This year has been a nasty flu season and with information about diseases taking over the news, now is a critical time to help prevent the spread of Sick Building Syndrome! Not only should people take care of themselves by getting the flu shot, washing their hands, and staying home if they come down with a fever, but companies should be doing their part to help prevent the spread of illnesses that could be making you and your employees sick.
The symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome range from person to person, but tend to include headaches and dizziness, nausea, feeling achy, fatigue, lack of concentration, shortness of breath, irritation of the eyes and throat, blocked or running nose, and skin irritation. Sometimes different people working in the same building experience different symptoms, and some cases even cause severe asthma.
Making sure your employees are healthy is important for keeping your business efficient and running smoothly. Sufferers of Sick Building Syndrome have a 14% decrease in productivity and as much as $60 billion in money is lost due to decreased efficiency. Reducing cases of respiratory illness, which account for over 10 million hospital visits each year, could save $10-$23 billion in costs. So what steps can you take to get rid of Sick Building Syndrome?
One of the main solutions to curing Sick Building Syndrome is to make sure the ventilation system and ductwork is properly cleaned and maintained. Unfortunately, a building’s ductwork system is out of sight, which means it is often out of mind and may not regularly be cleaned. Over time pollutants such as dust mites, mold spores, bacteria, and other viruses can accumulate throughout the ventilation system, and if the filters are not replaced regularly these pollutants can be spread through the circulating air. This is what allows dirty ducts to become the perfect breeding ground for these dangerous pollutants, which will spread and cause people to become ill, especially those who have a weakened immune system. Therefore, making sure your building’s HVAC System is dry and moving clean, filtered air is a key component to help prevent the spread of these diseases, and prevent employees from becoming unnecessarily sick.
Components of Industrial HVAC Systems Cleaning Include:
- Combustible Dust Removal from all types of Ductwork and Ventilation Equipment
- Supply & Return Ductwork
- Dedicated Exhaust Ductwork and Fans
- Fume Hoods
- Dust Collectors and Baghouses
- Air Handler Units
- Internally Lined Ductwork: Cleaning and Encapsulating (Sealing)
- Mold Remediation from all types of Ductwork
- VAV’s Reheat Coils, Mixing Boxes
- Filter Replacements
If you think your building has a case of Sick Building Syndrome, Contact Us Here or call: 888.845.3952 to set up your facility’s HVAC inspection.
