As the world moves beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, it has left an indelible mark on how we perceive indoor air quality (IAQ) and its significance in disease prevention and overall cleanliness. Shared spaces often become breeding grounds for indoor air pollutants. The dynamic nature of air quality, coupled with fluctuating contaminant levels in these areas, emphasizes the necessity for vigilant cleaning and monitoring for maintaining a healthy environment. While traditional cleaning methods typically focus on floors and surfaces, they may inadvertently overlook airborne pollutants, posing risks to our well-being. This spring, it’s vital to adopt a holistic cleaning approach that integrates indoor air quality as a cornerstone of our cleaning protocols. 

Prioritizing cleaning isn’t just maintaining the visible environment; it’s about safeguarding the health and well-being of everyone who occupies a space. Recognizing the signs of compromised indoor air quality, such as unpleasant odors, serves as a crucial step in maintaining a perception of cleanliness. However, it is not enough to rely solely on surface cleaning efforts or air deodorizers to mask increased VOCs. Improving air quality through enhanced purification proactively complements these measures, preventing particulates from settling on various surfaces and ensuring a more thorough cleaning. In addition, traditional cleaning methods can inadvertently introduce harmful chemicals into the air, highlighting the critical need for air purification systems to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) effectively. This interconnected cycle underscores the paramount importance of prioritizing clean air in all environments. After all, indoor environments are complex ecosystems influenced by a range of factors, from the activities of occupants to the design and age of the building, as well as external elements like geographic location and environmental contaminants. 

Arti Lyde, Global General Manager of Air Quality Management at Fellowes, emphasizes the importance of IAQ and believes that a facility is not truly clean if indoor air quality is not being addressed, stating, “New insights into the importance of clean air require an update to the way we think about clean spaces. Indoor air quality is an essential part of a clean and safe building, and workers agree, making investments in improving IAQ an important addition to overall cleaning protocols.” In a recent Fellowes survey of 1,085 U.S. and Canadian adults who work at least one full day per week indoors at their employer’s location, 91% expressed that clean air should be a fundamental right for all workers. “With such a large segment of workers concerned with indoor air quality it is vital for employers and building managers to incorporate IAQ improvement solutions in their plans,” continued Lyde. “We spend 90% of our lives inside buildings; the cleanliness of the air in these spaces must be at the heart of our overall wellness plans.” 

Amidst this understanding of the complex dynamics shaping the cleanliness of indoor environments, taking proactive steps helps empower effective cleaning strategies to prioritize indoor air quality. These proactive steps should include performing a comprehensive IAQ assessment to equip yourself with insights into areas requiring improvement within your facility. These insights should be utilized in identifying where air purification can best be implemented to complete your cleaning strategy most effectively. 

Fellowes offers a complimentary IAQ assessment to help you understand areas that may need improvement in your facility so you can act where needed. Once the assessment is complete, Fellowes provides you with IAQ data along with recommendations for remediation improvements including the first system of its kind, Fellowes Array. 

Array, the most advanced networked air quality system, features air purifiers and devices that work alongside commercial HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality faster and more efficiently than ever before. With a range of solutions designed to fit any space with no ductwork connection required, Array offers localized air quality management, making it ideal for retrofitting in buildings of any age.  

Array’s proprietary technology combines the benefits of H13 True HEPA filtration and a full suite of indoor air quality sensors to provide real-time data for building-wide air monitoring and improvement. While most HVAC systems aim to meet the MERV 13 filtration standard, Array’s H13 True HEPA filters are twice as effective without compromising efficiency. The patented EnviroSmart+™ Technology continuously monitors the environment for changes in occupancy density and conditions of the space to automatically adjust to changes in the environment. 

With Fellowes Array, building managers and community members alike can be reassured of the cleanliness of their air. Array Viewpoint, the cloud-based dashboard, provides data, notifications, and trends to building managers. These notifications include proactive reminders for filter re-orders, filter life status, and alerts to particularly contaminated areas, enabling optimal indoor air quality management and machine maintenance. Beyond building and facility managers, Array’s Viewpoint community dashboard allows workers to see the IAQ of the presented space, providing occupants with real-time reassurance of cleanliness. 

Schedule your free indoor air assessment today to redefine your cleaning strategy.  

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