We all allocate 100% of our time inhaling air. The quality of indoor air often does not top the list of concerns for most individuals, yet it significantly impacts comfort, health and efficiency. Proper ventilation is one of the most essential engineering measures in workplace settings since a typical individual dedicates one-third of their life to work.
Effective ventilation enhances indoor air quality and helps conserve energy. It diminishes air pollutants, removes carbon dioxide, brings in fresh air and regulates temperature and humidity levels. Furthermore, ASHRAE states that buildings should maintain carbon dioxide concentrations at or below 800 ppm in workplaces.
Temperature should be kept between 68°F and 76°F. Also, let us tell you that humidity should be maintained between 40% and 60%. However, humidity above 40% can help reduce airborne contamination from viruses.
What is the importance of following these guidelines? Top office interior designers explain why proper ventilation is important for keeping a healthy workplace.
Office Interior Designers Reveal Why Good Ventilation Is Key
Imagine walking into a room filled with stale air. You feel a sense of suffocation, making it hard to focus. Now, picture entering an environment where fresh, invigorating air flows freely. The area awakens your senses and raises your energy levels. That is the remarkable impact that effective ventilation can provide! A well-designed ventilation system guarantees fresh air circulation while removing allergens, pollutants and other harmful particles. This helps foster a healthier indoor atmosphere.
- Enhance Employee Comfort and Well-Being
Entering an uncomfortable workplace can be very unpleasant. People may feel discomfort from being too cold or too hot while working at a computer for long periods. Since individuals spend a large part of their lives indoors at work, it is important to prioritise comfort. When the indoor air quality and temperature are comfortable, it positively impacts their mood.
In fact, research indicates that even a modest decrease in relative humidity, temperature and indoor contaminants could boost your employees’ efficiency by 2 to 4%. Enhanced air quality can give your employees or other occupants increased energy and improve their capacity to concentrate and perform effectively.
Concentrating on daily tasks becomes much simpler in a welcoming environment. Naturally, you do not need to transform your office space into a luxurious spa, but office interior designers assert that a fundamental level of comfort can greatly enhance employee morale and productivity, which leads us to our following point.
- Boost Employee Productivity and Efficiency
Office interior designers recognise that excellent air quality and effective ventilation enhance focus, decision-making abilities, job satisfaction, endurance, vitality, etc. Employees will not merely be free from discomfort caused by excessive heat or cold or from being in an oppressive environment. Reduced levels of CO2 combined with increased amounts of oxygen and fresh air empower the brain to function at its highest capacity.
One study conducted by Harvard established a direct correlation between improved air quality and enhanced decision-making performance. Specifically, environments with low CO2 levels (600 ppm) allowed participants to engage in work and strategise at an elevated level.
The research also revealed that employees in green-certified buildings performed better on cognitive function assessments than in conventional structures. Furthermore, a comfortable air temperature played a significant role in boosting productivity.
- Minimise Employee Sick Leave
Poor indoor air quality leads to eye discomfort, inflammation, and breathing difficulties for certain individuals. It can also worsen pre-existing health issues. Substandard air quality is linked to sick building syndrome. It is a condition where students or employees report various symptoms while inside a building. However, they do not experience these issues when away from it. This underscores the critical importance of proper ventilation.
Office interior designers are of the opinion that ventilation systems play a major role in maintaining health. For instance, increasing ventilation in a building that previously had low airflow has demonstrated a reduction in sick leave by 35%. Likewise, there is a connection between enhanced ventilation and decreased absenteeism rates in educational settings.
Lockheed Martin relocated one of its teams to a new facility to enhance airflow, natural light, and energy efficiency. The organisation reported a 1.67% gain in productivity when they moved to a daylit building.
- Cultivate an Inviting Environment for Clients and Customers
Office interior designers believe the most undesirable scenario is arriving for a meeting or interview only sweating due to an excessively warm or stagnant indoor environment. Rather than concentrating on the discussion, all one desires is a moment of relief. While it may be challenging to pinpoint exactly what feels amiss, it is undeniably apparent when you enter a cramped office space that lacks proper ventilation.
Instead, utilise your building’s ventilation system to create a soothing environment. A pleasant atmosphere encourages potential clients and partners to feel at ease, which is incredibly beneficial. An effective ventilation system will also assist in minimising odours and maintaining a sense of freshness in the indoor air.
- Prevents Mildew and Mould
Damp, stale air creates an ideal environment for mould and mildew, which undermine indoor air quality and present significant health concerns. The appropriate ventilation system and well-planned office furniture design solutions from premier office interior designers like Phi Designs are pivotal in preventing moisture accumulation by efficiently circulating air. This decreases the chances of mould development.
By ensuring that the workspace remains dry and free from mould, ventilation systems protect the health of employees and maintain the structural soundness of the building.
Create a Healthier Workspace with Guidance from Office Interior Designers
Emphasising effective ventilation is crucial for establishing healthy and efficient work environments. By integrating high-performance ventilation systems, organisations can enhance employee comfort, elevate productivity and create an inviting atmosphere for clients. Esteemed office interior designers, like Phi Designs, highlight the significant influence of designed ventilation solutions on health and performance. This makes them an indispensable element of any office design strategy.
