As people spend a significant portion of their day in office environments and workplaces, the quality of the indoor air they breathe, the lighting and noise they experience, and the overall comfort they feel can greatly impact their well–being and productivity.
Understanding indoor air and environmental quality
Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) refers to the overall conditions of the indoor environment, encompassing factors such as air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustics. Indoor air quality (IAQ) focuses specifically on the quality of the air within indoor spaces, addressing factors such as pollutants and humidity.
IEQ takes a broader approach by considering a wider range of elements, aiming to evaluate and be able to create a holistic and healthy indoor environment for occupants.
There are many factors that contribute to the quality of indoor environments, such as the design, layout, ventilation, construction materials, location, and maintenance of a building.
The impact of air quality in offices and workplaces
The economic toll of poor indoor air quality is substantial and correlates with significant amounts of sick days in workplaces, leading to lower economic productivity. The European Public Health Alliance estimates health-related social costs in the UK due to heating and cooking pollutants to be £2.2 billion per year.
Poor IAQ can cause a range of health effects ranging from headaches, dizziness and nausea to asthma and cardiovascular disease.
Despite clear reason to be concerned about indoor environmental quality, monitoring of it remains limited and reactive. Decisions to assess factors such as air quality are often triggered by occupant complaints or requirements for environmental assessment schemes. However, as environmental assessments become standard for new constructions, there is a growing need to actively manage IEQ.
Common air pollutants and their sources
Research from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) indicates that human exposure to pollutants is through several mechanisms, including breathing, eating and skin absorption.
Indoor air quality is affected by a range of pollutants originating from a range of sources including building materials, consumer products, occupant activities, damp and mould, and even the land on which buildings are situated. Common pollutants include:
Particulate matter (PM), emitted from combustion sources such as solid fuel burners, cookers, and tobacco smoke;, varies in levels across different indoor environments, with some buildings near roads and transport hubs showing very high concentrations.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that are emitted from building materials, plastics, cleaning products, and even personal care items, tend to be more concentrated indoors. These compounds may linger in household items and furnishings, contributing to chronic low-level exposure.
Bioaerosols, or airborne particles of biological origin, come from diverse sources such as humans, pets, plants, and via building ventilation systems, with implications ranging from allergic sensitisation to acute health effects.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), often termed ‘forever chemicals’ due to their resistance to degradation, are commonly found in fire-retardants, building materials, and repellents.
Ozone, nitrogen oxides and environmental tobacco smoke further add to the indoor pollutant mix, each presenting its own set of health risks.
Benefits of better indoor environmental quality
Improving indoor environmental quality has the potential to improve the health and well–being of occupants, as well as foster better performance / productivity. It may also help attract staff, customers, tenants, and visitors, and promote employee retention.
For building owners and operators, improving IEQ can help command higher rental incomes and realise cost savings through improved energy efficiency and reduced operational expenditure.
Addressing office indoor air quality
Addressing poor office air quality needs a multi-faceted approach. Interventions range from source control, involving the moderation or removal of pollution sources, to the use of ventilation and air cleaning technologies to dilute and/or remove pollutants from the air. Public awareness, education, behaviour change, and legislative measures can further contribute to the improvement of indoor air quality.
Legislation addressing IAQ is on the rise globally, with the UK implementing measures such as the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) Regulations 2020 , reflects a growing recognition of the necessity to prioritise good IAQ for the purposes of personal health and broader impacts on society and the economy.
A new indoor environmental standard for non-domestic buildings
The British Standards Institution (BSI) recently introduced BS 40102-1, a new standard that provides recommendations for measuring, evaluating, and acting on the key health and well-being factors of IEQ within non-domestic buildings such as offices, hospitals, schools, hotels and shopping centres. The standard can be adopted by many stakeholders including designers, facilities management professionals, landlords, consultants, employers, and occupational health and safety specialists.
BS 40102-1 provides an evaluation and rating system to improve IEQ, ultimately producing a performance score that provide organisations with a benchmark to help identify areas of improvement and act on them.
The standard facilitates the comprehensive assessment, target-setting, and enhancement of key IEQ factors in buildings, promoting the physical and mental well–being of occupants.
You can learn more about BS 40102-1 with BRE Academy’s indoor environmental quality training. In addition to training, BRE offers a range of indoor environmental quality services, including the planning and implementation of BS 40102-1, as well as practical solutions and advice. Find out more information here.
