Occupant comfort – indoor air quality

In our blogs we have been looking at the theme of occupant comfort. We have options to control the indoor environment to help make them safe, productive and comfortable. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) refers to the conditions inside a building which usually includes indoor air quality, lighting conditions, thermal comfort, acoustic comfort. In choosing material finishes their impact on air quality, acoustics, ergonomics, light and colour choices are all intrinsically linked.

As we spend more time indoors than ever before the implications of IEQ are ever more apparent. The benefits of a well-ventilated space go beyond mitigating the recent pandemic. Research shows a clear link between good ventilation and improved health and wellbeing.

When it comes to specifying flooring solutions for healthy, productive spaces, a key consideration is that indoor air quality can be affected by material choices.

The UK Building Engineering Services Association’s Guide to Good Practice for Indoor Air Quality for Health and Wellbeing advises “Clean air is recognised as important for health, wellbeing and productivity of all building occupants.” Materials and finishes within interiors can contain a mixture of many chemicals potentially leading to harmful exposure. The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a key consideration.

The selection of flooring coverings that are certified to rigorous indoor emissions requirements covers both individual VOCs and odours. Shaw Contract’s carpet tiles made in the UK are Indoor Air Comfort Gold, independently certified by Eurofins (see our blog on Why is the product certification Indoor Air Comfort Gold important?).

Meanwhile our LVT products are Floorscore® certified to rigorous indoor emissions requirements as low VOC: US GBC IEQ Floorscore® IAQ Certification and formulated without ortho-phthlates (Non-Ortho-Phthalate).

Maintenance and care

As well as ensuring the safe material ingredients of selected flooring, specifiers need to consider routine cleaning regimes. A substantial number of studies have found that chemicals are emitted from cleaning and sanitising products.

For carpet tiles proper vacuuming is the most important process in ongoing maintenance, requiring no chemical cleaning process. And deep cleaning through hot water extraction does not introduce unwanted toxins either.

With Shaw Contract’s LVT products their high-performing ExoGuard™ finish creates a barrier against scuffs, dirt and stains. And as a no buff, no polish option there is no need for solvents or waxes to be used.

Useful reference source

EN 16798-1 specifies requirements for indoor environmental parameters for thermal environment, indoor air quality, lighting and acoustics.

Guidance for Healthy and Clean Environments

The maintenance of your flooring has always been an integral component of the delivery of our products.
During this particular time, with the need for enhanced cleaning protocols, companies are exploring the use of alternative products for interim cleaning and disinfection.
Our deep cleaning and disinfection recommendations are in accordance with current European Centre for Disease and Prevention Control guidelines.

CLEANING AND ENHANCED CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS