Indoor Air Quality Remains a Concern Amid the Pandemic

As a facility manager, are you doing everything in your power to reassure people about your building’s indoor air quality? Among people surveyed in four countries, half say they said that they would feel safer about returning to work with more information about indoor air quality.

Measurement technology company Vaisala conducted a survey of more than 4,000 people in the United States, France, Germany, and Finland this summer regarding their perception of indoor air quality in their workplaces, as well as in public spaces including shopping centers, sports facilities, and public transportation. It found more people (60%) were concerned with air quality in public spaces and most respondents (65%) said their concerns with indoor air quality affected their motivation to travel.

“People understand that infection risk is higher in indoor spaces where people are in close proximity with each other, and where ventilation is insufficient,” says Anu Kätkä, from Vaisala’s product management.

Among the half who feel confident about returning to their workspaces:

• 71% of Finnish respondents feel safe about returning
• 70% of French respondents feel safe
• 65% of American respondents feel safe
• 55% of the German respondents feel safe.