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BOMA NEWS - MONDAY NOVEMBER 15TH, 2021

More Than Half of Canadians Concerned About Air Quality at Work

*Sponsored Content*

AIR QUALITY TOP OF MIND FOR WORKERS AS THEY RETURN TO THE OFFICE.

It’s commonly said that we spend 90 per cent of our lives inside. For many of us facing lockdowns and restrictions in the past several months, that number may even feel low. As cities continue to cautiously reopen, this indoor time will likely start to be split between the home, the office, and other public spaces. In fact, before the pandemic, some studies claimed that some adults experienced one-third of their life at work. As we make this transition back, something that must be considered is the need for clean air in the workspace. In a recent study conducted by Dyson Canada in July 2021, 58 per cent of Canadians surveyed reported being concerned about indoor air quality within working environments. Common concerns cited included a lack of ventilation and that conventional ventilation, air circulation and air conditioning systems may not have adequate filtration. In the same survey, in-built ventilation systems (HVAC) were found to be the most popular type of air filtration reported in working environments at 50 per cent, followed by natural ventilation (i.e. opening windows and doors) at 32 per cent and portable air cleaners at 18 per cent1. Increasing ventilation by opening windows may cause poor outdoor air to come inside if the area is polluted, and presents temperature challenges which impact comfort, particularly in the cold winter months. Many buildings have built-in ventilation systems but it can be difficult as an average employee to know how effective these systems are at removing pollution from the air. These pollutants can include particles ranging in size and gases including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or formaldehyde. It’s clear that air purification is a priority for Canadians – particularly at work. Eighty-two per cent of those surveyed said they believe that air purification is important in working environments1. So, what can be done to enhance air quality in existing buildings? One way is to add portable purifiers. These are a few key features that should be considered when investing in an air purifier, all of which are included with Dyson purifiers such as the Dyson Purifier Cool.

· Provides high-quality filtration and powerful projection to complement existing HVAC systems and provide cleaner, purified air throughout public spaces such as offices.

· Fully-sealed HEPA 13 standard filtration — not only ensuring that no air bypasses the filter but blocking any potential leak points through which dirty air might enter the airflow. These filter system captures 99.97 per cent of particles as small as 0.3 microns including allergens, pollutants, bacteria, pollen, mould spores and gases.

· Scientifically tested to capture particles as small as allergens and viruses, including the H1N1 influenza virus.

· Strong air circulation to ensure that purified air reaches every corner of the room

Global survey conducted in July 2021 across 20 countries worldwide (UK, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, US, CA, MX, CN, JP, MY, SG, AU, TW, HK, IN, TR, AE, BE) with 15,100 respondents in total (500 in Canada), aged 18 years-old or above. Individual percentages vary per country.

Particle challenge by DEHS oil specified in EN1822 within a chamber specified in ASTM F3150. Tested in Max Mode at IBR US, for whole machine efficiency above 99.95%.

We challenged our purifier with airborne influenza A (H1N1 virus) at an independent lab. After 60 minutes in a chamber, at maximum fan speed, the airborne virus was reduced by 99%. Real-life efficacy may vary. Gas capture rates may vary.

WRITTEN BY: David Hill, Dyson Design Manager