Vent-Axia welcomes ‘Indoor Air Quality at Home’ guidance from NICE

Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has welcomed the publication of guidance on ‘Indoor Air Quality at Home’ from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Following on from draft guidance published in July 2019, the document provides detailed information and advice on how to reduce exposure to indoor pollutants and so help protect health. The publication of this guidance sets in stone the vital importance of good indoor air quality (IAQ), highlighting the significant part effective ventilation plays in helping combat indoor air pollution in the home

With Public Health England attributing between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year from long-term exposure to air pollution, it is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK. NICE has taken a systematic approach to try and tackle indoor air pollution by offering guidance to the many stakeholders involved.

“At Vent-Axia we are committed to improving indoor air quality and so public health,” explains Jenny Smith, head of marketing at Vent-Axia. “Currently a staggering 65% of UK homes suffer from poor IAQ as a result of inadequate ventilation which has serious health implications for inhabitants. We are delighted to see that this latest guidance from NICE emphasises the crucial role good ventilation plays in improving IAQ and providing a healthy home environment.”

Meanwhile, for architects, designers and builders the NICE guidance recommends adopting a whole house approach to heating and ventilation. The aim is to help ensure IAQ is maintained to minimise household exposure to particulate matter, while achieving energy use standards.

The guidance advises that any new dwellings should be built to minimise IAQ problems. Ventilation systems should also be designed to help avoid exposure to outdoor air pollution, including fitting mechanical ventilation with filtration. For refurbishments permanent effective ventilation must be included alongside energy efficiency measures, which is a very important consideration.

For local authorities the NICE guidance advises prioritising IAQ and embedding plans for improving it into an existing plan or strategy. It also emphasises the need for a balanced approach to ventilation, insulation and heating to achieve good IAQ.