Controlling the humidity levels of your building keeps employees healthier and more comfortable as well as extending the life of your building.
What is humidity?
Humidity is, simply, moisture in the air – typically in the form of water vapor. Humidity is always present in our air, and while we usually associate it with outdoor weather, humidity indoors plays an important role in overall comfort.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends indoor humidity levels of between 30 – 50% to protect health, comfort, and the integrity of the building.
High humidity can cause mold and dust mites
Dust mites, mold, and other fungi thrive in high humidity. An increase in these pollutants can cause allergy and asthma attacks. The presence of mold can also cause illness and respiratory infections. Exposure to indoor moisture and building-related illnesses impacts productivity and job performance while creating an unpleasant work environment.
Low humidity can increase illness
Low humidity tends to irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Small particles – including dust and viruses – stay airborne longer in low humidity increasing the chance of allergies and viral transmission.
Moisture damages buildings
The health of the occupants is not the only concern when it comes to the humidity in buildings – there is also the health of the building. Low humidity can result in the incursion of water into the building, damaging materials through corrosion and allowing microbial growth. While high humidity can warp wood, cause metal corrosion, and create condensation issues.
Respond to changes in your building’s humidity
The best way to have healthy humidity in your office or school is by understanding its exact levels. Manage your relative humidity levels – to Awair’s recommended range of 40~50% – with continuous monitoring and alerts.
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