Fresh air is a blessing that most people take for granted. It is neither guaranteed nor easily created. The rising air pollution levels and associated mortalities globally, showing no signs of slowing down, underscore the need to promote air quality.
People in bustling cities, wary of outdoor pollution, often seek refuge indoors, pinning their hopes on insulation and HVAC systems. At times, the rude awakening comes in the form of respiratory ailments and a combination of symptoms known as the sick-building syndrome (SBS). As it turns out, indoor environments can be much more contaminated than outdoors, largely due to HVAC systems acting as a point source of pollution.
A Yale study found that a person's mere presence in a room can add 37 million bacteria to the air every hour. A way to contextualise that finding would be to realise that we spend 90% of our lives indoors. So, indoor air quality (IAQ) must take precedence for good health and well-being a notion that has gained support following the pandemic outbreak when people, confined indoors and led by new-found awareness of airborne diseases, began to look for answers. Even doctors weighed in, revealing a rise in the number of SBS cases, especially among office workers presenting symptoms such as unexplained headaches, itchy eyes, breathing difficulties, and skin issues.
Guardians of air quality
Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Commercial Design.
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Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Commercial Design.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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WORKING TOGETHER
Professor Louise Valentine, Head of the Design School at Heriot-Watt University, on the importance of inclusive design in the workplace
WHERE CREATIVITY WORKS
Alhad Gore of Beyond Design Architects & Consultants brings his architectural expertise to life in the new office for Atul Patel Architects, blending functionality with creative flair to craft a workspace that inspires innovation and collaboration
FACILITATE INTELLIGENCE
How AI is redefining the future of facility management
DESIGNING A BETTER FUTURE
How inclusive office designs are shaping the modern workspace
ADDED VALUE
Is a good project manager the secret to success for a complex commercial design project?
RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM
The Grand Jury Meet of the third edition of Commercial Design Awards, a cornerstone event in India’s commercial design landscape, unfolded amidst the awe-inspiring expanse of the Welspun Global Carpet Plant in Hyderabad.
A VISION FOR 'TOTAL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEMS'
Jitu Virwani, Chairman and Managing Director of Embassy Group, redefines India's commercial real estate landscape by pioneering integrated, future-ready, and sustainable business ecosystems.
AWFIS TO DESIGN, MANAGE 165K SQ FT OFFICE SPACE FOR NSE IN MUMBAI
Awfis Space Solutions Limited on Tuesday said it will design and manage 1.65 lakh square feet of office space in Mumbai for the National Stock Exchange.
MACROTECH ACQUIRES 2.8 ACRES IN HINJEWADI
Realty developer Lodha, listed as Macrotech Developers, has acquired a 2.8acre plot of land in Pune's Hinjewadi area from Paranjape Schemes.
EMBASSY OFFICE PARKS REIT APPOINTS RITWIK BHATTACHARJEE AS INTERIM CEO
Embassy Office Parks REIT on Thursday appointed Ritwik Bhattacharjee as its interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect, following Sebi’s order to suspend its CEO Arvind Maiya.