Air Quality in Offices

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Glass wool of third generation is used in the wall panels Ecophon Akusto Wall A and in the boards Ecophon Gedina A in the Sundbyberg office in Sweden
You cannot see it, but it is extremely important since you need it to survive. The air – as it is in question – is necessary for existence of people, animals and plants. No wonder that we are attaching more and more importance to its quality, especially in the office…

Moreover, the exchange of the air is also crucial in maintenance of its good quality. In a situation when windows are too hermetic and there is a lack of natural exchange, ventilators are often used. These devices have to be regularly maintained. Air conditioners are equally important. Uncleaned and unchanged devices are polluted and thus bacteria may easily develop.

 

How to provide better air?

 

Any actions aimed at solving problems related to the air pollution in rooms mainly consist in replacing toxic substances with less toxic substitutes. Processes aimed at limitation of the level of emission are also devised. It is important to take care of products at the early stage of planning. Subjects and materials of high emission potential and high content of harmful substances should be definitely avoided. What is also important is the quality of glue, paint or varnish. The proportion in application of cleaners and care products is also of vital importance.

 

Due to high importance of the air we breathe, there are newer and newer norms in the offices, which should be obeyed by e.g. producers of construction materials. They are to eliminate or imitate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemical substances in products offered by such producers.

 

It is worth considering finishing materials used in the buildings. One of the basic materials used to construction and industrial isolation is glass wool. For instance, Ecophon – producer of acoustic ceilings and wall panels – has introduced glass wool of third generation with a bond made from plants. The company does not use consuming additions and other chemicals which bind formaldehyde in the production process. Almost all products offered by Ecophon, which are made from glass wool of third generation, meet the requirements of the French norm concerning emission of volatile organic compounds in the class A+ (the most restrictive certification level with the acceptable emission of formaldehyde at the level of 10 ug/m3) and they are also consistent with the Californian regulations. The meeting of such norms is also beneficial in case of certifying buildings in the certification systems of ecological buildings such as LEED, BREEAM, DGNB or HQE.

 

To sum up, the air quality in the office is extremely crucial because it has an impact on health and well-being of people spending time there. It is also one of the parameters assessed in office buildings in all programs of ecological certification (e.g. LEED, BREEAM, HQE or DGNB). Various companies (like construction, furniture, etc.) take up actions aimed at enhancement of the air quality in the interiors. Moreover, regulations defining norms for "good air" are very beneficial. It is worth remembering that taking up seemingly less important actions may have an impact on its increased quality (for instance, ventilation of closed rooms). 

 

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