The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Problems one faces while working in an A/C office

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 27, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Problems one faces while working in an A/C office

Special Correspondent

`Varying temperature may aggravate allergies'

BANGALORE: Itchy noses, burning eyes and allergies: these are what many employees working long hours in air-conditioned offices face.

According to people who look after the needs of large corporate offices, the fault is in the air-conditioner vents. The air-conditioner ducts relay cool air through the vents.

"Unless these vents are cleaned at least once in a week, they will get blocked by dust particles. Most housekeeping teams clean floors, walls and furniture but neglect the air-conditioner vents, because they don't know how the system works," says G. Venkatesh, manager at a major corporate on Old Madras Road.

The air-conditioner vents are fitted with filtering systems, which need regular maintenance and even replacement. Since the air within an office circulates with windows and doors always closed, it is partially re-circulated. This is where the vents and air filters become important.

Air conditioning companies say this factor is emphasised whenever they install a large unit in an office building. "With domestic air-conditioners it is easier because the vents and filters are accessible and the service contract may take care of any problems. In households, the doors and windows are kept open for at least a part of the day," an engineer says.

The major air conditioning companies say they provide preventive maintenance as part of their service contract. The unit is periodically opened and inspected and any foreign material found is carefully removed. They try to teach housekeeping staff how chemical-free cleaning material can help, besides keeping the vents clean.

The cleaning fluids and other chemicals used by housekeeping staff may contribute to less than clean air circulating within large offices. Vents and air filters that have not been cleaned regularly re-circulate the air with chemical particles; over a long period these can lead to toxic effects and cause respiratory disorders.

"In air-conditioned rooms, allergies tend to flare up because air exchange is not always good and bad air continues to get circulated. Without regular maintenance, air conditioners tend to accumulate dirt and these particulates get circulated.

"The difference in temperature in an air-conditioned office and outdoors may aggravate allergies in some people," says R.V. Raman, ENT Surgeon at Manipal Hospital.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka