Poor HVAC design is affecting more than just your electricity bills. Find out how!
23rd January 2023
90,000 hours in a lifetime, 40 hours per week and 8 hours per day — That is how much time an average person spends at their place of work.
Indoor air quality, thermal comfort and the overall quality of the physical space has both long and short term effects on an individual’s health and productivity. Over the years, especially since the pandemic, people have become extremely conscious of their wellbeing and a wide range of problems have come to the forefront including occupational asthma, sinus headaches, migraines, eye irritation and spread of infections due to recirculation. People have also come forward with mental health issues like anxiety caused by risk of infection, loss of productivity due to physical discomfort and in extension, increased stress levels.
This phenomenon was termed the ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ first surfaced in 1984 in a WHO report on poor Indoor Air Quality. Buildings that induce such adverse effects on its occupants are usually characterized by poor indoor air quality, inadequate ventilation and the presence of pollutants or irritants. These building are usually poorly situated or tightly sealed and widely reliant of recirculating air in their air conditioning systems resulting in pollutant and contamination build up.
The WHO estimates that 2–10% of the workforce worldwide is being affected by occupational lung diseases. In the United States, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates 1 in every 100 workers are affected by occupational asthma. In India, the rate of occupational asthma isn’t widely documented but it is a known fact that prevalence of asthma is relatively higher. Some studies indicate a 2–15% rate of occupational asthma in the metropolitan cities of India. This percentage is higher among workers in construction, healthcare, textile, and chemicals. It worth noting that a Greenpeace India Report published in September 2022 stated that 99% of the country breathes air that is below WHO’s required quality standard.
Another prominently reported medical condition caused by the sick building syndrome is acute to severe migraines. Some common indoor air pollutants that are associated with migraines include,
1) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted from building materials, paints, and cleaning products.
2) Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Dioxide emitted from gas appliances and tobacco smoke.
3) Particulate matter form external sources, cleaning activities, burning of candles/ incense.
A study conducted by the NHF, United States found that 38% occupants of an unhealthy work environment reported recurring headaches 1–3 days of the month, while 8% reported daily occurrence. Apart from this are other physical and mental illnesses that occur in a domino effect until the performance loss hits 100% upon employee’s absence. Several studies have established the correlation between IAQ, thermal comfort and ventilation to overall productivity and performance in the workplace.
Studies have shown that by increase ventilation rates from 12 to 24l/s per person, there was a 35% reduction in short term sick leaves. Another study at a call center indicated a 6% increase in operator’s performance when the air flow rate was increased from 2.5 to 25l/s per person. On an average, studies indicated a 10–15% improvement in employee productivity as an outcome of improved air quality and thermal comfort.
The implications of poor HVAC designs are definitive but so are the benefits of an intelligently designed and well maintained workspace. Boost is productivity and positivity will create a ripple effect on profitability and therefore, the economy at large.
