Indoor Air Quality in Offices Gains Importance

The Importance of Indoor Air Quality in Offices According to research conducted by Harvard University, cognitive performance of personnel increases by 61 percent in offices that meet "green building" standards, and by 101 percent in offices that exceed "green building" standards. Offices with poor air quality both reduce cognitive performance and threaten employee health. Polluted air can cause recurring headaches, fatigue, and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Ahmet Özbecetek, General Manager of Hifyber, a subsidiary of Abalıoğlu Holding, shared important information about measures that can be taken to improve indoor air quality in offices. Spending more than 40 hours per week in an office means exposure to pollution from indoor air. According to research, indoor air in buildings can be 5-10 times worse than outdoor air. An office with poor indoor air quality, in addition to compromising comfort conditions with its bad odor, also threatens the performance and even health of employees. Cognitive function tested in 24 participants Within the scope of research led by Prof. Dr. Joseph Allan, a teaching faculty member at Harvard University, 24 participants (designers, architects, engineers, marketing specialists, and programmers) work in controlled office environments for 6 days. Conditions change each day, but participants are unaware of this. First, researchers test cognitive function under normal ventilation conditions. On other days, carbon dioxide and VOC levels are artificially increased, and staff cognitive performance against poor indoor air quality is measured.

Cognitive performance increases by 101 percent

The research results show that personnel performance increases by 61 percent in offices meeting "green building" standards, and cognitive performance increases by 101 percent in offices exceeding "green building" standards. However, polluted air not only reduces cognitive performance but also threatens employee health. Polluted air can cause recurring headaches, fatigue, and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Hifyber General Manager Ahmet Özbecetek, who states that "oxygen plays a key role in human life," shared important information about measures that can be taken to improve indoor air quality in offices: "Bacteria and viruses suspended in the air in office environments directly affect employee health and performance. Working in offices with inadequate ventilation systems for extended periods can lead to performance losses and diseases such as asthma, COPD, coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.

"Filters with nanofiber structure are of vital importance"

Building climate control systems play an important role in protecting indoor air quality. While conditioning air with climate control systems, it is possible to prevent virus transmission risk, provide better cognitive function, and increase productivity. However, to achieve all this, workplaces must use proper ventilation systems and the correct air filters in these ventilation systems. Filters used in climate control systems having nanofiber structure is of vital importance. As Hifyber, with our high-efficiency "nanofiber filter media" product developed in compliance with air filtration test standards (ASHRAE 52.2, EN 779:2012, ISO 16890, and EN1822), we provide healthy and comfortable indoor air quality in enclosed spaces by disrupting the vital functions of bacteria and viruses formed in air filters of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

"ASHRAE recommendations should be considered"

Another issue as important as the correct selection of air filters in climate control systems is their regular maintenance. To sustainably protect indoor air quality in collective living spaces such as offices, hospitals, schools, and shopping malls through climate control systems, the recommendations of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) should be taken into account, meaning annual duct inspections and filter cleaning or replacement every three months should be performed. Furthermore, in these routine maintenance procedures, it is necessary to check whether HVAC ventilation openings are blocked by any office furniture, decoration, signs, or equipment," he said.