Indoor Air Quality: maintaining a healthy environment in offices & homes
Indoor air quality, ventilation, HRVs, and ERVs: all are popular buzz words these days. But what do these things mean for you, your workplace and your home? In this article, Kazawest gives you the information you need about indoor air quality to help you make better informed decisions about the air quality in your residential or commercial property.
If you are considering making an investment in a ventilation system, air filtration system, or forced air heating or cooling system, it is important to consider the key factors which impact your air quality. This article contains a summary of the information our property managers share with clients seeking to understand factors which impact indoor air quality. Kazawest often shares this type of information with clients such as commercial building owners & lease holders through to strata councils & residents of condominiums. Read on to get the information you need to make better informed decisions about your indoor air quality.
The Problem
Indoor air quality issues have always existed, however, the issues have been magnified in recent years as energy-efficient construction techniques and building technologies have created near airtight homes and workplaces. The following are the top three causes of poor air quality.
- Poor HVAC Maintenance - HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems which are poorly maintained result in clogged filters, circulation of pollutants and reductions in airflow.
- High VOCs Materials – VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds which give off fumes considered toxic especially in high quantities. VOCs are given off by many materials including building products, furniture and fixtures which have high VOC chemicals used in the production process.
- Inadequate Ventilation – Without proper ventilation built into the design of a home or workplace, indoor air quality can become almost impossible to achieve.
The Solution
The most effective solutions for improving indoor air quality are the the following steps the above three primary causes of poor air quality can be minimized.
- Inadequate Ventilation – Without proper ventilation built into the design indoor air quality can become almost impossible to achieve. Indoor air gets polluted over time just by natural use including use by residents & workers, use of equipment including office machines & computer equipment, and moisture from kitchens & bathrooms. Fumes from materials containing VOCs and the use of chemicals, such as cleaners, compound the issue. Having adequate air exhaust and intake is key to keeping air quality at a healthy level. A good rule of thumb is that indoor air should be replaced with outdoor air once every three hours, representing an air exchange rate of 0.33 which an qualified professional can help you confirm.
- Regular HVAC Maintenance – Following the maintenance routine for your HVAC system, if simple, or choosing an HVAC contractor who will inspect and maintain your system is critical. Also, it is much less costly to regularly maintain your system than to run it without maintenance to the point of failure which can be very costly. Simple steps, such as changing of filters and belts, will prolong the life of your system and have it functioning as designed.
- Choose Low VOCs Materials – VOCs are given off by many materials including building products, furniture and fixtures which have high VOC chemicals used in the production process. Given the increased awareness of VOCs and their impact on health, low VOC materials are now commonly available (e.g. low VOC carpet or laminate underlay and low VOC paint). Choose low VOC options to reduce the negative impact on indoor air quality.
HRV & ERV Ventilation Systems
In recent years, Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) and Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) systems are commonly added to homes and workplaces as independent units, or as integrated technology within the main HVAC system.
HRV and ERV systems exhaust stale interior air while bringing in fresh exterior air. At the same time, heat is recovered so that in the winter the heat from outgoing warm interior air is transferred to incoming cold exterior air. The opposite effect occurs in summer adding to energy-efficiency and interior comfort.
The difference between an HRV and an ERV is that with an ERV not only is the heat recovered but the moisture is as well. So with an ERV, the exchanger core transfers moisture so that in the winter the moisture from outgoing humid interior air is transferred to incoming dry exterior air. The opposite effect occurs in summer also improving the comfort of the interior air.
Stand-alone HRV and ERV systems are more common in residential applications and integrated HRV/ERV functionality within primary HVAC systems are more common in commercial installations. However, with all technology, as the cost comes down more sophisticated systems are available to both residential and commercial properties.
In closing, by being informed about indoor air quality you can ensure you will make better informed decisions about your property investment. If you have questions about this article or any property issue, please contact a Kazawest property manager.
© Kazawest Services Inc.
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Information Purposes Only
The above article is intended for information purposes only. Every property is unique and may have unique requirements. If you have a sizable property or have complex ventilation requirements, it is a good idea to seek the advice of a qualified property management professional.
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Article courtesy of Kazawest Services Inc.
About the Author
Kazawest is a leading real estate management and development services firm. The company’s real estate management services include commercial, residential, and strata property management. Kazawest’s property development group provides full services to plan, design and execute real estate development projects. In addition, the firm’s commercial division is a full service brokerage specializing in commercial real estate transactions and leasing. Kazawest delivers high quality service and value to property owners & investors, and is based in Vancouver, BC. Find out more about Kazawest at www.kazawest.com.
