INDOOR AIR QUALITY CAN AFFECT DECISION MAKING ABILITIES

Poorly ventilated meeting spaces can produce enough carbon dioxide to affect the cognitive ability of the people inside.   According to ASHRAE, the comfort level for CO₂ is 1,000 ppm—with 600 ppm being the optimal indoor level.   Per government statistics, at 1,400 ppm the ability of the brain to make the right decisions begins to be impaired.  At 2,500 ppm, cognitive dysfunction kicks in.

What to do?  Living walls and plants in rooms have been shown to help reduce CO₂ levels, as does monitoring temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide via your building automation system.  Also helpful is having a good preventive maintenance program in place that checks air handlers to make sure the dampers are working correctly, the minimum outside air setting is correct, and filters are of good quality and changed on schedule.  Read the original article from BUILDINGS magazine.