The average American spends 90% of their time indoors and at least one-third of that time in the workplace, which means 3,333 liters of the 10,000 liters of the air we breathe every day comes from that space. That’s a considerable amount of air each person breathes in and breathes out. In that same space. Every day.
Now more than ever, employers and facility owners want to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and contribute to healthier working conditions. The right air purification system (or “air quality system”) is a critical factor in enhancing IAQ, so let’s look at four reasons to have an office air purification system.
1. Neutralize Contaminants and Pollutants
Air purifiers improve office air quality by removing or neutralizing contaminants such as bacteria, mold, viruses, pollen, and dust that can cause severe illnesses and allergic reactions. In addition to naturally occurring contaminants, air purifiers can also neutralize airborne pollutants generated from inside the workplace.
These pollutants can include carbon monoxide from combustion sources like cooking appliances and coal heating, volatile organic compounds from cleaning supplies and paints, insecticides, and asbestos fibers from degrading building materials.
The best air purification systems for office use effectively neutralize these pollutants and their odors using a combination of technologies like photocatalytic oxidation and bi-polar ionization, which destroy these types of contaminants.
2. Prevent COVID-19, Cold, and Flu
Air purifiers can play an essential role in reducing the risk of transmission and lowering the infection rates of COVID-19, the common cold, and influenza by trapping and inactivating bacteria and viruses in the air and on surfaces. Particular air purifiers have proved to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the group of viruses to which COVID-19 belongs, giving employees and clients peace of mind.
Did you know air purifiers can reduce contaminants on surface areas as well? When we cough and sneeze, we secrete tiny droplets that can spread several meters and stay suspended in the air for a long time. Once the droplets have fallen on surfaces, viruses and bacteria can survive for several days, depending on the environment and conditions.
Quality air purifiers utilize photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), which uses ultraviolet light to convert moisture into advanced oxidation products (AOPs) that attach to impurities in the air and on surfaces. These AOPs attach to contaminants at the molecular level, destroying their ability to reproduce. The PCO process takes place continuously, effectively “scrubbing” the air and surface areas 24/7 and preventing the spread of illnesses.
3. Improve Employee Productivity, Focus, and Well-Being
It’s impossible to perform at our best when suffering from fatigue, headaches, itchy eyes, sneezing, asthma, and difficulty breathing, which are all symptoms that can derive from poor indoor air quality. In addition to physical symptoms, poor IAQ can make it difficult to concentrate and think clearly.
Active air purification used by the most effective devices significantly improves air quality by minimizing contaminants, allergens, and pollutants that can cause illness and allergic symptoms. In addition, by reducing the possibility of infection, businesses will have peace of mind knowing they will maintain overall productivity while minimizing the number of sick days employees take.
4. Help Equipment Last Longer
Air purifiers can also prevent pollutants, like dust particles, from clogging the fans of computers and other office electronics and blocking airflow, which causes overheating. Removing dust particles also extends the life of office furniture and carpeting, as dust tends to fade fabrics faster.
There are many benefits to having an air purification system in the workplace. From improving employee health to increasing productivity to extending equipment life, air purification is a worthwhile investment for business and property owners.
You can also view our commercial air purification solutions or learn more about continuous air purification with Active Radiant Catalysis®. Are you looking to complete a national rollout of multiple locations? Tell us about your project here.