Improve Your Indoor Air Quality With Better Humidity Control

40% – 60% Room Humidity Can Improve Your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Over the last few decades, manufacturers have realized that mechanical equipment operates best at optimum humidity conditions, bringing light to the value of humidification. In recent years, this concept’s benefits have been studied and applied to the most valuable corporate resource, their people. By taking action and adding humidification to your building today, you can correct your indoor humidity levels preventing the spread of infections, influenza epidemics, and respiratory diseases. Maintaining relative humidity levels between 40% and 60% to minimize bacteria and viruses proliferation is imperative. Prevent the spread of airborne disease and ensure proper control of humidity in your building to maintain occupant health.

Condair Is Making Moves to Improve IAQ

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is at the forefront when considering occupant’s health, safety, and comfort. Condair has been a worldwide leader in controlling humidity since 1948. Its line of electric, gas, and steam humidifiers have pinpoint precision to maintain humidification levels 24/7 within one percent.

Condair recognizes the importance of indoor air quality. As a result, the Condair team partnered with Dr. Stephanie Taylor who heads the 40to60RH movement to drive initiatives for healthier indoor air across the world. Dr. Taylor is an infection control consultant at Harvard Medical School and a member of the ASHRAE Epidemics Task Group. The idea behind 40to60RH is to improve IAQ with maintained indoor humidity of 40 – 60%, and reduce respiratory diseases. Years of scientific research suggest contaminants, including viruses, bacteria, and allergens, cannot be easily transferred when in this humidity range.

The Sterling Chart

In 1985, researchers set out to identify humidity levels at which various biological contaminants (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) thrive; and the range that produces the least amount of respiratory discomfort in humans. As a result, the study done by ASHRAE led to the development of the Sterling Chart. The humidity range chart illustrates how RH (relative humidity) affects the health and well being of people.

RH affects Occupant Wellness

Typical illnesses and symptoms (colds, flu, dry eyes, sore throat) are prevalent in cold, dry months when indoor RH is often lowest. Low RH encourages bacteria and virus growth. It also has adverse effects on the health of occupants. Humidity above 80% often yields fungi growth, which causes respiratory disease. Airborne microbes are at the lowest within the mid-range humidity level. The ASHRAE study deduced that at average room temperatures, the occupant’s health risk from biological contaminants and chemical interactions is minimized when humidity is between 40-60%.

To summarize, Condair’s wide range of humidifiers can maintain RH to keep your facility occupants happy and healthy, no matter the building application. Their precision controls provide peace of mind, reliability, and high efficiency.

To learn about incorporating better humidity levels and getting ahead of possible outbreaks with a Condair humidifier, contact your SVL Sales Representative, or click here.