Problem & solution
Poor Indoor Air Quality
Poor indoor air quality usually has a small number of root causes — and a clear diagnostic pathway to find them. The first step is moving from anecdote to data.
- Symptom triage
- CO₂, PM, VOC measurement
- Ventilation effectiveness check
- Source identification
- Prioritised remediation
- Ongoing verification
Common causes
Insufficient outdoor air, poor filter grade, recirculation without filtration, off-gassing from new fit-out, printer/photocopier emissions, cleaning chemistry, damp/mould, and outdoor pollution ingress.
What symptoms suggest
Headaches and fatigue point to CO₂ and ventilation. Dry eyes and skin point to humidity. Sneezing/coughing suggests PM. Strong "new" smells suggest VOCs and formaldehyde.
How to fix it
Measure to diagnose, then prioritise: BMS retuning, filter upgrade, demand-controlled ventilation, source control, and where required, capital ventilation upgrades. Verify with continuous monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
- Do air purifiers help?
- They can, but only after the ventilation root cause is understood.
- How quickly can poor IAQ be improved?
- Often within weeks via BMS and filter changes; capital fixes take longer.
- Is this regulated?
- Part F sets minimums; voluntary standards (WELL, BREEAM) push further.
Diagnose poor IAQ
Tell us the symptoms and we'll scope a diagnostic assessment.