An office air quality test is recommended when:

• People are experiencing health effects, feeling drowsy or losing concentration
• You require accountability of the building owner to ensure good ventilation and air quality
• You are a business owner and need to ensure workplace risks are managed

• Particles or particulate (total, 2.5 µm, 4 µm, 10 µm)
• Ultrafine, diesel and black carbon particulate
• Combustion gases (CO, CO₂, NO, NO₂, SO₂)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Formaldehyde, aldehydes
• Biological – fungus/mould and bacteria, dust mites
• Ozone
• Metal fumes

The pollutants found in office air can be a risk to health if not removed.  The effects are often similar to a common cold.  As the concentration increases, the effects become more pronounced and last longer.

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Air movement
• Noise
• Light

• Cold-like symptoms – headache, fatigue, congestion, coughing, sneezing
• Respiratory symptoms – shortness of breath, aggravation of asthma
• Dryness, irritation – eyes, nose, throat

Individual sensitivity is known to vary. Some people who have pre-existing medical conditions are often more vulnerable.

• How much fresh air (not recycled air) is being delivered in the breathing zone
• Air intake minimum distance from source of contamination
• Level of pollution of the outdoor air – affects the filtration required.
  • Ratings of filters used
• Concentration of toxins present

• Who is affected in offices
• How close a person is in relation to possible sources of toxins
• What the effects are and when do they occur and for how long
• Do the symptoms go away when a person is away from the office?

Ideally, an office air quality assessment should be done over a number of days.  This is because:

• It will improve understanding of day-to-day variations
• Some processes in an office change; a longer assessment will increase the chance of capturing those
• The number of people in the office can vary