Tek Ltd has welcomed the World Ventil8 Day initiative that takes place on 8th November each year. It is a fairly new event that started three years ago and aims to raise awareness of the importance of ventilation for indoor health quality. This year’s theme – Enabling Action – aims to provide the impetus for meaningful lasting change in the construction industry.
Why is ventilation important?
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can be deadly. The World Health Organisation links poor IAQ to 3.8million premature deaths each year caused by damp, mould, smoke and other indoor pollutants. Supported by professional and trade bodies, universities, and environmental groups worldwide, World Ventil8 Day aims to raise awareness about the vital role ventilation plays in protecting our health, well being and productivity.
Indoor air quality came to the fore during covid 19, for example, schools were asked to open windows and ensure good ventilation to diffuse coronavirus particles in the air. However, it is also recognised as contributing to better performance in schools as our recent blog highlighted. Studies have shown that poor ventilation significantly impacts on cognitive function as well as health and wellbeing. Fresh air from outside reduces CO2 and improves concentration as well as diffusing airborne viruses and reducing absenteeism.
Did you know, you can go without food for up to 3 weeks, water for up to 3 days but air is only 3 minutes?
What is the UK doing about indoor air quality?
There is a British Standard for health and well-being in buildings. BS40102 (part one) gives recommendations for measuring and monitoring indoor air quality in all kinds of non domestic buildings. It covers air quality, lighting, thermal comfort and acoustics. The standard was developed in recognition of the fact that the work to improve buildings’ thermal performance had contributed to poorer air quality since buildings were so air tight.
The building regulations have also been enhanced with the introduction of Document F ; Volume 1 for dwellings and Vol 2 for non-domestic buildings. This states that the building must provide a minimum level of ventilation to ensure the health of occupants. This is achieved by removing stale air and replacing it with fresh air from outside.
There are a number of ways to do this depending on the requirements of the project from trickle vents in windows, to natural ventilation productsfrom manufacturers like Tek, to mechanical ventilation. Usually combinations of these solutions are used.
Document O addresses overheating which is also relevant to indoor air quality. This recommends implementation of ways to reduce solar gain and to release excess heat from a building. Where windows can’t be opened, vents can be used and if there is a risk of noise, acoustic vents.
“It’s great that retrofit projects as well as new builds are being asked to address the issue of ventilation. For too long buildings have been inadequately ventilated, leading to asthma and other respiratory problems. World Ventil8 Day is a great initiative that is growing year by year and hopefully raising awareness of this important issue,” said James Cartland, Director, Tek Ltd.
Tek works with developers and architects to develop ventilation solutions that are performance tested and sustainable. There are also acoustic ventilation solutions too.
