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Recommendations to Improve Ventilation in the Workplace

Business

Recommendations to Improve Ventilation in the Workplace

If you’re about to open a business, one of the primary considerations is making sure that the workplace is conducive to operations. Whether it’s a conventional office set-up or a retail space, ventilation is critical for occupants’ comfort. But in addition to comfort, it’s also essential to consider safety, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency. As such, poorly designed ventilation can become the source of many problems for the business owner.

What are the best ways to improve workplace ventilation?

Inadequate ventilation can lead to a host of problems such as indoor air pollution, inconsistent temperature, and humidity, as well as discomfort. To avoid these problems, let’s discuss several techniques that will help improve ventilation and indoor air quality.

  1. Maximise natural ventilation. Allowing fresh air from outside to cool and circulate inside the workplace is effective in expelling pollutants. Since you can’t always predict the weather, adding electric window openers is an excellent option. For natural ventilation to work, the building design should take advantage of natural airflow through buoyancy and air pressure. Another advantage of having manual window openers in the workplace is occupants’ ability to adjust ventilation as they please.
  2. Forced ventilation and air conditioning. The most convenient way to ventilate a workplace is by installing an HVAC system. With the right approach, you can install filters and accessories such as air purifiers that will help clean the air and remove pollutants. Instead of relying on window openers, air conditioners can maintain a consistent temperature throughout the day.
  3. Spot ventilation. A specialised shaft or exhaust can provide extra assistance in drawing out warm air from a room. This type of ventilation is best used in areas that require added ventilation, such as a kitchen or a place where industrial machines function.
  4. Hybrid ventilation for the whole building. There are times when spot ventilation or natural ventilation isn’t sufficient. Building design and size may require additional means of allowing fresh air to enter and warm air to exit from the premises. As such, a whole-building ventilation system may be the best choice. This system typically features a duct system that removes stale air and lets in fresh air from the outside. In the case of forced air conditioning, the duct system distributes cold air from the HVAC unit throughout the building.

Apart from choosing the kind of ventilation best suited for your business’s needs, it’s also critical to follow recommended standards that will ensure adequate ventilation. For example, there’s a minimum floor space required for every occupant as well as the recommended ceiling height for an office space. The architect should account for these standards during the design process to avoid ventilation issues after completion and when the business is operating.

Lastly, the occupants and building manager should observe extra diligence in regulating the use of chemicals that may pollute indoor air. Some examples include cleaning chemicals, furniture protectants, and air deodorisers. If possible, businesses today should use “green” products that won’t release pollutants into the air.

I am the founder of Startup Today. I am the main writer and have put in many hours of work into creating this blog. If you want to find out more about me then lets get in contact.

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