Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is more critical than ever!
The WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) establishes requirements in buildings that promote clean air and reduce or minimize the sources of indoor air pollution.
Clean air is a critical component of our health. Air pollution is the number one environmental cause of premature mortality, contributing to 50,000 premature deaths annually in the United States and approximately 7 million, or one in eight premature deaths worldwide.
The reactions people have to air pollutants vary widely and depend on multiple factors including the concentration of the contaminant, the rate of intake, and the duration of exposure. Pollution source avoidance, proper ventilation, and air filtration are some of the most effective means of achieving high indoor air quality. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets National Ambient AirQuality Standards (NAAQS) according to ongoing research and monitoring. These Standards have been credited with dramatic improvements in outdoor air quality, and create exposure limits based on both duration of exposure and concentration for the six major air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), lead(Pb), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).
The WELL Building Standard® expands upon these requirements by incorporating standards from additional agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO). To help minimize transmission through contact with unsanitary surfaces, the WELL Building Standard provides an approach that combines the installation of appropriate materials with the implementation of effective protocols to regularly disinfect targeted areas.
MRI knows any cleaning contractor can have an adverse effect on this. We are aware of using HEPA filtration for our vacuums to prevent cycling dust and particulate back into the air. The use of microfiber to contain dirt & dust in the cloth vs stirring the particles up are just a couple of key examples.
For those that have heard or participated in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), you are most likely aware of this new focus by WELL. Regardless, we are here to complement and support those initiatives as it is just common sense.