FOCUS WELLBEING
36 FEBRUARY 2020
REFERENCE NOTES
1 https://airqualitynews.com/2019/11/19/40-of-u-s-workers-havetaken
a-day-o -because-of-air-quality-study-says/
2 www.zehnder.co.uk/blogarticles/comfort-classroom-howtemperature
a ects-learning?blog_id=2
3 www.educationdive.com/news/study-classroom-backgroundnoise
especially-distracting-to-young-students/548399/
4 www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/brightly-litclassrooms
hamper-ability-of-pupils-to-concentrate-401510.html
5 www.asthma.org.uk/about/media/facts-and-statistics/
respite from distracting background noise,
can significantly boost productivity and
learning.
A study conducted by Belgian
researchers(3) and published in the Journal of
Neuroscience shows that this is particularly
true of younger people. The study revealed
that the brains of children aged six to nine
‘have a significantly harder time than adult
brains tracking and distinguishing voices
amid background noise’.
Another important consideration is
lighting. A University of Cambridge study(4)
presented at the British Educational
Research Association in 2007 showed
that if rooms were too bright, occupants
developed headaches and other symptoms
which prevented them from concentrating.
Flickering fluorescent panels were found to
be not only too bright but also a source of
distraction and discomfort.
THE AIR WE BREATHE
Indoor air quality (IAQ) a ects us all but
is o en underestimated as a wellbeing
factor. Although public awareness of air
quality in general, and the e ects of outdoor
pollutants in particular, is arguably at an
all-time high, there is still a severe lack of
understanding and discussion around the
dangers of poor IAQ.
The quality of the air we breathe indoors
can have a significant e ect on comfort,
wellbeing and ability to concentrate. It is
well documented that poor ventilation
and subsequently poor IAQ can lead to
headaches, poor vision, depression and
respiratory issues.
We need to implement measures which
can help to deliver the things we cannot buy
– health, wellbeing, comfort and happiness.
The average person spends more than 90 per
cent of their life in buildings – in homes or
the o ice. The e ect of this on our wellbeing
may be invisible, but it is profound. Design
and specifications can a ect everything from
mental health to allergies and respiratory
diseases.
The number of people with asthma is
growing(5), with 5.4 million people in the UK
now a ected. That’s one person in 11, or one
in every five households. In environments
where we spend our time, factors such as
flooring materials, ventilation and radiator
settings are hugely important. E ective
design, aimed at improving ventilation,
reducing overheating and creating a healthy
environment, will all play their part in
reducing the risk.
For facilities managers, optimising the
internal design of buildings through the
specification of carefully chosen systems
in heating, lighting and ventilation will be
crucial as we continue to prioritise occupant
wellbeing.
Rupert Kazlauciunas is Technical Product
Manager, MVHR, at Zehnder Group UK.
The number of people with asthma is growing, with 5.4
million people in the UK now aff ected. That’s one person
in 11, or one in every fi ve households.”
/
/comfort-classroom-how-temperature-a
/40-of-u-s-workers-have-taken-a-day-o
/brightly-lit-classrooms-hamper-ability-of-pupils-to-concentrate-401510.html
/
