Public and commercial spaces

Offices

Air quality is crucial when it comes to office comfort. To begin with, we must bear in mind that indoor air is 5 times more polluted than outdoor air and a large part of the working population spends 8 hours in an office. Office pollution can have either chemical or biological origins, but in both cases ventilation plays a major role.

Did you know that…? We are 25% less productive with poor air quality.

Pollutants in offices and their origins

There is a challenge in finding the source of poor air quality, because there is no closed and perfect formula that tells us what the symptoms we may have are due to. Pollution in an office can be caused by different sources:

• Allergens such as pollen and dust can aggravate symptoms such as coughing.
• Carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide NO2.
• Moisture which can cause bacteria or mould.
• Toxic substances from cleaning products, paints that can cause headaches.
• Radon and asbestos.

How can office air quality be regulated?

Although it may seem difficult to determine whether air quality is good or bad, there are certain standards that, if followed, maintain optimal air quality.

• Royal Decree 486/1997 on Workplaces
• Standard UNE 171330 Standard UNE-EN 15251
• Standard UNE-EN 13779

In addition to these regulations, there are also environmental conditions that facilitate good air quality, as set out in Royal Decree 486/1997 on Workplaces.

To begin with, the temperature must be adapted to certain standards depending on the type of work in which we find ourselves. Temperature affects air quality, as it can favour the volatility of certain compounds. If it is a sedentary job, i.e. an office for example, the temperature should be between 17-27 °C. In lighter work, on the other hand, it should be between 14-25 °C.

There is also a minimum air renewal in workplaces. In offices, spaces that can be considered sedentary, 30 m3/hour must be renewed.

Good indoor air quality allows…

• Improve concentration
• Increase productivity
• Decrease absenteeism due to sick leave
• Improve the quality of life of workers
• Eliminate sick building symptoms
• Increase sustainability and reduce consumption

At Venfilter we provide you with certified filtration solutions to maintain good air quality in offices to improve worker performance and reduce energy and maintenance costs.

Restaurants

In catering, air quality is essential to avoid odours, fire and poisoning risks, to save costs, to improve worker comfort and to enhance the customer experience. Room air is equally important to maintain a high degree of hygiene.

Factors contributing to restaurant pollution

In catering businesses, there is constant frenetic activity day after day, which has a direct impact on the environmental conditions of the premises. These actions include, for example:

• The continuous arrival of customers
• The smells produced by the food
• The heat and smoke from the machinery
• Colds and contagious health conditions
• Spillage of substances
• The use of cleaning products
• Ingress of outside air and its pollutants

The importance of a good filtration system in kitchens

A good filtration system in kitchens will prevent contamination, transfer of allergens, filtering of cooking smoke…

In kitchens, an optimal air extraction and supply system is required to regulate high temperatures, extract smoke and oil mist. In addition, good air treatment is vital to prevent fires, pest risks, unhygienic ductwork and odours.

Educational Centers

For the good physical and mental development of students, it is of vital importance to keep the air they breathe in the best conditions. Good air quality in schools is essential for success in their studies.

Children are our future and we must take care of them by monitoring and treating the air they breathe.

Spaces within the sector

In educational centres we find very different spaces with very specific filtration needs. The air filtration that will be needed in a carpentry workshop will not be the same as the air filtration that will be needed in the changing rooms or classrooms.

Challenges in designing a good filtration system

As mentioned above, one of the main challenges when considering a filtration system for an educational establishment is the diversity of spaces that exist on the same site. Also, another challenge for schools and especially universities is the age of the buildings.

In addition, schools are often located in areas where many people can reach them. However, this means that the air that enters these spaces can contain a wide variety of pollutants from activities such as traffic.

At Venfilter, we understand that in an educational centre there are different challenges to achieve a good filtration system. That is why our solutions adapt to your needs at all times.

Pollutants in schools and their origins

In schools, due to their location, activities within the school, etc., very different pollutants are found.

Most of the polluted air found in educational centres has its origin in the outside air. Gases generated by traffic, pollen… cause the indoor air to be highly polluted.

Also, cleaning products can contain chemical compounds released into the air, as can wall paints or furniture. Other pollutants that can be found in schools are asbestos, elementary particles, manufactured fibres, among others.

Advantages of good air quality in schools

Good air quality in schools not only improves academic performance, it also helps pupils grow up healthy and improves costs by increasing energy efficiency.

• Improve symptoms of environmental allergies or asthma.
• Improves academic and cognitive performance
• Contributes to the good development of children
• Protect the health of both teachers and pupils by reducing absences.
• Avoid legal and civil liability issues
• Reduced energy costs due to energy efficiency.
• Reduced maintenance costs due to reduced building deterioration.

Hotels

When we arrive at a hotel, whether for business or leisure, guests want to be able to relax and unwind.

This sector presents many challenges due to the different spaces. The first source of pollution is the constant flow of people and objects that generate particles. Also cleaning products, cooking, maintenance work, etc. can create odours that become a nuisance. In some cases, contamination can also be caused by mould or bacteria in the building itself.

In addition, for guests with allergies or other respiratory pathologies, being able to rest in a space with purified air is a relief and helps them to feel at home and start the next day with energy.

Risk areas in hotels

Shopping centers

In such spaces where the flow of people is very constant, air filtration becomes essential. Our bodies release thousands of particles. Therefore, it is important to maintain clean air, free of viruses and bacteria to create safe and contagion-free areas.

In shopping centres many factors come into play, as we can find many establishments such as restaurants, gyms, etc. that are affected or affect the air quality of the space.

With our highly effective and efficient solutions, you can keep viruses, bacteria and odours out and your customers in.

Spaces within the sector

Airports

All airports are important transit and inter-territorial exchange centres for people and goods. Airports must therefore be considered as critical and secure areas.

In a globalised world where viruses can pass from one continent to another in a matter of hours, airports are the areas most vulnerable to these contagions.

In addition, it is necessary to maintain good air quality not only in transit or travel areas, but also in restaurants and shopping centres within the airport. Similarly, in airport control centres, air traffic controllers need to be in the best possible conditions to be able to carry out their work in complete safety for passengers.

50% of an airport’s energy consumption is devoted to heating, cooling and moving air. As a result, energy-efficient particulate and molecular filtration solutions, such as Venfilter, are important for reducing costs, extending equipment life and preserving structures.

Causes of airport pollution

• People and their luggage
• Transport vehicles
• Aircraft exhaust
• Restaurants and other premises
• Maintenance work

Museums

In museums, it is not only necessary to treat the air for the protection of people, but also for the protection of works of art or archaeological pieces.

Environments with acid pollutants, or environments with particles that are harmful to paintings, writings, papyrus, or delicate works, must be treated with special care to ensure that these works last in optimal conditions.

Pollutants affecting the condition of works of art

Humidity, temperature, dust, gases, etc. present a risk to the exhibits. Dust can cause discolouration of the works, gases can damage photographs, marble pieces… Temperature and humidity can also accelerate the deterioration of works of art. Air filtration is therefore essential for staff, visitors and works of art.

Spaces within the sector

• Storage rooms for works of art
• Museum
• Art galleries
• Conservation laboratory
• Libraries / Archives

Cinemas / Theatres

In cinemas and theatres, large numbers of people gather for a few hours to be entertained and breathe the same air. Even if the human body is not active, it transmits thousands of particles that affect the comfort of the spectators.

In these spaces, people laugh, eat and breathe together. The air quality in all these areas must be safe so that people can enjoy their free time without worrying about what they are breathing.

What’s more, in these spaces we also have to take into account the areas outside the halls, where queues are also generated and where there are catering areas. This is why particle and molecular filtration is necessary to guarantee the comfort of spectators, staff and the maintenance of the halls.

Factors to consider when designing a ventilation system

• Room design
• Room capacity
• Minimum activity
• Temperature
• Room insulation

Gyms 

Most of the particles in an enclosed space are emitted by people. People at rest can generate about 500,000 particles every minute. This amount rises to 15,000,000 particles when people exercise at high intensity.

Pollutants and problems in a gym

• Dust
• Lint
• Mould
• Bad smells

This amount of particles, together with the high exhalation of athletes, makes the importance of air quality in gyms of vital importance. Not only for the performance of elite athletes, but also for those who exercise in a healthy and safe way.