Clean air is no longer just an environmental issue – it’s a health and legal one.
In 2024, clean air legislation UK is gaining momentum, and businesses need to keep up.
The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill is pushing the UK government to bring air quality standards in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.
But what does this mean for your workplace?
The UK faces a significant air pollution problem, with 28,000 to 36,000 deaths annually linked to poor air quality. And while most people picture smoggy city streets, the truth is, we spend 90% of our time indoors. So, indoor air quality (IAQ) is now a top priority, and the latest clean air legislation UK is raising the stakes for employers.
Under current UK law, regulation 6 of the Workplace Health, Safety, and Welfare Regulations mandates that enclosed workplaces must be ventilated with sufficient fresh or purified air. It’s not a guideline – it’s a legal requirement to help reduce pollutants and lower the risk of airborne viruses like COVID-19.
If you’re a business owner, staying compliant means taking action now. The key steps include:
Monitor indoor air quality (IAQ): As BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) notes, “What we don’t measure, we can’t manage.” Measuring CO2, humidity, and airborne pollutants like PM2.5 is crucial to understanding and improving air quality.
Enhance ventilation: Bringing in fresh air, whether through natural or mechanical ventilation, helps reduce indoor pollutants. According to the government’s guidelines, fresh air significantly lowers the concentration of respiratory particles, reducing the spread of airborne viruses.
Optimise energy use: Using intelligent systems like Envelo, you can manage air quality without wasting energy. By automatically adjusting ventilation based on real-time data, businesses can stay compliant while cutting down on energy costs.
For many UK businesses, older buildings lack mechanical ventilation. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
Begin by assessing what natural ventilation is available – opening windows, using skylights, and understanding how airflow moves through your space.
Then, install air quality monitors to track the impact and effectiveness of these methods.
It’s all about being proactive. Air quality monitoring can be done at a relatively low cost, and it provides a clear picture of where improvements are needed.
This helps you stay ahead of clean air legislation UK and ensure the health of your team.
There’s more to clean air legislation UK than compliance. It’s also about creating a more efficient workplace. Poor air quality has been shown to reduce cognitive performance by 50% and increase sick days, both of which can hurt your bottom line. On the other hand, studies show that improving air quality can boost productivity by up to 40%.
With a smart system like Envelo, businesses can integrate indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring with energy management.
Instead of over-ventilating empty spaces, your system will adjust to real-time occupancy and air quality data, ensuring that you’re not wasting energy or missing out on efficiency gains.
While much of the current guidance is advisory, it’s likely that stricter clean air legislation UK is on the horizon. In a future where businesses may be required to provide proof of compliance, having monitoring systems in place now will make the transition smoother.
With Envelo’s platform, businesses can easily collect data on air quality, ventilation, and energy use. This not only helps ensure a healthy workspace but also simplifies compliance reporting should the regulations become mandatory.
To align with clean air legislation UK, here’s what your business needs to focus on:
Monitor: Invest in indoor air quality monitoring systems to gather real-time data on pollutants and airflow.
Ventilate: Ensure fresh air is flowing through your workspaces, especially in high-occupancy areas.
Optimise: Use smart systems to balance air quality improvements with energy efficiency, reducing unnecessary costs.
Complying with clean air legislation UK isn’t just about avoiding fines or meeting legal requirements – it’s an investment in your people and your business.
Good air quality doesn’t just improve health; it improves performance, reduces sick days, and cuts energy costs.
By integrating air quality monitoring and energy optimisation, you can create a workplace that is both compliant and forward-thinking, ensuring long-term sustainability and employee well-being.
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