We’ve all heard the popular complaint that you feel sick at work, but nowhere else. Maybe you chalk it up to allergies, that the maintenance staff hasn’t dusted in a while, or that the company just doesn’t clean as well as it used to. The truth is, there is a very real possibility that your building itself may be sick – and the only way to know for sure is to have your indoor air quality (IAQ) tested.
What Makes Your Building Sick?
A single thing or a combination of things can contribute to poor IAQ. Some may be obvious while others are more elusive. Here are just a few examples:
- Combustion
- Carbon monoxide
- Radon
- Asbestos
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Mold and mildew
- Dust and dander
- Pressed wood products
- Cleaning products
- Unvented furnaces
- Trapped outdoor pollution
- Rodent droppings
- Pesticides
What Can You Do To Prevent Poor IAQ?
The best thing you can do to prevent problems is to create a plan that addresses, prevents, and eventually removes possible IAQ contaminants from your workplace. A good starting point is to have your building inspected by a professional to specifically determine which, if any, IAQ issues your building may have. This shouldn’t be a one-time procedure. Your plan should include routine IAQ testing to ensure safe IAQ levels are maintained.
Another way to proactively deal with IAQ issues is to routinely check certain problem areas, including the roof, walls, and the foundation of the building. This simple check for water leaks and damage can help to prevent mold from growing. If moisture is found during a routine check, it can often be effectively dealt with before it becomes a bigger problem.
Benefits of Healthy Indoor Air Quality
Maintaining a safe commercial building is extremely important for business continuity. Your employees and clients deserve the best, and there are a number of benefits of healthy IAQ:
- Cleaner smell, reduced odors
- Lower energy costs
- Improved performance and productivity
- Decreased adverse health effects
- Decreased absence rates
- Increased comfort
Contact us to learn how ATC can help improve and optimize your indoor air quality and to learn about our additional environmental services.
Related:
5 Things You Need to Know About Mold, The Causes of Mold and How to Remediate It