Workplace indoor air quality and you

On average people spend about 90% of their time indoors. International studies have found that indoor air pollutants are generally two to five times greater than outdoor pollution levels.

You are more likely to get sick from pollution in your home and office than from pollution in the air outside. In fact, the American College of Allergists has found that 50% of all illnesses are caused by indoor air pollution.

This article focuses on some common IAQ Questions and Answers.

What is Indoor Air Quality?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines IAQ as the temperature, humidity, ventilation and chemical or biological contaminants of the air inside a building. IAQ refers to the quality of the air inside buildings as represented by concentrations of pollutants and thermal (temperature and relative humidity) conditions that affect the health, comfort and performance of occupants. The growing proliferation of chemical pollutants in consumer and commercial products, the tendency toward tighter building envelopes and reduced ventilation to save energy, and pressures to defer maintenance and other building services to reduce costs may foster IAQ problems.

How do you know if the indoor air quality in your workplace is poor?

Poor indoor air quality in buildings is usually characterized by complaints by 20% or more of occupants of various symptoms that occur for more than two weeks, and who experience rapid relief after leaving the building.

What are the causes of poor indoor air quality?

Poor indoor air quality can be caused by numerous factors some of which are:

• Poor ventilation due to improper airflow and continuous re-circulation of the indoor air. This is usually evidenced by the feeling of sleepiness and lethargy particularly in the afternoon and usually occurs in buildings with split air-conditioning units only.

• Lack of adequate air filtration of the circulated air. This is usually evidenced by materials coming through supply vents in offices and is caused by the absence of air filters on air-conditioning equipment.

• Poorly maintained air-conditioning systems are frequent sources of biological substances that can be inhaled, leading to breathing problems. Such systems are usually evidenced by water collecting on ceiling tiles due to condensation on the ducting, water collecting in drain pans, dirty air filters and the occurrence of a musty odour. Mould growth may be occurring if the ceiling tile turns black. White growth on furniture may also be mould particularly if there is a temperature and relative humidity problem in a building.

• The improper use of cleaning chemicals, freshly painted walls, new furniture and activities such as construction works can also lead to indoor air quality problems.

What symptoms are often linked to poor indoor air quality?

It is common for most people to report one or more following health issues:

• Dryness and irritation of eyes, nose, throat and skin

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Shortness of breath

• Hypersensitivity and allergies

• Sinus congestion

• Coughing and sneezing

• Dizziness

• Nausea

What can be done to improve the indoor air quality in office buildings?

Attendance to the challenges of IAQ should be done on a systematic basis. Too often ad hoc responses are the order of the day. By introducing outdoor air into buildings, specifically, air that is properly filtered and cooled before it is mixed with circulated air this can improve conditions. For places like Port-of-Spain, a closing mechanism should be installed on outdoor air intakes which prevent smoke and odours from fires, from entering the building.

Companies can also try the installation of air filters with a Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV) of eight on air conditioning unit’s results in proper filtration which can remove many contaminants that can cause people to become sick.

Lastly, do not conduct vapor/gas and dust releasing activities such as painting, duct-cleaning, sanding etc when buildings are occupied. These activities should be done when the building is vacant to allow the entire premises to be properly ventilated afterwards.

What should you do if you think the indoor air quality in your building is poor?

Persons who suspect their building has poor IAQ can start by following the above steps. Additional measures include ventilating the building by opening windows and doors once the building is located away from major vehicular traffic and any other potential gas and dust releasing activity and conducting an indoor air quality assessment. IAQ assessments should be conducted once every year as part of an annual risk assessment or when major changes to the buildings layout and processes occur.

Why should I conduct an indoor air quality Assessment?

Understanding and controlling common indoor pollutants can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns. Air sampling can help with this by determining the quality of the indoor air through monitoring for a range of pollutants and comparing them to acceptable limits set by reputable organizations. An indoor air quality assessment predominantly includes testing for gases, dust and mould.

Why should I use CARIRI’s IAQ services?

CARIRI has positioned itself as a premier technology Institute based on service quality. Quality is a hallmark of the services provided to clients in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and extra regional markets. As part of its commitment to providing the highest quality services, CARIRI has established several quality management systems that work together to maintain the Institute’s overall high quality standards such as ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025:2005.

Along with our other quality certifications, CARIRI is also STOW certified.

CARIRI also has a multi-disciplinary team with extensive experience and a wide range of skills to meet the needs of the client. The team is headed by an Environmental Specialist who is supported by a cadre of professional and technical staff that are Council- Certified Environmental Consultants accredited by the American Council of Accredited Certification (ACAC) and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) which is the most prestigious certification specific to Indoor Air Quality.

Some of the services offered by CARIRI in the area of Indoor Air Quality include but are not limited to:

• IAQ Testing & assessments

• Ventilation systems inspections

• Microbial IAQ testing

• Noise surveys

• Occupational health risk

assessment

• Sick building syndrome surveys

Contact CARIRI’s AQMS department today to help you “Clear the Air.”

Air Quality Management Services (AQMS)

Trincity West Industrial Estate,

Macoya,

Tel: (868) 285-5050 ext. 3300

Email: iaq@cariri.com