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Indoor climate in the office

Published by
d. April 6, 2022
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You might not notice it... Not until you get out into the fresh air and feel how good it feels to get out. Poor indoor air quality in the office can cause a range of discomforts, such as eye and mucous membrane irritation, nausea, dizziness, headaches and unnatural tiredness, which can often be written off as trivialities on their own.

What causes a bad indoor climate?

Fortunately, society has moved in the right direction since smoking was allowed in offices, but a healthy indoor environment is not only measured by the amount of tobacco smoke in the room. Poor indoor air quality can be caused by anything from the design of the office landscape to deficiencies in building operation or maintenance. Dust, particles, moisture and microorganisms can all affect air quality, as can temperature, sound and lighting conditions. Below are some of the factors that can cause poor indoor air quality and what you can do to contribute to a healthy indoor climate in your office.

APV

Temperature:

In an office where there can be at most light physical activity, a suitable temperature is around 20-22 degrees and should not exceed 25 degrees. In addition, the temperature should preferably not fluctuate by more than 4 degrees over a working day, in order for the indoor climate to feel comfortable in the office.

air quality:

The air in buildings always contains dust, so it is important that dust is removed regularly to avoid the accumulation of dust particles. Most dust problems are found in offices with carpets or other mineral wool surfaces. Frequent airing and thorough cleaning, as well as having easy-to-clean surfaces, can contribute to better air quality and a healthy indoor environment.

Light:

As well as providing light for work, the space needs to be lit in a pleasant way. Inappropriate lighting can be either glare from daylight or poor artificial lighting. As a general rule, an office workplace should preferably be positioned with the side facing natural light, and artificial lighting should be either blurred, shielded or reflected on a matt surface to avoid glare from slippery objects on the work table. In addition, it may be beneficial to completely remove objects such as glasses, coffee cups or telephones that can cause glare from your peripheral vision to avoid glare.

Audio:

Noise has a major impact on the indoor climate in an office, so it is important that sound and acoustic conditions are taken into account. The room should be appropriately soundproofed so that outside noise does not disturb the inside of the office. Noisy work processes can be very disruptive to screen-based work. Therefore, it is a good idea to talk openly about the sound conditions in the office and set internal policies for radio and telephone conversations, for example.

Do you have doubts about your indoor air quality in the office and whether you meet the standard? At Health Group, we can help you on your way to a better indoor climate with our workplace assessment (APV).

Source: https://at.dk/regler/at-vejledninger/indeklima-a-1-2/