IAQ Impact on Facilities, Schools, and Office Buildings Following the Pandemic.
Prior to the start of the pandemic, probably few facilities managers spent much time thinking about what might be floating around in the air inside the buildings. Rarely was there any testing done unless an employee or students was suggesting that an illness was related to something circulating through the HVAC system. Report after report indicate that nearly all indoor employees said they had never heard of “IAQ” or “Indoor Air Quality” prior to COVID closures.
Now, those same polls make it clear that “IAQ testing” and “Indoor air quality” are not only known by these employees, but is part of a relatively common conversation. IAQ tests results and systems are even starting to become a leading factor in where and who people choose to work for. And, it has become a very key concern for parents of school aged children. People are truly aware and concerned about the air they are breathing now more than ever.
Perhaps your building was originally constructed with minimal standards, or they me even be outdated by what is acceptable for today. HVAC suppliers and service companies now can add-in purifying and monitoring devices to many already existing systems. The manufacturers are rolling out options to have all of the purifying and/or monitoring integrated, some are even automated for adjustments, as needed, and remote monitoring.
Don’t wait until there is a rash of illness, complaints, or panicked concerns. If your current HVAC systems are lacking monitoring, Service1st is trained and experienced in providing routine monitoring of occupied and unoccupied buildings. Regular monitoring helps employees and occupants feel more comfortable that their air quality is of concern. It also helps in the prevention of mold growth, which can be very costly if it requires remediation and associated repairs.
Additionally, Service1st is qualified and capable of providing IAQ testing with a detailed report identifying all materials found in the samples, and indicating what levels and particle counts for each. The air quality samples are analyzed by a third party clinical hygienist to help insure that there are no mistakes made and no suggestion of conflict of interest with any involved parties.
Should you be interested in learning more about either one of these services that we can provide, or if you think there may be an existing issue; contact our office to learn more. *All of these services are offered outside of regular business/operation hours and are completely confidential.