Top Three Benefits of an IAQ Program
How it Saves You Money, Time, and Resources
The hospitality industry is facing increasing scrutiny regarding indoor air quality (IAQ), potentially putting guests and facilities at risk.
Poor IAQ can lead to a range of problems, from unpleasant odors to potential health risks, and degradation of building systems. However, with a proactive IAQ program in place, these issues can be effectively managed and/or prevented.
Watch the short video to learn how a rigorous IAQ Program can prevent issues before they become a problem at your facility.
Ken Garza explains that a successful IAQ program has to look at a broad concept of indicators.
One of the key challenges in the hospitality industry is the high occupancy rate of hotel rooms and frequency of use. A single hotel guest room can be occupied by multiple guests over the course of a few days, exposing these would-be guests to whatever air quality is present, good or bad. In addition, the close proximity of guest rooms to one another means that IAQ issues in one guest room may be experienced in surrounding guest rooms, further exacerbating a perceived IAQ problem.
As the demand for better indoor air quality increases, it's important for hospitality facilities to prioritize IAQ management in order to provide a safe and comfortable environment for guests and workers, as well as to protect the integrity of the built structure.
Proactive vs. Reactive
When it comes to IAQ management, it's important to be proactive rather than reactive. Indoor air quality does not just concern potential exposures to “mold”, but actually encompasses a wide range of potential building occupant airborne stressors (e.g., chemical vapor, cigarette smoking, hydrocarbon, legionella, humidity, and poor ventilation). This means regularly assessing IAQ and taking preventative and proactive measures to maintain high air quality standards, rather than waiting for large problems to manifest themselves, which usually involve a hefty price tag.
For example, using relative humidity observations as an indicator for a potential IAQ issue down the road: let’s say that during a proactive IAQ assessment it was noted that a majority of the guest rooms were experiencing higher than appropriate relative humidity levels (e.g., 65-70%). Furthermore, rust is also being observed as a result of condensation on metallic building materials in these guest rooms (e.g., rusting sprinkler heads, window levers, door frames and hardware). Indications like these would point a facility owner or manager to explore why these relative humidity issues are occurring, how often does this happen, is there some broader fix to consider regarding air handling systems, or is there unconditioned air being introduced to these spaces somehow?
Addressing the causes of humidity issues early:
Reduces the chances of exacerbating other issues typically common with poor IAQ (e.g., mold, mildew)
Reduces the potential for unwanted exposures and IAQ complaints
Minimizes impacts to hotel building systems, operations, and revenue
Here is another example using mold as an identifiable IAQ stressor. Let’s say a hotel has identified slight and emerging mold growth behind vinyl wallcovering on one wall of one guest room. If the hotel has an effective and proactive IAQ program in place, this potentially minor symptom could be detected during regular indoor air quality assessments, and promptly addressed with the appropriate air handling systems adjustments and/or cleaning and remediation measures.
In this instance, approaching IAQ proactively:
Prevents mold growth (affecting a small area) from potentially spreading to other locations inside and outside this guest room
Minimizes the effect on other similar or related building systems
Minimizes potential exposures to guests and staff resulting in complaints
Ensures quick hotel room turnaround minimizing any impact on the hotel's operations and revenue
Without a proactive IAQ program in place, the above mentioned examples may not manifest themselves until guest complaints occur regarding an unpleasant odor, unsightly growth on surfaces, complaints about health symptoms, or negative impacts to several guestrooms or building systems.
The greatest risk of unresolved or ongoing IAQ issues in a hotel is the potential for health issues for building occupants.
Poor IAQ, for some individuals, can lead to a range of respiratory problems, from allergies and asthma to more serious conditions like cancer. In addition, poor IAQ can also lead to the growth of harmful microbes (e.g., mold, bacteria), which can spread quickly in a hotel environment and cause health impacts for guests and staff.
Furthermore, without an IAQ program, a facility may not be meeting relevant building-based recommendations and standards. In some cases, aspects of IAQ may be regulated by a range of agencies (or at least provide guidance information), including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and/or local State governments.
Additionally, various recommendation-based entities (e.g., AIHA, NIOSH, ACGIH, IICRC) are helpful with regard to recommended standards for indoor environments. Failing to meet these regulations and/or standards can result in poor indoor air quality, damage to the facility, damage to the facility's reputation, and potential litigious issues.
Top Three Benefits of an IAQ Program
1) Improved air quality for building occupants
Best practice should always minimize the occurrence of symptoms that can lead to poor IAQ. With the goal of proactively improving air quality for all building occupants, building owners experience fewer guest and staff complaints since they are on the front end of IAQ concerns, versus the back end.
2) Forecasting and mitigating potential IAQ issues
Mitigating potential IAQ issues allows building owners the time to plan ahead in a controlled manner (time and funds) to head off any symptoms before a larger problem presents itself . This eliminates or mitigates the amount of risk associated with unpredictive IAQ issues, leading to safer, better-performing, and efficient buildings.
3) Calculated Cost Savings
Proactive measures in place allow building owners to plan ahead for upcoming costs needed to maintain building systems. No buildings are ever built to last forever and will require upkeep over time. A proactive IAQ assessment can lead a building owner to understand which issues to tackle first. There are larger, unexpected costs associated with reacting to IAQ issues that are already happening, but it is a small cost to plan proactively around these issues before they happen.
Takeaways
An IAQ program is a proactive approach to managing air quality in a hospitality facility, with the goal of regularly monitoring IAQ. By taking preventative measures to maintain high air quality, you are able to prevent IAQ issues from arising. Additionally, improved air quality can improve the overall guest experience in a building.
Cost savings can be achieved by preventing IAQ issues from escalating and causing damage to the facility, as well as by reducing energy costs through efficient/appropriate air-handling systems operation. An IAQ program ensures compliance with relevant regulations and standards, building occupant health and safety, and protects the facility's reputation.