The warmth of summer brings humidity, pollen, and pollutants, often disrupting the air quality of our indoor spaces. IAQ is a vital part of cleaning to minimize allergens, mitigate the spread of germs, and provide safe and healthy indoor environments. How can maintenance managers and janitorial staff focus on improving IAQ in the building during the summer months?

• HVAC plays a big part in whether your building’s air stays clean and fresh, so regular maintenance like changing the filters means that the dust and dirt trapped there is not recycled back into the air. Create a regular schedule to perform routine maintenance that ensures your system is performing optimally.
• Testing your IAQ reveals the presence of mould, VOCs or carbon monoxide so you can take the appropriate corrective action. Test kits are available for purchase, or you can call a professional to conduct the test for you. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advocates testing indoor air quality every second year, so schedule these tests to stay on track and ahead of any potential issues.
• Instituting a rigorous and regular cleaning schedule helps eliminate dust and pollen in the air, which can settle on your floors and get tracked through the building.
• Humidity creates an environment for bacteria and mould growth, so ensure that your humidity falls within the recommended level of between 30 and 50 per cent. Use a dehumidifier or heat pump to regulate the humidity in the building.
• Air purifiers with HEPA filters can help trap airborne particles like dust, pollen, and smoke. Placing air purifiers in strategic locations throughout the office can help improve the IAQ throughout your building.
• Introducing a non-smoking policy, inside and outside the building, can help keep the air clear and allow you to open some windows to increase ventilation if needed.
• Adding plants to your work environment can help create an inviting atmosphere, as well as remove some of the impurities from the air. Research shows that there are several plant types that can help, such as spider plants, snake plants, peace lilies, aloe vera, Boston ferns, English ivy, rubber plants, and more.

Creating a strategy to improve the IAQ in your building is necessary for the health, wellbeing, and productivity of the people in your building.