World Health Organization data has revealed that 47 towns and cities in the UK have reached or exceeded its air pollution limits. It’s unsurprising that the largest cities such as London and Manchester are among those exceeding the limits, but it’s alarming to see the likes of Scunthorpe, Norwich and York joining them.
The threat of pollution naturally causes concerns about the quality of air outside, but we actually spend 90% of our time indoors, where the air can be up to 50 times more contaminated (according to the 2003 ECA report ‘Ventilation, Good Indoor Air Quality and Rational Use of Energy’).
This is because, unless heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment is properly maintained by qualified engineers, bacteria, mould and viruses can develop as a slimy substance known as biofilm. These contaminants are transferred to shared spaces via the airstream, exposing occupants to the risk of infectious diseases and allergic reactions.
This in turn causes reduced productivity, increased absenteeism and poor morale amongst staff, which impacts on productivity and recruitment costs.
Ironically, because we’re concerned about the threat of polluted air from outside, we’re more likely to keep windows closed and rely on air conditioning to provide ventilation. So what’s the solution if HVAC systems can harbour pollutants?
Gibbons Ultraviolet Solutions has for a number of years been supplying and installing CoilCare®, a revolutionary chemical-free treatment that applies the sterilising power of ultraviolet-C (UVC) light to the cooling coil within HVAC system air handling units (AHUs).
The application of CoilCare® destroys contaminants, improving the health and wellbeing of building occupants along with enhancing AHU efficiency and service life. The flexible treatment can be applied to AHUs in schools, hospitals, offices and other commercial buildings and takes our experienced engineers just a few hours to install.
For more information on Gibbons Ultraviolet Solutions and the CoilCare® systems, call Colin Hardman on 07940 544206 or email colin@gibbonsgroup.co.uk.
