2 new office paints for dealing with city air quality

Business leads the way with air quality.

 

The latest Public Health England study attributes the annual costs of air pollution to the NHS as £157 million and predicts that if current air pollution levels persist, by 2035 there will 2.5 million new cases of respiratory illness.

Indoor air quality compromised

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is between two and five times worse than outdoor air ,there are many sources of pollution, especially in working environments where multiple people share the same space. Key factors which contribute to poor quality indoor air include insulation materials, fibreboard panels, upholstery , heaters, photocopiers, aerosols, cleaning and combustion products.

Legal obligations

Business owners have a legal obligation to ensure that workplaces have effective ventilation and a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air, as specified in Section 6 of the 1992 Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations. In kitchens and restaurants, in order to improve efficiency the air management system must provide enough air for complete combustion at fired appliances and be easy to clean in order to avoid a build-up of fat residue and blocked air inlets. By contrast, the front of house area requires fresh conditioned air and odour management systems.

Increased employee health concerns

With the vaccine rollout well underway, hotels are fully booked and public buildings are experiencing a dramatic increase in footfall. Companies are gearing up to welcome workers back into the office, recent surveys show employee sentiment has consistently found that employees want their organisations to prioritise their health and wellbeing in order to feel comfortable returning to the workplace. Given their recent experiences with the covid 19 virus many individuals are particularly concerned about the air quality in the offices and public buildings. Their concerns are not unfounded, the EPA has found that indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Leading to irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, fatigue, migraine, respiratory disease, asthma, heart disease and cancer.

Productivity and air purity

A 2011 study set out some of the benefits of addressing air quality in the workplace. It found that people are one percent more productive for every ten percent increase in their levels of satisfaction with air quality. In addition, improving air quality typically reduces absenteeism by 10%.

One percent may not seem much but The World Green Building Council states in its recent report 'Building the Business Case: Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Green Offices', that employees account for 90 percent of a company's operating costs. Just a one percent improvement will therefore have a significant impact on overall profitability.

Innovative businesses driving change

 

According to the EPA, building layout and design, as well as occupancy and HVAC systems all play an important role in how any virus could potentially spread indoors. For workplace environments, this means that companies and facilities management need to make sure that workspaces are well ventilated at all times and every opportunity is taken to improve air quality through design and the selection of the best building materials for health and wellbeing.  Indoor air quality in office-based workplaces and public buildings can be improved by using natural or eco-friendly building materials.

 

Environmental Building Standards

The links between the environment and our wellbeing have now been embedded in guidance and a range of standards worldwide, including the Green Building Council and the Building Research Establishment, in particular its BREEAM Building Standard.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. The link between wellbeing and sustainable office space design can be seen in this article.

The WELL Building Standard® is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.

Some of the worlds toughest standards can be found in Global Green Tag, where certified products are regulated to protect you and your family's health & safety, to minimise your impact on our finite planet resources and put selection back in your hands.

Cradle to Cradle® is a methodology used in life-cycle analysis to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new product at the end of its life, ultimately creating zero waste. The Cradle to Cradle® design framework is inspired by nature. The aim is not only to minimise negative influences but also to leave a positive ecological footprint. As a result, products, processes, buildings and cities will emerge which are safe for humans, healthier for the environment and business. Cradle to Cradle products are sustainably manufactured, with safe ingredients, that can be perpetually recycled.

Curious out sustainable product methodology? Learn more.

Major refurbishments to existing offices drives economic recovery

The number of construction starts in London has jumped by 20% with 32 new schemes covering 3.1 million sq ft of office space. The figures, from Deloitte's latest London office crane survey, also revealed that 56% of these projects were expected to involve an extensive refurbishment of existing office stock in response to the pandemic.

Major commercial painting contractors are benefiting from the recovery. Their ability to mobilise teams of experienced painters, source air purification paints to meet higher environmental standards for their clients and purchase contract paints with high coverage rates are critical success factors.

Choosing an air Purifying paint for your commercial building

Air Purifying Paints contain a molecular sieve which is designed to trap harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as they circulate in our work spaces. The sieve's non-toxic crystalline tubes are designed to filter specific harmful VOCs, including formaldehyde, glycol, carbon dioxide, NOx and SOx. Air Purifying paints are engineered to improve the air quality inside and outside your home and office, they are based on sustainable natural ingredients.

GrafClean Premium is a breathable Class 1 natural mineral paint, reinforced with Graphene with an easy clean washable surface which reduces condensation. GrafClean meets high environmental standards, it has been awarded Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold. In addition it is Cradle to Cradle bronze certified, BREEAM, LEED & WELL compliant. It can be used on exterior and interior walls and is CE marked as a surface protection system for concrete moisture control EN 1504-2. It is fire safety approved, tested and rated B-s1,d0. GrafClean is particularly suited to busy office spaces and public buildings as it is a Class 1 washable finish. A hard wearing finish superior to most matt emulsions and is available in an extensive range of 96 modern and high design colours. Ideal for commercial and public buildings requiring wide colour choice to create atmosphere, style and impact.

A high solids (70%) water based paint, which is easy to apply by brush, roller or spray with high coverage rates. GrafClean air purifying paints are better for the environment and healthier for our office spaces, restaurants, hotels and other public buildings. A harm free solution for improving air quality for your employees, customers and our environment.

Pros of GrafClean premium:

• Class 1 washable matt finish
• Large choice of high design colours-96 shades!
• Air purifying
• Hardwearing finish
• Fire safety approved
• Easy application
• High coverage

Nevada Ultra has been developed to meet the stringent requirements of large commercial building contracts and new builds. It is a class 1 breathable coating based on lime ingredients reinforced with graphene. It absorbs C02 and exhibits excellent durability and flexibility, recommended by professional contractors. It is building regulation Class 0 fire rated.

Nevada Ultra is a high solids (68%) water based matt paint easy to apply by brush or roller. It has 98% whiteness with high opacity and high coverage rates for reduced costs of application. It has ultra low VOCs and contains no toxins or carcinogenic materials, supplied in recyclable containers.

It is an ideal economic finish for interior walls and ceilings on commercial contracts where the environment and value for money are critical factors. Available in the six most popular contract colours, including whites, magnolia and ivory.

Pros of Nevada Ultra:

• Economic environmental paint
• Available in 6 key contract colours
• Designed for commercial use
• Washable easy clean surface
• Class 0 fire rating
• Absorbs  CO2
• Reinforced with graphene
• Versatile, appropriate for most surfaces
• Free bulk delivery to site!

Nevada Ultra  produces a Class 1 washable surface making it perfect for use as a washable water based paint in modern commercial buildings, new house builds, hotel chains, restaurants and kitchens, public buildings and other high traffic areas. It can be applied to most surfaces including lime renders, plaster, gypsum, unpainted wallpaper, previously painted surfaces, brick, wood, tiles and prefabricated panels.

 

Here to help

Avace is a leading supplier of ecological sustainable paints and powder coatings. You can read more about our Air Purifying Paints here.  Based in the west midlands simply order online for free delivery throughout the UK alternatively e-mail your enquiry to sales@avace.co.uk for a fast response from our experienced customer service team.