AIR QUALITY OF AN INDOOR SPACE – WHAT IS IT?
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of the air within buildings and is known to affect the health, general well-being, comfort and occupants of the building.
IAQ is a constant and changing interaction of complex factors such as; temperature, humidity, gases, outdoor pollution, biological agents (mold, bacteria), emissions, pet dander, ventilation and humidification. To name a few. Construction materials and maintenance play a critical role in how they affect IAQ.
We are interested in how the floors affect the IAQ. How are the different types of flooring different in this term? How do different types of flooring cause different types of asthma or allergies in building occupants?
Flooring and other building materials affect the indoor climate.
TEXTILE CARPET FLOOR
Contaminants such as dust, pet dander, allergens, liquid and other types of dirt are prone to getting trapped in a textile carpet and these contaminants can be transmitted through the air during renovation, when vacuuming or simply walking on the carpet if not it is really cared for and regularly maintained. These pollutants that accumulate in the soil may or may not trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
However, this is a hotly debated topic, as recent studies suggest that carpet does not cause allergic reactions any more than any other flooring system. Regardless, the most important thing to remember for carpet or hard surface flooring is to clean it regularly. This will remove excess dust and allergens from the air.
HOW TO CONTROL THE INDOOR AIR QUALITY:
If you buy a textile carpet, choose one that releases less VOC and is designed to prevent liquids from penetrating the backing layer, where moisture under the carpet can lead to mold growth. If possible, make sure you have the carpet installed when unoccupied and only use non-toxic adhesive for installation.
FLOORING PRO® ECO BEAUTY Collections are M1 certified – guaranteeing a low emission floor.
WOVEN VINYL FLOORING (LIKE FLOORING PRO® ECO BEAUTY)
One of the most important characteristics of woven vinyl flooring is its positive impact on indoor air quality.
Kai Gustavsen of the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association, NAAF, says that from a health, environmental and safety perspective, FLOORING PRO® ECO BEAUTY meets all the criteria.
FLOORING PRO® contributes positively to indoor air quality and therefore recommends Flooring Pro® flooring both for those diagnosed with asthma, allergies and other types of hypersensitivity and for non-allergic people, as the flooring does not allow the accumulation of causative substances of allergies. Substances that trigger asthma.
From an environmental perspective, in addition to certifications such as BREEAM and ECO-product, Flooring Pro®’s ECO BEAUTY woven floors are completely free of phthalates and have very low VOC emissions, which also contributes to a better indoor climate.
Read more about Woven Vinyl Flooring here.
Flooring Pro®’s ECO BEAUTY is a great option in terms of indoor air quality
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Indoor air quality may not be the most exciting aspect of flooring choice, but it seems important to realize that the built environment affects the indoor climate. Air quality in the home or workplace is critical to health and well-being, especially at times when allergy and asthma are on the rise.
VOCs are potentially harmful chemicals released by cleaning, personal care, and construction products such as floors. The most common certification labels to look for in terms of indoor air quality are Green Label Plus, Floorscore, and Greenguard. These act as a guide on how the flooring affects the indoor climate, at the same time, Flooring Pro® ECO BEAUTY woven vinyl flooring manufacturers just owns all those certificates.
