Hay fever on the work floor: what you can and cannot expect from ventilation

Around 20% of the Dutch population suffers from hay fever. And this percentage is only set to rise, partly due to climate change. This means that almost a quarter of employees experience allergy symptoms at the office. And these symptoms can lead to fatigue, headaches and difficulty concentrating. Hay fever therefore not only affects the well-being of those who suffer from it, but also their performance at work. Luckily, good ventilation can help reduce many of these symptoms and make the indoor climate more pleasant.

Pollen are tiny pollen particles that can easily enter through windows, doors and gaps. They can also enter via the ventilation system, particularly if the filters are already heavily clogged. In such cases, the small pollen particles are not effectively trapped. We therefore recommend replacing the air filters twice a year: in spring and in autumn. Do you want to filter pollen out of the air even more effective? Then choose a fine-particle filter, such as an F7-filter, for your air handling unit or heat recovery system. This type of filter has a high filtration efficiency and can remove very small particles from the air, including pollen, fine dust, dust mites, soot and even some bacteria and viruses.

Looking for filters for your (commercial) premises? Order them easily via topsfilters.nl (small orders) or topsluchtfilters.nl (large quantities).

Ventilation replaces polluted indoor air with fresh outdoor air. But what if that outdoor air is full of pollen? With the right filters (such as F7-class filters), most pollen is kept out. In practical terms, ventilation does the following:

• Filtering out pollen
  A good ventilation system with the right filters captures a large proportion of the pollen before it enters the workspace.

• Improving the indoor climate and productivity
  By limiting pollen in the indoor air, a healthier indoor climate is created. This helps to reduce hay fever symptoms and boost productivity.

Ventilation can block a lot of pollen, but it cannot cure hay fever. As an employer, you can only ensure a healthy working environment. So here’s what ventilation cannot do:

• Eliminate pollen allergies
  A ventilation system blocks most pollen, but does not eliminate the allergy itself. Even with a well-adjusted ventilation system, employees may still experience symptoms, although these are often less severe because the amount of pollen in the indoor air is reduced.

• Block all pollen
  Even with an F7 filter, a small amount of pollen can still enter. In addition, employees may unknowingly bring pollen in, for example via their clothing or shoes.

Temperatures are rising and windows are being opened more often. But is that really a good idea if you have colleagues with hay fever? Below, we outline the pros and cons of mechanical, hybrid and natural ventilation:

• Mechanical ventilation
  Fully mechanical ventilation is the best option if you want to minimise hay fever symptoms in the workplace. Mechanical ventilation gives you the most control over air quality. Fresh air enters through filters, which trap most of the pollen. Do you already have a mechanical ventilation system? Then let the system do its job and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.

• Hybrid ventilation
  Hybrid ventilation combines natural air intake with mechanical extraction. Fresh outside air enters via windows or vents, whilst the polluted indoor air is mechanically extracted using a fan. Do you have a hybrid system? Then keep an eye on online pollen or hay fever forecasts and keep windows closed as much as possible during peak periods.

• Natural ventilation
  Warm spring weather? It’s tempting to open windows, doors and vents. But this allows pollen to enter unhindered. For many who suffer from hay fever, natural ventilation is therefore not ideal. Is there no other way to reduce the heat? Then keep an eye on online pollen or hay fever forecasts and close windows, doors and vents when pollen levels are high.

Hay fever in the workplace is unpleasant for everyone. Not just for your staff, but ultimately for you and your organisation too. Luckily, you can keep out a lot of pollen with a good ventilation system. But where do you start? Feel free to contact us, we will help you every step of the way.