6 Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality in HVAC-Equipped Buildings

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential for commercial building occupants’ comfort, health, and productivity. Even if your building is already equipped with an HVAC system, there are several things you can do to improve and maintain IAQ.

Here are six unmissable tips on how to enhance IAQ in your HVAC-equipped building. Also find insights into how energy management solutions can optimise your HVAC performance for the best air quality.

Let’s begin by exploring six ways to improve IAQ in your HVAC-equipped commercial buildings:

Installing high-efficiency filters, such as HEPA filters, can capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Look to use a filter with a MERV rating of at least 13 where possible to ensure the best possible filter efficiency.

Proper maintenance of HVAC systems is critical to good-quality IAQ.

Perform regular inspections and regularly clean and replace filters at least once a quarter to ensure your system works effectively. Professionals should inspect ductwork annually, while the system should be cleaned at least every six months.

Source control means eliminating indoor emissions or pollutants at the source within the building to maintain high-quality IAQ.

This may include using low-emission materials where possible, ensuring chemicals are safely and properly stored, and prohibiting vaping indoors.

Controlling humidity to maintain optimal levels helps prevent mould and dampness, which can impact air quality.

Use humidifiers or dehumidifiers to keep relative humidity levels between 30% and 60%, depending on how dry or damp your indoor air is.

Increasing the amount of outdoor air entering the building helps dilute indoor pollutants.

Consider implementing demand-controlled ventilation systems that autonomously adjust outdoor ventilation based on building occupancy and internal pollutant levels.

Air purification technologies, such as a combination of HEPA filter and UV-C light filters , help neutralise airborne pollutants and irritants.

As a result, IAQ is significantly boosted, providing cleaner air for your employees.

Energy management systems (EMS) also play a vital role in balancing IAQ improvements with energy efficiency and achieving sustainability goals. Using EMS can optimise your HVAC performance, assuring better IAQ while limiting energy consumption and minimising your carbon footprint.

Here’s how these solutions can help your commercial building:

Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled sensors can continuously monitor IAQ metrics, such as temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, and particulate matter.

These sensors provide real-time data which can be analysed to identify trends and potential air quality issues. This data allows facility managers to make data-driven, informed decisions on adjusting the HVAC operations.

EMS solutions allow your building managers to schedule efficiently and zone HVAC operations. This functionality ensures your building’s HVAC aligns with occupancy patterns to optimise air quality without wasting energy.

Scheduling and zoning are handy in environments where different parts of the building may be utilised at various times of the day.

EMS platforms can integrate seamlessly with HVAC systems, implementing demand-controlled ventilation.

This solution automatically adjusts airflow from outside based on occupancy within a specific part of the building and pollutant levels. In addition to ensuring optimal levels of ventilation, it also minimises energy waste, helping to minimise your building’s carbon footprint.

Advanced EMS solutions offer outstanding data analytics and reporting. These allow facility managers to track IAQ levels, improvements, energy savings and HVAC performance over time.

In addition to helping identify potential issues, performance monitoring uses a data-driven approach to optimise your building’s IAQ. As a result, your business can enjoy greater productivity, while your staff enjoy fewer sick days thanks to a clean working environment.

In addition, EMS systems can integrate with existing Building Management Systems (BMS) for a comprehensive approach to managing IAQ. 

This integration allows continuous adjustment of HVAC equipment to ensure optimal air quality throughout the building, depending on indoor conditions, while maintaining energy efficiency.

Improving indoor air quality in HVAC-equipped buildings requires a flexible, multi-faceted approach. It involves a combination of advanced filtration technology, regular maintenance, optimal ventilation strategies and practical, innovative energy management solutions.

Implementing these tips and leveraging the power of IoT-enabled EMS solutions can allow your building and facility managers to create healthier indoor environments. As a result, your employees can enjoy clean air with a much lower risk of illness while your business enjoys increased productivity without compromising energy efficiency.

If you’d like to learn more about how to maximise your IAQ with your current HVAC system and enjoy the benefits of an integrated EMS system, such as reduced energy costs, improved comfort, and increased real estate value, contact us today to find out how we can help your commercial building take the next steps.