INDOOR AIR QUALITY

The air everyone breaths is very important for one's health and fitness. In our times, people spend most of their time in internal spaces. Air conditioning presence creates various temperature and humidity conditions, but sometimes it causes problems that we have to face. "SICK BUILDING" SYNDROME IS FOR REAL... SO ARE THE CONSEQUENCES A building is "sick" when it creates various health issues to those who either work or leave in it. Headaches, faint, fatigue, irritations and allergies are some of the symptoms "sick" buildings feature. THE AIR IN INTERNAL SPACES IS MORE POLLUTED THAN OUTSIDE. According to academic studies across the world, air in internal spaces is more polluted than outside and this happens mainly due to the air conditioning ducts. Actually, there have been extreme cases when the internal air was 100 times more polluted than the outside. (U.S.A. analysis). Since the 90's, internal air quality has been an issue of significant importance in the working environment. Reliable American scientific organizations have classified internal air quality under air conditioning conditions (IAQ) to be a major danger for human health. Worldwide Health Organization has estimated that an average of 30% of buildings face internal air quality problems. Internal air can be polluted from a variety of reasons: a. Chemical factors:     Cigarette smoke, cleaning fluids odors, photocopier use, PC use, etc b. Natural factors such as extremely high or low temperature & humidity c. Biological factors such as high concentration of bacteria (traceable with appropriate tests) AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT University researchers have reached several conclusions which they suggest, in order to achieve improvement in the air quality in the spaces we spend most of our daily time: 1. Prior to the air conditioning installation, certain factors need consideration such as the surrounding area and the installation particular facility, the building age and architecture, the existence or not of insulation, as well as the internal space arrangement and the occurring activities. 2. Smoking is discouraged in air-conditioned spaces. 3. Air renewal is necessary in air-conditioned spaces, with opening of windows. 4. Determining criteria for air conditioning filter cleaning should be the surrounding area (i.e. traffic), operational activities in the particular space (i.e. house, working space, smoking or not) and the average daily functional time of the air conditioning. AIR CONDITIONING CONSEQUENCES IN THE SPACE Air ducts are the lungs of every central system of either cool or heat. Despite all that, they are not included in the maintenance and support services, even when machinery or filters are replaced. This way, the system lungs remain polluted, concentrating disposal, virus, etc which re-circulate with the air produced by the air conditioning unit to the whole building with damaging consequences (allergies, infections, headaches, etc). Polluted air ducts double the air conditioning machinery operating costs and furthermore, they can produce casualties of airflow up to 500%. In 1997 a study has proved that if a building remains clean, it can reduce operating expenses from 10% to 25%. CURRENT LAW IN OUR COUNTRY According to the Presidential Order 16/1996 which defines the minimum specifications τof security and hygiene in working spaces in compliance with the 89/654/EU guidance, in paragraph 6.5 is clearly stated: "Waste and disposal in air-conditioned or mechanically ventilated spaces that might breed danger for the employees' health due to inhaling polluted air, shall be restrained INSTANTLY" In spite of the general reference, the context clearly presents the importance the law-setter pays to the air employees breathe. We consider the next step to be the standardization of specific criteria for bacteria or fungi presence in the air ducts, the arrangement of tactical controls in the buildings, as well as the payment of fines to those who won't comply. Before any of this happens, there should be an informative campaign to sensitize all people responsibly involved. WHAT YOU DON'T SEE CAN HURT YOU!!! The air ducts' network of a building operates as a respiratory system. The dirt, the dust and other germs expand rapidly in the air ducts and they don't let the building to "breathe" and operate normally. Polluted air ducts set the ideal nest for bacteria, mould and other microorganisms' reproduction. Furthermore, they are likely to contribute to expenses' rise, air decrease and to the premature failure of expensive HVAC systems. Bacteria - fungi etc existing in the air ducts prior to their cleaning. VENTILATION - AIR RENEWAL In every modern building, the incoming air quantity equalizes the outgoing air quantity from the air ducts, because the latest trends call for non-opening windows, at least in office buildings. This creates the need for effective filters' placement which should be cleaned or even changed periodically; otherwise essential decrease in the network pressure is created. Filters' change procedure should in no way replace thorough cleaning of air ducts, which is crucial for the problem resolution. CLEAN AIR MEANS ECONOMY In spite of the late understanding, bad quality air cost is extremely high. Employees' absences reduce National Economy's productivity, at a 5% rate! Specialized studies have shown that 15% of absences are caused by the bad quantity of the internal air, loading the National Health system as well at the same time, with huge expenses. In several cases, the total cost exceeds the cool and heat costs for the entire building. Polluted air ducts can signify an increase in the power consumption, reaching up to 35%! The solution: Clean air ducts for clean air "Sick building" syndrome and truly high costs can be predicted. KLIMANET a company with long-term experience in air conditioning, also provides air ducts' cleaning services and gives the opportunity to the customers' working facilities - and to their employees' in sequence - clean internal air. Before Cleaning Procedure After Using the appropriate equipment and the right technical methodology, KLIMANET's technicians are in the position to clean and completely repair the air ducts' system of any kind of business.

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