At a glance - Indoor air quality
Air pollution can have a negative impact on health; from short term effects such as eye irritation or cough, to long time effects, such as respiratory infections, cancer or death. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ambient (outdoor) air pollution in 2012 was estimated to have caused 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide. Some 88% of those premature deaths occurred in low-to-middle-income countries, and the greatest number in the WHO Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions.
Good air quality is air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations.
In August 2016, BSRIA published a new topic guide ‘TG10/2016 At a glance - Indoor Air Quality’. This is one of a number of of BSRIA at a glance topic guides intended to introduce readers to key industry topics and suggesting further reading. The guide is aimed at those looking for introductory information about indoor air quality, including its definition, history and prevalence. It also provides information on types of contaminants and their exposure limits as well as a useful site map.
BSRIA’s Asset Performance Team Leader, Blanca Beato-Arribas said: “People spend approximately 80% of their time indoors. There is enough evidence that links poor air quality with permanent damages to health or even death. Therefore, we should be aware of the quality of the air that we breathe both at home and at work, and ensuring good indoor air quality at work should be a priority for employers.”
The new guide is available to download free from BSRIA’s website.
--BSRIA
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Air filtration and clean Indoor air quality standards.
- Air quality.
- Air Quality Taskforce.
- Bringing a breath of fresh air to the design of indoor environments.
- BREEAM Indoor air quality plan.
- BREEAM Indoor air quality Ventilation.
- BREEAM Indoor pollutants VOCs.
- BS ISO 17772 - Indoor environmental quality.
- BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BSRIA responds to UK Air Pollution Report.
- Building performance evaluation.
- Clean indoor air for healthy living - New air filter standards.
- Ensuring good indoor air quality in buildings.
- Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people.
- Indoor air quality.
- Indoor environmental quality.
- Minimum efficiency reporting value MERV.
- The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.
Featured articles and news
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
No Falls Week. The importance of safe working at height
What to expect and what is on offer to avoid accidents.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.
From engineered product life-spans, to their extension.
Circular economy in the built environment
A brief description from 2021. Where are we now?
Mental Health Awareness Week with ABS
Architects Benevolent Society programme of activity.
CLC publishes domestic retrofit competency framework
Roadmap of Skills for net zero.
May 13-19: Moving more for our mental health.
Understanding is key to conservation.
Open industry engagement survey seeks responses
Institutions and the importance of engagement.
National Retrofit Hub unveils new guide
Digital Building Logbooks and Retrofit: An Introduction.
Enhancing construction site reporting efficiency
Through digitisation and the digital revolution.
Noise in the built environment
BSRIA guide TG 20/2021.
17,000 people suffer conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at work.
Turning down the noise: Auditory health
A pervasive risk with far-reaching consequences.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.