How HVAC Systems Are Playing a Role in Office Health and Safety

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted an already growing trend in office spaces—air purification systems. While these were already growing in popularity, employees and businesses are learning more about them to keep employees safe and to create a healthy work environment. They could be an integral way to re-open offices and reintegrate people into the workspace.

“Tenants first and foremost want to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for their team members,” Matt Root, CEO and managing partner of Parallel Capital Partners, tells GlobeSt.com. “They also desire to work collaboratively with landlords to protect the health and safety of all building occupants.  Tenants want to understand the worksite specific plan—COVID-19 building operating plans, detailed list of safety measures taken by the landlord, and confirmation of full compliance with orders, rules, and guidelines promulgated by the federal government, state government, county government and local municipality.”

Parallel Capital Partners is rolling out new guidelines in two of its Phoenix high-rise office buildings to meet the new health and safety needs. In addition to touchless technologies, the investor is focusing on updating its HVAC system and air purification systems. This will include the installation of a Plasma Air sterilization system, which is known for “proactively attack[ing] pathogens via positively and negatively charged oxygen ions.” “There are multiple ways to improve air quality including humidity control, boosting the amount of outside air into buildings, improving ventilation and upgrading air filters to capture smaller particles,” says Root. “There are also technologies such as UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation), and filtration systems such as bipolar ionization and non-thermal plasma to help capture contaminants. Bipolar ionization, which we are using in our buildings,  basically purifying indoor air that can reduce harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses. The ionizer produces millions of positively and negatively charged oxygen ions, and those ions bind to and interact with airborne particles, including pathogens, germs, gaseous contaminants, oxidizing and killing the pathogens as they break down the gaseous contaminants.”

These systems are quickly becoming a standard in office buildings. “The focus on health and wellbeing is more prevalent than ever before. In a typical year, you will take 2 million breaths in your office,” explains Root. “What was exceptional just a few months ago is the new normal. Take air quality for example. The need for advanced systems that can reduce or eliminate harmful airborne particles is paramount for the future of collaborative, face-to-face work.  And here’s the bonus:  more ventilation and lower VOCs have shown to drive business performance.   At a fundamental and neurobiological level, if you don’t feel safe, all the wellness measures in the world won’t make a difference.”

While Parallel Capital Partners is based in San Diego, it chose to launch the program in Phoenix where its two biggest office properties are located, One Arizona Center and One North Central. “We started with our biggest towers because we felt that those buildings offer the best opportunity to implement this technology in our portfolio. Our goal is to continue to roll out the technology throughout our portfolio, both in high-rise as well as single story and low-rise suburban buildings,” adds Root. “The vast majority of our tenants have been very appreciative of the steps we’ve taken to quickly implement not only CDC recommended guidelines but taking that extra step with the Plasma Air system.”

Most HVAC systems can be retrofitted to easily accommodate these air purification systems, and for that reason, Root expects to see more of them. “We have been implementing clean air improvements at all of our properties for some time now, but the coronavirus has certainly focused more attention on this issue over the past six months,” he says. “To remain competitive today, office  buildings must provide an attractive set up, including connectivity, sustainability and a healthy atmosphere.”