What is a HEPA air filter, anyway?

To facility managers, HEPA is a common phrase, but to the rest of the world it’s just a buzzword. The hype surrounding high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters is real, but how do these filters actually function? We have all the facts about air filtration for facility managers and indoor air quality enthusiasts alike.

Harvard Research into Indoor Air Quality and Workplace Productivity

Can indoor air quality make people more productive? Research from Harvard University’s Healthy Buildings Program says yes. In a study, researchers analyzed worker concentration and cognitive ability using various environmental scenarios, altering indoor air quality in a controlled lab setting. In one setting, the researchers lowered carbon dioxide levels, boosted ventilation , and removed toxic […]

Sometimes, Cutting Edge Isn’t So Great

So you walk into a public restroom, impressed with the contemporary décor. Gleaming surfaces. Ultra-modern fixtures. Chrome everywhere. Then you see the futuristic hand dryer, one unlike the typical nozzle-and-push-button machines from the industrial 1950s. There’s no button. No nozzle. You simply thrust your hands into an empty space in a sleek, wall-mounted box, where […]

Health Update: Flu Season 2016

Get ready: The peak of the flu season is coming.

It’s been a mild season so far, but don’t be surprised if the number of absent employees spikes in the coming weeks.

Why? As we’ve noted, cleanliness efforts such as handwashing and cleaning surfaces don’t fully protect facilities against the flu. Instead, experts have proven that the virus is most often spread through the air.

Air fresheners: Friend or foe?

Air fresheners have become more than a billion-dollar market in the U.S., capturing the American spirit of convenience and making odor easier to tackle in our busy daily grind. Coming in various forms such as aerosol sprays, scented candles and outlet plug-ins, these products are often used as a catch-all solution to every unpleasant smell, both in homes and shared building spaces. They’re a fast, easy-to-use option that seem like an obvious choice for homeowners, janitorial services and facility managers – at first.