Indoor climate and air quality - Kunnskapsbasen
Indoor climate and air quality
The indoor climate is important for our health, well-being and ability to work productively.
Norsk versjon - Inneklima
Topic page about HSE | Pages labelled with HSE
The work environment and indoor climate
The indoor climate and air quality are affected by a number of factors:
- Ventilation
- Temperature
- Air humidity and velocity (drafts)
- The quality of the air we breathe (gases, steam, perfumes, etc.)
- Particles from living organisms (pollen, bacteria, viruses, mould, algae etc.)
- Particles from dead biological or inorganic materials (dead mould, skin peelings, dirt, traffic dust, etc.)
- Static electricity
Our ability to individually control the air temperature and the orderliness and cleanliness of our workplace also affect our perception of the indoor climate.
Health and the indoor climate
Most people are not affected by a normal indoor climate. Any individual who experiences symptoms will usually find that they surface after a period of time, increase over the course of the day and decrease when the person has left the premises. Sensitivity to these symptoms varies greatly from individual to individual. The experience of discomfort is affected by several factors.
Symptoms that can be related to the indoor climate:
- Headaches.
- Skin irritation.
- Mucosal irritation of eyes, nose and throat.
- Respiratory ailments such as asthma or frequent respiratory infections.
- Fatigue or tiredness that might lead to difficulties concentrating.
Get a better indoor climate
Temperature, an orderly office and good cleaning procedures are important in creating a good indoor climate. A thorough cleaning of the entire office should be conducted once a year. If these measures are insufficient, you should report the problem to the unit manager. You may report the problem through the safety representative or the Work Environment Committee (in Norwegian).
You may also contact the building manager and/or the Occupational Health Service (in Norwegian). Measures that can be taken after consultation with these include:
- Changing or adjusting filters in the ventilation system.
- Adjusting cleaning procedures.
- A thorough cleaning of the entire office.
- Mapping of and measures to limit potential sources of pollution (in Norwegian), see the section about working environment and indoor climate above.
Help
- Indoor climate (in Norwegian), facts page - The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- Climate and air quality (in Norwegian), guide - The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
- Indoor climate (in Norwegian), theme page - Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Inneklima.com (in Norwegian), information source - Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association
NTNU regulations
Legislation
- Workplaces and offices (in Norwegian) - regulations
- Physical working environment (in Norwegian) - The Working Environment Act § 4-4
Contact
- NTNU's Occupational Health Service: Margunn Losnegard Karlsen, Occupational Nurse
- NTNU's Occupational Health Service: Ann Kristin Sjaastad, Occupational hygienist
- Building/custodial services - schedule a cleaning, etc.
Approval/signature
Approved by Director of HSE - February 7th 2014 - HMSR57E