Air Purifiers In The Workplace. Do You Need Them?

Many people are surprised to learn that indoor air is significantly dirtier than outdoor air (up to 5 times dirtier in some cases). When you stop and consider the fact that we spend over 1,800 hours per year inside while at work, it makes sense that we should care about the air quality of our offices, right?

Does your office have air purifiers installed? If not, they should. Read on to find out why.

Benefits of Air Purifiers in Office Spaces

Do air purifiers really work? This is a common question among those who are skeptical of investing in them.

The short answer is that, yes, they do work. The following are some of the top reasons why an office air purifier is a great investment:

Fewer Allergy Symptoms

Each year, allergies become a serious issue for millions of people worldwide, and office workers are no exception.

There are lots of particles that can travel through the air and trigger allergy symptoms like coughing, wheezing, sneezing, runny nose, and headaches. The following are some of the most common ones:

• Animal and pet dander
• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Mould
• Tobacco smoke

Often, these particles are brought into the office unknowingly. An employee who has a pet cat might bring dander into the officer on their clothes, or mould from untreated water damage could be growing in the walls or vents without anyone realizing it. 

Air purifiers do a great job of trapping allergenic particles and preventing them from floating around in the air and making the office miserable for everyone.

Fewer Asthma Symptoms

In addition to allergies, many office workers also struggle with asthma and other respiratory conditions. If this is the case for anyone at your business, they might find that their symptoms get worse because of poor indoor air quality.

There are even more potential particles and pollutants that can trigger asthma than there are allergies. Here are some of the top culprits:

• Air freshener sprays
• Carbon monoxide
• Cosmetics
• Dirt
• Dry skin cells
• Dust
• Fumes from new carpets
• Hairsprays
• Mould spores
• Office cleaners
• Paint products
• Perfumes

Pests like cockroaches can also pollute the air inside your office and trigger asthma symptoms in you or your employees.

When you install a professional-grade air purifier, you can eliminate many (if not all) of these microscopic impurities and protect those in your office who are the most vulnerable to them.

Improved Airflow

When constructing office spaces, builders go to great lengths to help keep indoor temperatures regulated. They use insulation, caulking, and sealants to ensure the temperature stays stable at all times.

All of these measures might be a godsend during the hot summer and cold winter months. There’s a downside to the issue, though.

Temperature regulating measures lock in air pollutants, too. To make matters worse, many office windows also don’t open, which further traps particles and pollutants and makes it even harder to allow for proper ventilation.

You might not be able to replace all the windows to improve airflow in your office, but you can install an air purifier or air purifiers throughout the building. Installing air purifiers goes a long way toward improving airflow and the circulation of oxygen. It also helps to minimize exposure to dangerous particles during the workday.

Increased Productivity

What business owner or manager doesn’t want their employees (and themselves) to be more productive while on the job? Improving the air quality in your office can help you to accomplish this.

When your employees are constantly sneezing and sniffling throughout the workday, there’s a good chance they’re not going to be as productive as you’d like them to be. The same is true of employees who frequently have headaches or have to take time off because they’re feeling too sick to come to the office at all.

By taking the time to install air purifiers that keep the office clean and minimize you and your employees’ symptoms, you can ensure that everyone feels their best and is able to show up to work on a consistent basis. This allows you to make sure that projects get completed on time, too, which also makes it easier for you to provide a high level of customer service.

Improved Overall Employee Health

You now know that installing air purifiers can help with asthma and allergy symptoms. Don’t forget that better indoor air quality can improve overall employee health, too.

When you have clean air circulating throughout your office, you can minimize the spread of infections like colds, the flu, and other viruses. You can also protect yourself and your employees from more serious, long-term health issues.

Some potential conditions that your employees might be vulnerable to as a result of poor indoor air quality include mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer caused by asbestos, and chronic respiratory illnesses associated with exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. By installing air purifiers, you can improve the quality of the air within your office and make it a safer place for everyone to work.

Reduced VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds (or VOCs) are chemicals that are found on lots of products used to build and maintain office spaces. When these chemicals are present in offices, they’re released or “off-gassed” into the air you and your employees breathe.

VOCs can trigger asthma symptoms. Long-term exposure is also associated with serious health conditions, including liver damage, kidney damage, central nervous system damage, and even certain types of cancer.

There are lots of ways that VOCs can find their way into your office, including through the following:

• Paints and varnishes
• Caulks and adhesives
• Carpet and vinyl flooring
• Composite wood
• Upholstered furniture
• Air fresheners
• Cleaning products
• Cosmetics
• Smoke
• Photocopiers

Air purifiers help to get VOCs out of the air and protect you and your employees from their harmful effects.

Decreased Mould and Mildew Growth

Because air purifiers improve airflow, they help to prevent water damage and minimize humidity. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood that mould or mildew will start or continue growing in your office.

The prevention of mould and mildew can protect you and your employees from serious health issues. It can also save you a lot of money since you won’t have to worry about paying professionals to get rid of the mould or mildew and make repairs to your office.

How to Choose the Best Air Purifiers

How do you make sure the air purifier you’re purchasing is of high quality and will actually make a difference to the air you and your colleagues are breathing?

Here are some factors to consider that will help you choose the right air purifier:

• Area covered (how many square feet can the device purify?)
• System dimensions (how large is the purifier and will it fit in your office?)
• Warranty (how long is it covered by the manufacturer in case something breaks or stops working?)
• Number of air changes per hour (how often is it actually working to filter out harmful particles and purify the air in your office?)

Every office is different and has different air purification needs. That’s why it’s important to find a professional air purifier that comes in a variety of styles. This will make it easier for you to find an option that works best for you, your employees, and your customers or clients.

Invest in a Professional Air Purifier Today

As you can see, there are lots of reasons to invest in a high-quality, professional-grade air purifier for your office.

Are you ready for yourself (and your employees) to experience the benefits of cleaner air at work? If so, we can help. Click here to learn more about the AeraMax Pro air purifiers, which make a seamless addition to any office space.