​Indoor air quality (IAQ) in a workplace is the subject of much attention these days, and for good reason! The air quality of the indoor environment has on the health, comfort, and productivity of your staff and colleagues. There are actually a number of serious health problems related to IAQ, and while they are usually rare, the perception of endangered health is increasingly common among building occupants.

The causes and consequences of poor air quality are complex and not completely understood. However, there are some basic factors that you are a company owner, building owner, employer, and occupant should know in order to address and concerns about ​indoor air quality.

What constitutes as “good” Air Quality?

The likelihood is that the majority of your staff with barely notice when indoor air quality is good or bad - if the issue is no severe. However, IAQ is a problem when the air contains dust and objectionable odors, chemical contaminants, dampness or mold.

Related to this are the physical characteristics of the air, including  the amount of air movement, its temperature and it the humidity. General guidelines for achieving a good IAQ include -



Ventilation needs to be in accordance with the current guidelines in the country you are living in. These can easily be obtained, for example in the USA, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and  Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality can be referred to.


Large industrial factories, for example will need to implement some form of stainless steel ducting system, whereas smaller commercial buildings will need smaller scale ventilation systems. You will need to do you research.

Comfort factors


These include temperature, humidity, and air movement to be of a range that is acceptable to most occupants. To ensure your staff are comfortable at work you will again need to refer to the current guidelines in the country you are living in. But, comfortable staff mean happy staff, so it is in your best interest to do this.


Sanitation and separation


In a factory setting, mechanical equipment and building surfaces should always be maintained in sanitary condition, as these can become airborne. Significant emission sources, such as large copy machines should always be separated from occupied spaces. All operations, maintenance, and construction activities on your business should be performed in a manner that minimises any staff exposure to potential airborne contaminants.