3 minute read
Workplace Challenges
By Dejan Stepanovic, Chief of Communications Unit, RSCE
Getting your co-workers to agree to one specific temperature in the Office might sometimes be an impossible undertaking. There will always be that one colleague who is either too hot or too cold!
Once, I walked into an open space office with 25 workers seated in their cubicles. Every window and door in that office was open but one staff member was running an Air Conditioner (AC) with a thermostat showing 29 C. I really wondered how efficient their microclimate system was and how they were managing with their electricity bills.
While it might be near impossible to set an office temperature that pleases everybody, the ASHRAE Standard 55 defines a set of conditions that would be acceptable to most. This standard recommends that the indoor temperature for office space should be between 20-25 C.
The temperatures at the UN Secretariat Offices across the globe are set at 25 C for the office space and 24 C for conference rooms.
Few of us are aware that not only does the temperature in the office affect us but so does the level of humidity in the air. Recommended humidity levels in the offices range between 20-60%.
AC systems do not only work to cool or heat the air but also to dehumidify and purify the air. For example, GREE tower ACs units have six different health filters that circulate and filter the air as well as remove excess humidity and particulate matter. Properly maintained and operated AC systems can improve indoor quality by reducing allergens, dust, and pollutants.
How do we manage the concerns of co-workers who genuinely believe that AC might make them sick?
The belief that ACs cause illness may stem from the fact that people may experience cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose or sore throat, after spending time in air-conditioned spaces. However, this is not caused by the AC unit itself but rather by other factors, such as poor air quality or exposure to germs.
When properly maintained, AC systems do not actively spread germs or cause illness. Illness transmission primarily occurs through close contact with infected individuals or exposure to airborne droplets from coughs or sneezes. In addition, they are equipped with health filters that trap some airborne particles, further reducing the risk of transmission.
Spending prolonged periods in cool environments, like if we parachuted from a plane to Siberia in the winter, can sometimes make one susceptible to sudden temperature changes therefore, it is essential to dress appropriately for the temperature and ensure a comfortable balance to avoid discomfort.
We need to remember how important the work of our engineering colleagues is. Regular cleaning, changing and cleaning of filters, and professional inspections are paramount to ensure that our AC units operate efficiently and do not harbor mold, bacteria, or other contaminants.
Which reminds me. I need to double-check when the last time I changed the AC filter on my car.
