Regulation and Importance of Indoor Air Quality Control
Regulation and Importance of Indoor Air Quality Control
The summer has hit once again along with extremities of weather. Hot and humid weather forces office buildings or any other workplace to crank up the air conditioner. Everything should be just fine as long as the heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) system has taken care of the indoor environment to be a comfortable setting.
In past years, energy conservation and costs have taken its toll on human health due to poor indoor air quality. For seasons such as winter and summer when the weather outside is extremely hot or cold, HVAC systems recirculate the air existing in the building and potentially threaten the health of the occupants. Air is recycled because of the costs to introduce fresh air. It would costs the owners of the building more to heat or cool the fresh air. Recirculated air is cheaper and much more efficient, but there is a potential price to pay.
Other key factors in the demise of air quality are poor maintenance of existing HVAC systems and the layout or age of the building. Combined with recirculated air and inadequate maintenance and layout, indoor air quality have been possibly lethal in extreme cases.
This is by no means a new issue. It is a problem that has plagued indoor air quality since the time of dwellings. (Air & Waste Management Association, 2001) The problem has escalated though as of present due to technology and the population of mankind. Several instruments that have been intended to provide us with comfort, have contributed to the degrading of indoor air quality. Such instruments as air conditioners and humidifiers are a part of these contributors. So how does this technology affect the well being of the indoor air that we breathe?
Government agencies across Canada have been receiving calls from people who are concerned about the quality of air in their workplace. These people want to know the causes of the various physical symptoms they are experiencing. (Health Canada - 1, 1995) One of the causes of the symptoms they are experiencing is the effects of biological factors in their work environment. Poorly engineered HVAC systems, poorly maintained buildings, incompetent maintenance personnel and equipment, inadequate circulation and ventilation, and over crowding in workplaces...