Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are crucial in maintaining indoor air quality in commercial buildings. Until recently, however, little thought has been given to monitoring the presence of airborne microbes that can profoundly impact our wellbeing. 

Keeping commercial and industrial environments running safely and efficiently means navigating a range of issues and dealing with threats on all scales to ‘business as usual’. Even those threats that are smaller in stature can have just as great an impact on productivity and staff wellbeing – and it doesn’t get much smaller than dust.

Complying with both Part L and Part F is going to give designers some real headaches. James Price of Spire Building Services Ltd tries to apply some painkillers. 

An unprecedented combination of public outrage and government intervention is ramping up the pressure on landlords to tackle the health problems caused by poor ventilation in their buildings, according to Graeme Fox, Technical Director at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).

Despite clean air being critical to health, wellbeing and productivity, and having come out the other side of a pandemic, indoor air quality (IAQ) often remains an overlooked matter. We have food hygiene ratings - why not air? David Millward of Elta Fans has a suggestion to make. 

Bosch Commercial & Industrial have announced that anyone installing their boiler systems using cascade flues, where there is more than one appliance, will be required to include a carbon monoxide (CO) detector.

Adam Taylor, CEO of ARM Environments, explains it is important that the industry works hard to keep indoor air quality front of mind. Good communication and providing valuable insights will be key to keeping end users engaged in this important issue.

Tim Tanner, Product Technical Manager – Air Diffusers & Attenuators, at TROX UK, reviews the air quality advantages of underfloor ventilation employing floor grilles/diffusers and provides tips on system design.

The pandemic has set new requirements on building services to ensure the safety of building users not only from the current pandemic but future COVID variants and new viruses, says Andrew Hamshere of Sensing Precision. These new requirements not only include higher levels of airflow and ventilation to reduce infection rates, but also the ability to demonstrate these so staff and visitors can feel secure that they are protected as best they can be.

Upgrading buildings’ ventilation, filtration, and other factors would not only decrease COVID transmission but also improve health and cognitive performance in general says Simon Jones of Ambisense.

It is more than five years since the Grenfell Tower disaster; we have had a pandemic driven by an airborne virus and we are now facing a cost-of-living crisis. Nathan Wood asks: what more needs to happen to get people to stop talking about making buildings healthier, safer, and more efficient and take practical action? 

Richard Bishop, UK and Ireland Head of Marketing at Panasonic, explains the need for raising awareness around Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Air Conditioning Solutions and why science and technology must collaborate to deliver healthier air.

Titon’s powerful but compact HRV1.6 Q Plus MVHR unit has recently been installed in Moda Living’s Lexington Tower.

Improving air quality in our indoor spaces has never been more important. Andrew Robinson of Exi-tite explains why. 

It is well established that efficient and effective filtration is one of the foundational pillars of any well-designed building heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. David Schurk of Global Plasma Solutions and ASHRAE looks at maintaining both efficiency and effectiveness. 

Outdoor air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year based on 2016 data; with this mortality rate being attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5), which causes cardiovascular and respiratory disease and cancers. As designers and operators of building HVAC systems, we have a duty of care to make sure indoor spaces are safeguarded against the dangers posed by what is often referred to as “fresh air”, says Adam Taylor of ARM Environments.

Ensuring the highest quality indoor air means designing and specifying the right ventilation system. In order to do this, however, it is important to acknowledge that each element in a HVAC system has a significant impact on its operational efficiency and quality, says James Gafford of ECEX.

To date, less attention has been given to the quality of indoor air in comparison to outdoor air and pollution. According to SAGE member Professor Cath Noakes, an estimated 15% of all Covid-19 deaths can be attributed to poor air quality, meaning attention is rightly turning to indoor air as well – and ventilation is now one of the biggest challenges facing building and facilities managers today. Hern Yau of Mitsubishi Electric discusses why attention is rightly turning to indoor air quality.

On Clean Air Day 2022, Elta Fans is calling on businesses to adopt best practices when it comes to indoor air quality (IAQ) management, starting with better monitoring processes.

Jim Norris, National Head of Sales at VES, says following the difficult years the NHS has faced in the UK everybody has been made acutely aware of the need for adequate ventilation, good indoor air quality, and a safe environment to care for those who have been hospitalised. 

Over 15 years after it was first installed, The Kingspan KoolDuct System continues to support excellent HVAC system performance as part of the Sterile Services Unit (SSU) for the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

An iconic British motorcycle marque has moved into its new production facility at Solar Park in Solihull, with air distribution products supplied by Waterloo Air Products.

Testo have launched a new multifunction IAQ measuring instrument to the UK market. The testo 400 offers innovative functions which make the user’s job easier in every way, and allow reliable, norm-compliant measurement and documentation; designed for engineers to cover a wide range of potential applications including airflow measurement within ducts and outlets, plus measurement of many IAQ parameters such as ambient CO2, temperature, and humidity.

CIAT's high-performance ClimaCIAT™ air handling units (AHUs) are fully compliant with the updated National Health Service (NHS) code of practice on ventilation in hospitals. 

The historic Rusack's St Andrews Hotel’s guestrooms have been fitted with Waterloo’s Airline Linear Bar Grilles (ALM), wall-mounted Exhaust Grilles (3HF) for return air to the fan coil units and Exhaust Valves (VB) for the en-suites. 

Clarkson Controls are pleased to launch their new i-ris USB-powered desktop CO2 sensor

Managing humidity is an ongoing concern for building professionals working on construction sites that is growing in prominence. With the UK recently struck by storms, many projects have been disrupted by damaging floods and this topic is now rising back in the spotlight. Matt Watson of Aggreko explores how to effectively dry out sites without long-term issues.

It’s fair to say that indoor air quality has been a hidden issue for many years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has put it firmly at the top of the public agenda. Hern Yau of Mitsubishi Electric speaks out. 

Matteo Dall’Ombra, VRV Specialist, Product Management and Engineering Group at Daikin explains how by taking a whole-building approach to HVAC, it is possible to balance the drive for energy efficiency with the need to improve indoor air quality.

According to Korn Ferry (a global HR consulting firm) 50% of worldwide workers are afraid to return to their offices despite social distancing practices that have been implemented, such as limiting occupancy, employee temperature scanning, face masks, special workspace accommodations and additional cleaning measures. David Schurk looks at the issues.

Digital technology has opened up significant opportunities for the reduction of energy consumption in air conditioning systems. Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems in particular have derived enormous benefit from digital control. If your current control methodology is based along traditional lines however, Ian Thomas of Trox Uk suggests there could be valuable additional energy savings waiting to be unlocked. 

It’s likely that people will be returning to offices soon so now is an ideal opportunity to address the issue of air quality inside our buildings. How can you prepare buildings for the arrival of staff, whether in co-working spaces or as the sole tenants asks Mark Grayston, Product Manager, Mitsubishi Electric.

CIAT has extended its range of air handling units (AHUs) with the addition of higher capacity units with the option of high-efficiency heat recovery. 

A powerful ultra-violet C (UV-C) light disinfection system that targets viruses and bacteria is now available as an integrated option on CIAT’s air handling units (AHUs). 

Munters recently completed a pioneering upgrade of the dry dock air handling unit (AHU) at Brunel’s SS Great Britain.  The upgrade, which was carried out in just one day, ensures long term protection against corrosion, while reducing AHU fan energy consumption by 25-30%.  

The air we breathe can have a significant impact on both our physical and mental health, with Public Health England estimating that air pollution is responsible for anywhere between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths each year. This shocking statistic, combined with the fact that on average people spend 90% of their time indoors, demonstrates why indoor air quality is now a leading concern. Martin Passingham, Product Management and Training Manager at Daikin UK explains why.

Waterloo have strengthened their product offering by replacing their displacement range with the full portfolio of Swegon displacement products. By integrating a range of airborne products from the Swegon group, the supplier of air terminal devices can deliver the widest range of room unit products in the UK market. 

Andrew Hamshere, Managing Director of Sensing Precision, highlights the importance of leakage testing.

New research suggests mechanical ventilation halves the risk of spreading airborne diseases in schools and offices compared to natural ventilation.  

Effective ventilation and draught management achieve even distribution of air without compromising end user comfort or efficiency. Tim Mitchell, sales and marketing director of Klima-Therm, explains how.

Computer modeling used to simulate air flow and movement of particulates in hotel common areas; demonstrates that filtration can potentially improve air quality and guests’ confidence in hotel stays

One of the world’s first fan manufacturers has unveiled a dynamic new look as part of a forward-thinking transformational programme aimed at global expansion.  

Titon has recently supplied the new Fire Safe Air Brick® at the new Timber Works residential development in Cambridge. 

Munters, global leaders in energy efficient climate control, recently completed a pioneering upgrade of the dry dock air handling unit (AHU) at Brunel’s SS Great Britain.  

Gilberts balances rejuvenating a dilapidated Grade II* listed building with creating a carbon-zero new-build extension.

Titon are pleased to announce the release of a new revolutionary dMEV that ticks all the right boxes. 

Martin Passingham explores the subject of indoor air quality and how effective ventilation is the cornerstone of achieving an optimal indoor environment.

Munters, global leaders in climate control, recently replaced an obsolete desiccant dehumidifier with a more energy efficient solution at Floranova.  

Simon Ward, Director of Sales UK & Ireland, Distech Controls talks about how the comfort and wellbeing of occupants in commercial buildings is now in focus more than ever before. We are not just considering energy efficiency when it comes to the Building Management System (BMS) it is also about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and how it can improve comfort

We need a more technology-based approach to keeping people safe and comfortable inside buildings, especially as we move into the colder autumn and winter months, according to Tim Mitchell, Sales Director of Klima-Therm