Adequate ventilation keeps your workplace healthy
Clean air indoors? Even if you can’t see it, it is vital for your employees’ health and concentration. Ensure proper ventilation and monitor your air quality. We can help you with your risk assessment and ventilation plan.
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On this page:
- What is the difference between ventilation and fresh air?
- Why is workplace ventilation so important?
- How do you ensure a well-ventilated workplace?
- What does the law say about ventilation?
- What ventilation standards are there?
- How can you monitor your workplace ventilation?
- Are CO2 detectors mandatory?
- How should you install your CO2 detector?
- How can IDEWE help you improve your indoor air quality?
What is the difference between ventilation and fresh air?
The difference between ventilation and fresh air is how the air is refreshed.
- Ventilation refers to the process of continuously air exchange using a mechanical system or permanent openings such as grilles or gaps. This ensures a constant supply of fresh air and exhausts the polluted air.
- Airing is the temporary opening of windows and doors to quickly bring in fresh air.
In short, ventilation is continuous and systematic, while airing happens temporarily and manually.
Why is workplace ventilation so important?
Good ventilation effectively removes odours and harmful substances such as viruses, bacteria, particulates and volatile organic compounds. It also removes moisture, preventing mould. This reduces health risks and results in less sickness absence at your organisation.
In rooms with many occupants, exhaled CO₂ can be used as an indicator of air quality. The closer your CO2 levels are to outdoor air, the better your employees will be able to focus and the more energy they will have. Clean indoor air improves your team’s performance and motivation.
How do you ensure a well-ventilated workplace?
Ensure continuous ventilation. You can use a ventilation system or ventilation grilles. What type of ventilation should you use? This depends on various factors:
- The size and purpose of the space and type of building
- Available ventilation options
- The number of people using the space AND their activity levels
- Pollution sources such as printers, paper files and nearby traffic or industry
- Energy considerations: balancing optimal ventilation and energy efficiency
Want to ensure healthy indoor air for your employees?
What does the law say about ventilation?
Legal requirements for indoor air quality vary between sectors and types of workplaces.
- Workplaces and offices – A risk assessment for air quality is mandatory in accordance with the Codex on Wellbeing at Work (Book III, Title 1. Basic requirements for workplaces, Dutch). New guidelines are expected soon.
- Indoor public spaces – There are both federal requirements imposed by FPS Public Health and requirements from the Flemish Indoor Environment Decree.
Federal: Framework act on indoor air quality of 6 November 2022 (Dutch) concerning the indoor air quality in enclosed spaces accessible to the public. Examples of such spaces are cultural centres, hospitality businesses, sports centres, and eventually, possibly schools and healthcare institutions as well.
What does the law say?
- There are two CO₂ reference levels used as indicators of air quality:
- Reference level A corresponds to a CO2 concentration in spaces that is normally lower than 900 ppm or a minimum ventilation and air purification flow rate of 40 m3 per hour per person, of which at least 25 m3 per hour per person must be from outdoor air.
- Reference level B corresponds to a CO2 concentration in spaces that is normally lower than 1200 ppm or a minimum ventilation rate of 25 m3 per hour per person.
- Every operator must install an air quality monitor, carry out a risk assessment and, if necessary, create an action plan.
- There are two CO₂ reference levels used as indicators of air quality:
Flanders: The Flemish Indoor Environment Decree is concerned with measures to manage health risks due to contaminated indoor environments.
This decree describes the characteristics of a healthy indoor environment. It provides target and intervention values for indoor public spaces such as schools, childcare and care facilities and homes. It looks at chemical, physical and biological factors.
The target value for CO₂ is 900 ppm; 500 ppm higher than the average outdoor air concentration.
The decree also describes the related (preventive) tasks and competences specified by the Flemish Department of Health and the regional health organisations’ environmental medicine experts; from research and control measures to awareness-raising.
Be aware that certification by a recognised expert will also become mandatory from 2025, although this only goes into effect in 2027. That means the government will be assigning indoor air quality labels to enclosed public spaces. You can do a risk assessment and install CO₂ detectors in preparation; this is often already required under other legislation.
- Residential care centres in Flanders – Residential care centres and Type 1 short-stay centres are subject to specific approval requirements regarding ventilation. For example, they must stay under the CO2 target value of 900 ppm, and a ventilation plan and report are mandatory. To assist with this, the Flemish Department of Health offers practical tools such as a Ventilation Quality Manual.
- Energy performance regulations (Flanders and Brussels) – Regional energy performance regulations also contain provisions on ventilation, applicable when building a new school, for example.
Want to monitor your air quality? Need help preparing a risk assessment or developing an action plan?
What ventilation standards are there?
Belgian and Flemish guidelines specify the minimum acceptable air flow per person for indoor spaces:
- Keep CO₂ levels under 900 ppm. = at least 40 m³ of fresh air per hour per person for low-intensity, seated work
- Are other sources of pollutants inactive? In that case, the limit is 1200 ppm CO2. = at least 25 m³ of fresh air per hour per person for low-intensity, seated work
- For more strenuous activity, more air changes will be necessary to maintain the same values.
Is the air quality not affected by occupancy? Then other sources may play a role, such as construction materials emitting VOCs (volatile organic compounds). In that case, the ventilation requirements apply per m2 of floor area in accordance with NBN EN 16798 standards.
In laboratories and manufacturing environments where chemicals and other pollutants are released, adapted systems and capture at the source are required. CO₂ cannot be considered a reliable indicator in such situations. A risk assessment is the best starting point.
How can you monitor your workplace ventilation?
Are human emissions the main pollutants in your workplace? In that case, you can monitor your ventilation in three ways:
- Measure the CO₂ concentration. High concentrations are indicators of insufficient ventilation.
- Measure air flow. This tells you whether your air exchange meets the applicable ventilation standards.
- Inspect your ventilation systems. Check filters and air flow regularly.
Please note that in spaces with other pollution sources such as laboratories, welding shops and manufacturing environments, CO₂ is not a good indicator of air quality. Such spaces require a risk assessment with adapted flow rates and control measures at the source.
Are CO₂ detectors mandatory?
CO₂ detectors are mandatory in certain sectors, mainly in public spaces. Take immediate action if your CO₂ detector displays a warning, providing additional ventilation if limit values are being exceeded.
Need help measuring CO2 levels?
Contact our experts for more information
How should you install your CO2 detector?
Position the sensor as centrally as possible within the space, preferably by the thermostat. Do not place detectors near doors or windows. This prevents fluctuations.
Does your space have a complicated layout? Is it L-shaped, for example, instead of a simple rectangular box? In that case install two detectors, each in the middle of the space.
Position detectors far enough away from your employees (more than 1.5 metres) to ensure exhaled air does not affect the measurement.
How does IDEWE help you improve your indoor air quality?
Want your employees to have a healthy space in which to work? We will work with you to ensure optimal air quality:
- Assessing the risks – We measure your air quality and identify your ventilation needs.
- Developing a ventilation plan – We review possible measures based on legislation and best practices.
- Measuring and monitoring – We measure CO₂, air flow and other parameters. Then we carry out a thorough evaluation.
Curious about your workplace’s indoor air quality? Use our IDEAWAIR calculation tool to estimate the adequacy of an indoor space’s ventilation. Predict the CO2 concentration based on the type of space, available ventilation, air pollution, occupancy rate and activities taking place in the space.
Want to quickly assess your air quality?
Request the IDEAWAIR tool from our experts
Why choose IDEWE?
IDEWE helps you take a targeted approach to addressing air quality in your spaces.
- Thorough risk assessment – We help you assess indoor air quality at your organisation so you can take targeted measures.
- Full, tailored support – From taking measurements to an action plan, we guide you through ensuring healthy air quality. Tailored to your organisation.
- Expertise and experience – IDEWE combines technical expertise with years of practical experience in risk assessments, measurements and action plans.
Together, we can ensure adequate ventilation and a healthy working environment.