regularly and
properly cleaned, tested and maintained to ensure
that they are kept clean and free from anything
which may contaminate the air.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2002 and guidance in Health
and Safety Executive document EH40/2005
Workplace Exposure Limits provide greater detail
on permissible levels of contaminants, with other
references, such as CIBSE Guide A, Environmental
Design (A8 Health Issues) providing further
information.
THE FM TRACK
Indoor air quality for FMs has long been as much
of a dilemma as occupancy comfort. Knowing
it is good is one thing, demonstrating it to the
satisfaction of building users can be an altogether
di‡ erent proposition.
The types of material comprising your indoor air
can vary significantly, depending on the type of
premises you have, how it is ventilated, managed
and maintained, what it contains, any processes/
activities occurring and of course the air outside.
As a consequence, the e‡ ect of poor indoor air
quality will also vary depending on the types and
levels of these "pollutants" or "contaminants". They
can trigger very specific reactions in individuals
(i.e. allergic type reactions to a particular allergen)
or a‡ ect groups of people indiscriminately (raised
carbon dioxide levels, for example). Typically, our
air comprises:
» Particles of dust and debris naturally picked up in
air streams, influenced by the type of environment
(rural/urban) as well as more localised factors such as
industry, tra ic and construction.
» Gaseous pollutants can include oxides of nitrogen,
ozone, Sulphur dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Carbon
dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOC), some
of which could be entrained from outside and others
generated internally.
» Biological pollutants can also depend on
atmospheric conditions and seasonal variation.
Fungal spores, pollen and leaf litter for example are
very seasonal, while bacteria like to travel on vectors
(other particles) and so wind conditions, cleanliness
and humidity can have an e ect.
» Specific chemical pollutants such as Radon are
primarily dictated by location and to a lesser extent,
building materials.
» Vehicle emissions, construction/demolition work,
local industry and agriculture can all contribute to
the contamination found in outside air.
Knowing what your IAQ profile is and how your
premises are supporting your indoor environment
is not just good from a legal perspective, but from a
health, wellbeing and productivity perspective too.
How are you managing yours?
WHAT MIGHT BE AFFECTING YOUR IAQ?
• IAQ issues/complaints can be the result of a single or
combination of factors.
• What presents as an issue "I'm too hot" may not be caused
by just the space temperature. AirƜ ow and/or carbon dioide
levels to name but two other parameters could be the cause.
• Energy saving measures such as increased air recirculation
and/or reduced run time for mechanically ventilated systems
can have an adversely aff ect IA4.
• The air handling unit is not always the culprit for which
cleaning will remedy the situation, but it does need to be
included in any IAQ assessment where relevant. Mode of air
delivery and terminal boxes will also be relevant factors.
• Over population (numbers of people -v- capacity of supply/
etract ventilation rates can aff ect dust and carbon dioide
levels.
• High humidity levels can cause issues with fungi/moulds.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other chemicals can
be released from furnishings, cleaning products and various
building products (glues, mastics, paints, etc.).
• Changes in the external environment, construction, season,
traƝ c routes can aff ect outside air quality and so IA4.