Latest Press Releases
9th May 2011
Healthy Building Syndrome takes the floor for Green Office Week
As today marks the first day of Green Office Week, it is alarming to learn that sick building illnesses, often associated with flaws in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, are on the rise. It is estimated that 30-50% of new or recently refurbished buildings cause some form of Sick Building Syndrome, with up to 85% of these buildings’ occupants suffering from SBS symptoms 3, including irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, dry skin, mild headaches, breathing difficulties, abnormal taste sensation, distorted sense of smell, tiredness, dizziness, lack of concentration and nausea.
Surface heating and cooling is a good start to combating this. Warmafloor, Britain’s largest surface heating and cooling solution provider, is able to turn the tables by giving customers a dose of Healthy Building Syndrome.
Mike Lamb, Managing Director of Warmafloor, said “Whilst there is no single factor causing Sick Building Syndrome, uneven or inadequate ventilation is undoubtedly a major contributory factor. Compared with air conditioning, underfloor cooling provides a comfort cooling effect with no draughts, no high air speeds or cold spots. This is widely understood in Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia and yet the UK is still playing catch up.”
Whilst traditional systems, such as radiators and air conditioning units, force heated or cooled air in upwards waves disrupting the air molecules, surface heating and cooling systems provide a more gradual transferal of air up into the room. The reduction of convection currents in the air ensures that there is fewer disturbances of dust mites, fibres and other microbiological contaminants, and thus provides a purer quality of air for people to breathe. Add this to the fact that potentially dangerous hot and sharp-edged surfaces are removed and that the systems allow optimal use of space, it’s a tempting offer.
In terms of environmental benefits, surface heating and cooling systems regulates the indoor climate of buildings far more efficiently than traditional methods. The systems operate at lower temperatures, enabling the heat source to operate at its highest efficiency. Installing such systems will typically translate to energy savings of 25% in domestic properties, rising to 50% in larger commercial or industrial buildings.
Warmafloor successfully ensured year-round comfort at the Portcullis House offices by installing underfloor heating and cooling systems based on fully recyclable polybutene-1 (PB) pipes. The system has been designed to maintain winter temperatures at 20°C and to help to control summer temperatures to prevent the building from overheating.
Mike Lamb added, “Portcullis House enjoys an homogenous thermal environment which helps to combat the symptoms of sick building syndrome. What’s more, Warmafloor’s systems have provided a substantial energy saving and reduced operational costs”.
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