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Investing in building ventilation will play a key role in helping the country recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and prepare for future health emergencies, according to the government’s chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty.

“We have realised the extraordinary importance of improving the ventilation of workplaces, not just for Covid but also for many other respiratory infections,” he said. “If we invest in that now, we’ll both help the aftermath of Covid, but also cut down on things like flu outbreaks.”

Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference, Whitty highlighted the direct link between poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and health conditions which can put strain on NHS services.

The comments come after the Scottish government announced a £25 million fund to help businesses improve ventilation for their employees. Businesses across the country have been invited to apply for grants, which offer up to £2,500 for improvements on windows and ventilation systems.

This is a significant move by the Scottish government and one that has garnered huge support across the scientific community.

Professor Cath Noakes, who is one of two members of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, commented on the connection between IAQ and overall health.
“We know buildings can improve health and that poor indoor air quality reduces productivity by up to 9% – that’s half a working day a week.” Noakes, who also headed up research on our UVent range of ultraviolet air sterilisers, has been a firm advocate for advancements in ventilation across the UK.

The Importance of Proper Ventilation

Public Health England estimates the annual death toll in the UK from air pollution at between 24,000 and 36,000 with associated healthcare costs between £8bn and £20bn. Lack of indoor ventilation contributes to this figure, with the impact of poor IAQ well studied and proven.

“Good ventilation is a critical pre-requisite for good IAQ. The importance of good ventilation to dilute and remove internally generated contaminants has also been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.” – The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA)

The debate surrounding indoor air quality has never been more poignant, with the global pandemic thrusting its importance into the mainstream. People are aware now more than ever of the dangers airborne bacteria and viruses can pose on everyday life. Good indoor air quality is as essential as a balanced diet and exercise to ensure a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Experts in Air

As specialists in air and ventilation, we know first-hand the impact of poor IAQ and have spent years developing new technology to combat its effects. In 2019, we launched UVent, the most powerful suite of Ultraviolet Air Sterilisation systems available on the market today.

Independently tested by The Pathogen Control Engineering Research Group (PaCE) led by Prof. Cath Noakes, our UVent range was proven to kill up to 99.99% of all airborne pathogens including Coronavirus, MRSA, Influenza and many other harmful bacteria and diseases. These results significantly outperform similar HEPA filtration systems by exposing the pathogens to UV-C light, destroying their capacity to reproduce, and eventually breaking them down to the molecular level.

UVent products continue to sterilise and make air safe to breathe across the whole of the UK including healthcare & medical facilities, workplaces, schools, and retail premises. Coupled with our range of specialist Air Handling Units, we have the ability to provide ultra-clean air to even the most demanding environments.

Calls to improve indoor ventilation have steadily increased over the three years and show no signs of slowing. As experts in air, we understand that ventilation has a direct impact on personal health and must be prioritised alongside comfort and energy efficiency.

For more information about our wide range of products, contact our sales team at [email protected]

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