Indoor Air Quality Services to Implement Today
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential to the health and safety of employees, students, patients, and occupants in any space. Such spaces may include a Industrial business(s), commercial building(s), clinic or medical practice office, school(s) and/or a residential setting.
According to the EPA, Americans alone spend an average of 90% of their time indoors, where some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor concentrations. Those pollutants put occupants and visitors at risk, and the only way to lower that risk is to test and treat the indoor air comprehensively. Poor IAQ, can lead to human and pet health issues to include for example headaches, fatigue, sore eyes, flu-like symptoms, and even heart disease or cancer in severe cases.
By testing indoor air quality, a comprehensive report is developed to assist with the understanding of what pollutants are present and how such employees, students, patients, and/or visitors are exposed to. And by working with an experienced Alliance Partner like HBIA, companies, education centers, medical practices, can take adequate measures to improve indoor air quality. Our team of professionals provides comprehensive environmental services, including IAQ surveys and management, and they follow best practices to help ensure a high IAQ. Let’s look at a few ways to improve IAQ and provide safer, healthier, cleaner environments for all occupants and visitors.
According to the EPA, Americans alone spend an average of 90% of their time indoors, where some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor concentrations. Those pollutants put occupants and visitors at risk, and the only way to lower that risk is to test and treat the indoor air comprehensively. Poor IAQ, can lead to human and pet health issues to include for example headaches, fatigue, sore eyes, flu-like symptoms, and even heart disease or cancer in severe cases.
By testing indoor air quality, a comprehensive report is developed to assist with the understanding of what pollutants are present and how such employees, students, patients, and/or visitors are exposed to. And by working with an experienced Alliance Partner like HBIA, companies, education centers, medical practices, can take adequate measures to improve indoor air quality. Our team of professionals provides comprehensive environmental services, including IAQ surveys and management, and they follow best practices to help ensure a high IAQ. Let’s look at a few ways to improve IAQ and provide safer, healthier, cleaner environments for all occupants and visitors.
What Leads to a Poor Indoor Air Quality
There can be several reasons a building and/or home, can have poor indoor air quality, but often the cause relates to pollutants in HVAC systems. Contaminants like gases, mold, bacteria, and organic chemicals can gather in the air and cause adverse health effects. These pollutants can come from building maintenance, pest control, different production projects/kinds of work, or even activities like smoking directly outside of a environmental space of a building and/or home.
While any one of the aforementioned events can lead to poor IAQ, it’s also possible that a combination of events is to blame a potential combination of multiple events that have accord without detection until... And when it comes to some of these contaminants, there may not be an odor or surface(s) discoloration to let occupant(s) and/or visitors to know that something is wrong. That’s why our team of Industrial Hygienist, IEP, Indoor Air Quality Accessors, and technicians always recommend IAQ testing to understand what the root cause is.
While any one of the aforementioned events can lead to poor IAQ, it’s also possible that a combination of events is to blame a potential combination of multiple events that have accord without detection until... And when it comes to some of these contaminants, there may not be an odor or surface(s) discoloration to let occupant(s) and/or visitors to know that something is wrong. That’s why our team of Industrial Hygienist, IEP, Indoor Air Quality Accessors, and technicians always recommend IAQ testing to understand what the root cause is.
An Additional First Step ~ Test Indoor Air Quality
Before and the initial first step is you must make a IAQ plan, testing must happen as such is vital to the success. IAQ Testing must cover a wide range of pollutants to include, asthma, sinus, and general health irritants, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and potential microbial areas of concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the EPA set limits on air pollution and emissions of air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, but there has been no oversight of regulation when it concerns IAQ.
The only guaranteed way to understand what is in your you indoor environment's Air is to have it tested by certified professionals. Tests can be done at any location, and either our IH, IEP, and/or technicians will conduct thorough testing with the following steps to take to meet recommended IAQ standards. Upon completing the test, our team will develop an individualized custom plan with the right solutions for your buildings environment to improve the IAQ.
The only guaranteed way to understand what is in your you indoor environment's Air is to have it tested by certified professionals. Tests can be done at any location, and either our IH, IEP, and/or technicians will conduct thorough testing with the following steps to take to meet recommended IAQ standards. Upon completing the test, our team will develop an individualized custom plan with the right solutions for your buildings environment to improve the IAQ.
What Can Businesses Do Today - How can they HELP!
Improving IAQ requires trained and multifaceted team of IAQ Specialist and the right solutions. Though what can you do today to improve the indoor air quality surrounding you. Let's start with, Daily vacuuming and dusting. These two things alone to start with will assist with the control of large particles and will help to keep the IAQ in view. However, this type of cleaning alone doesn’t remove smaller particles that often cause the most irritation. Our team of IAQ Specialist and our team of technicians will recommend using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to remove tiny particles like dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria.
If the structure of your business works with paints, varnishes, or finishes, choosing ones with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will help to keep them out of the air altogether. The same goes for cleaning products, insecticides, and artificial candles that are often laden with chemicals that can create poor IAQ. Finally, each building regardless of a commercial and/or industrial businesses, and or a residential home, can control the humidity levels depending on the size of space. High humidity levels have a strong potential to lead to mold and other contaminants. Just know, the HBIA is here to assist with a proven tract record of years of environmental control experience. You don't have to suffer by wondering what can I/We do today to remedy the IAQ fully, our team of experts are ready to assist 24/7.
If the structure of your business works with paints, varnishes, or finishes, choosing ones with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will help to keep them out of the air altogether. The same goes for cleaning products, insecticides, and artificial candles that are often laden with chemicals that can create poor IAQ. Finally, each building regardless of a commercial and/or industrial businesses, and or a residential home, can control the humidity levels depending on the size of space. High humidity levels have a strong potential to lead to mold and other contaminants. Just know, the HBIA is here to assist with a proven tract record of years of environmental control experience. You don't have to suffer by wondering what can I/We do today to remedy the IAQ fully, our team of experts are ready to assist 24/7.
Every Space’s IAQ is Different there must be Source Control
The most effective way to improve IAQ is to understand the source of the contamination(s) and eliminate it/them. Toxic areas that can be identified through IAQ testing are sealed, enclosed, or treated to remove contaminants and ultimately raise the IAQ. If the contamination(s) is coming from an appliance like a gas stove, the equipment must be adjusted to decrease emissions. If the contamination(s) are coming from a HVAC system, the equipment will require a full functional and IAQ inspection and a the development of a IAQ resource plan to control best practices that would also include maintaining HVAC filtration to dilute indoor air contaminants with a regular flow of fresh air.
During one of the HBIA IAQ investigation process, our team of specialist and/or technicians may also find high levels of mold, bacteria, or high levels of VOC's. Our team of specialist and/or technicians will also look into the quality of the existing air filters and current ducts, as both need to be inspected, tested, sampled, cleaned and may require regular changes. Best practices suggest may include rather than replacing such air filters every two to three months an updated correction shift may include an every thirty day change to keep a space’s IAQ at a preferred level.
The size and occupancy of a space will play a role in its IAQ just as much as the kind of work done inside of the building space and/or living quarters. Businesses that aren’t sure about their IAQ can use consumer-grade friendly tests for things like radon, VOCs, and mold to see if any of those contaminants exist in their space. Though a general consumer-grade test will not point to suggestions of change to improve the IAQ. Don't become fooled by the advertising for such kits/test within your local Big Box Store. Make them time to reach out to an experienced team of Specialist such as the one of the HBIA team for more comprehensive testing and if required abatement/remediation planning for correction. Such correction(s) may only require updated Sanitation Protocol Update and implementations .
The HBIA has a history of helping companies and medical professionals of all sizes with their EH&S needs, including IAQ Surveys and Management, Mold and Moisture Inspections and Management, and more. HBIA specialist and/or technicians work with clients to provide custom IAQ solutions for their unique needs, ensuring occupants, employees, students, and/or patients are safe from pollutants with the cleanest air possible.
During one of the HBIA IAQ investigation process, our team of specialist and/or technicians may also find high levels of mold, bacteria, or high levels of VOC's. Our team of specialist and/or technicians will also look into the quality of the existing air filters and current ducts, as both need to be inspected, tested, sampled, cleaned and may require regular changes. Best practices suggest may include rather than replacing such air filters every two to three months an updated correction shift may include an every thirty day change to keep a space’s IAQ at a preferred level.
The size and occupancy of a space will play a role in its IAQ just as much as the kind of work done inside of the building space and/or living quarters. Businesses that aren’t sure about their IAQ can use consumer-grade friendly tests for things like radon, VOCs, and mold to see if any of those contaminants exist in their space. Though a general consumer-grade test will not point to suggestions of change to improve the IAQ. Don't become fooled by the advertising for such kits/test within your local Big Box Store. Make them time to reach out to an experienced team of Specialist such as the one of the HBIA team for more comprehensive testing and if required abatement/remediation planning for correction. Such correction(s) may only require updated Sanitation Protocol Update and implementations .
The HBIA has a history of helping companies and medical professionals of all sizes with their EH&S needs, including IAQ Surveys and Management, Mold and Moisture Inspections and Management, and more. HBIA specialist and/or technicians work with clients to provide custom IAQ solutions for their unique needs, ensuring occupants, employees, students, and/or patients are safe from pollutants with the cleanest air possible.