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Purifying the air in open plan and private offices

Purifying the air in open plan and private offices improves a company’s overall CSR (corporate social responsibility) results and protects their occupants against illnesses.

What good does treating the air in open plan and private offices really do?

Financial benefits
 

Air purification in open plan and private offices has been shown to increase their occupants’ productivity by 8-16% thanks to breathing cleaner air that contains no chemicals. In fact, according to the French Ministry of Solidarity and Health, « superior air quality engenders an increase in productivity on the job by around 11% ».

Treating the air in these indoor spaces also reduces the cost of absenteeism related to poor air quality (€450/year/employee). 

Sources: Economic, Environmental and Health Implications of Enhanced Ventilation in Office Buildings, tests conducted in 7 different cities - Study and recommendations on Green World building - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Harvard School of Public Health 

 
Health protection
 

The impact of viral and bacterial contamination on human health is a burden on companies, particularly those with open plan office space. As reported by the Institut Pasteur, 29% of SARS-CoV-2 infections have occurred in the workplace. The institute’s survey also noted that shared offices play a pivotal role in occupational infections.

The effect of air purification in open plan and private offices materialises in the form of protection of employee health in the short, medium and long terms.

Purifying the air guarantees an environment that is free from contamination, meaning it protects both you and your staff, whether they are working in private offices, coworking spaces, or even while telecommuting or travelling.

 

In the medium to long term, lowering the load of pollutants and fine particles (like PM10 and PM2.5) in the air reduces the health risks associated with overexposure to those harmful substances.

 

 

Enhanced comfort

Decreasing the social impact caused by viral and/or bacterial contamination can improve relations between employees working in open plan office spaces.

And a more comfortable work environment also involves providing allergen-free workspaces. These days, 1 in 4 employees have allergies, so purifying the air leads to less sick leave taken and a reduced need to work from home.

Similarly, enhancing the quality of life in the workplace also means managing odours like strong body odour, stale air in meeting rooms and the smell of food. A 100% improvement in cognitive function has been observed in spaces with odour-free and VOC-free air.

 
What pollutants are found in the air in open plan and private offices?
 

1- Contaminants

Especially around wintertime (October to March), there is a high risk of cross-contamination and the transmission of seasonal viruses (flu, stomach flu, airborne viruses, etc.) at offices, whether they are private or shared (open plan spaces).

2- Odours

The air in open plan and private offices is polluted by a wide variety of odours:
The various odours in open plan and private offices, such as strong body odour and bathroom odours, are eliminated by the cleaning action of JVD’s Shield and Shield Compact air purifiers.
  • Strong body odour
  • Food odours
  • Bathroom odours
  • Stale air in meeting rooms
  • VOCs, O3, NOx and SOx depending on the furniture, use of an ink or laser photocopier, and cleaning products

3- Pollutants 

The harmfulness of formaldehyde (an irritating, carcinogenic substance primarily used to make adhesives, binders and resins) and benzene (a carcinogenic substance with haematological effects that is produced through combustion from exhaust pipes, chimneys, cigarettes, etc.) for human health is an established fact. These pollutants are pervasive in open plan and private offices, especially in offices located in city centres.

PM10 and PM2.5 are pollutants that have a major impact on health in urban settings. As a result, business locations close to areas where fine particles are released can have a real impact on employee health.
This category also includes chemical-based products used as surface disinfectants and office furniture that emits pollutants in the long term, both of which are hazardous to our health.
 
Pollutants, like other harmful substances in the air, vary primarily based on the types of activities being conducted in open plan and private offices. So, it is important to be mindful of pollutant-emitting activities.
 
4- Allergens 

Different airborne allergens, like dust mites and pollens, are treated by JVD’s Shield and Shield Compact air purification devices.

Airborne allergens, which are often harmful to sensitive individuals, are widespread in workplaces. Whether those allergens come from dust mites or pollen, they are the source of many ailments like allergic rhinitis, mucous membrane irritation, asthma attacks, and the list goes on.

Our partner the RNSA (National Aerobiological Monitoring Network) has recorded increasingly intense spikes in allergens that are lasting longer and longer. These spikes occur between April and September, when windows tend to be left open more often.


Benefits of the Shield range

• Reduced viral load: Testing conducted by an independent lab, using the procedures defined by the standard NF B44-200 to examine the performance of Shield® in response to continuously generated contaminants. The results have shown microorganism destruction rates ranging from 94% to 97% after a single pass (whether measuring microorganisms on their own or in combinations that are representative of real atmospheres).

 • Treatment of occasional odours: Testing conducted in real-world conditions, in a 40 m² room, simulating an extremely strong spike in odours and VOCs. The test results recorded a 90% decrease in odours in under 30 minutes, using both the Shield® device’s Boost mode and Continuous mode.

• Created by a master: Ramy Fischler, founder of the RF Studio agency, was named Designer of the Year in 2018 and was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication in 2016.

• Dampened noise levels.

• Lasting performance and harmlessness.

• Eco-friendly: Protection for not only human health but also the environment, thanks to a design which prioritises easily recyclable materials like steel, a technology that uses no consumables and requires no filter replacements, the elimination of plastic from all packaging, and a guarantee that the device will be serviceable for at least 10 years.

• Ease of upkeep and user safety.

 

Key areas and times in offices

Key areas and times for indoor air quality in open plan and private offices call for the use of a Shield or Shield Compact air purifier.

The key areas and times in open plan and private offices can all be controlled by Shield and Shield Compact professional-grade air purifiers. Here is a list of the most important ones :
  • Large meeting rooms, break rooms and dining rooms (Shield)
  • During occasional odour-generating events (lunchtime, etc.) (Shield and Shield Compact)
  • When there is a spike in contamination (sick employee) or a spike in allergens (Shield and Shield Compact)
  • All private offices (Shield Compact).


 

Testimonial from a Corporate Executive who uses the Shield compact air purifier

“A few years ago, I learned that indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air, and I have really paid attention to that ever since. I had some experience with an air purifier when I lived in Beijing, China, and had a large unit installed in my flat. From what I understand of how it works, it seems to be just as technologically advanced. And to be honest, throughout the test period, I took it back and forth between the office and home, so I was able to use it all the time. It’s easy to forget about, because it blends into the background. It’s very quiet, but you still know you’re protected.”

M. Marc GESBERG

 

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