As a facility manager, you’re responsible for keeping on-site employees productive and ensuring they work in safe and supportive environments. In this context, the term “healthy building” has grown popular in recent years. But what does it mean - or is it a buzzword that doesn’t mean much? If you’re asking these questions, this article is for you.
In the next few sections, we’ll cover the basics of what is a healthy building, why they’re of interest to facility managers, and what are the components and foundational elements of a healthy building.
As we’ve written in our guide to healthy buildings and indoor air quality, a healthy building is a commercial, residential, or public building which is designed to promote the health, safety, and wellbeing of its inhabitants
It’s worth noting that this is an emerging field so definitions aren’t necessarily clear cut - but the basic idea is to design indoor spaces and systems in ways that optimize the health and wellbeing of occupants, from lighting to ventilation to basic safety.
The International Facility Management Association lists a series of responsibilities that fall under the facility manager’s domain. Healthy buildings can directly impact most of these - including supporting the productivity of facilities and personnel, managing risk, mitigating environmental impact, and leveraging technological solutions.
Showing a real commitment to health and safety is crucial to gain employee trust and to increase retention, as well as to prevent sick leave and absenteeism. Some aspects of healthy buildings - such as indoor air quality - can help directly reduce costs and make buildings more sustainable by reducing energy waste. But the bulk of cost savings will come from employees being more productive at work, missing fewer days due to sick leave, and feeling satisfied and cared for in their workplace.
The seminal document on healthy buildings is the 2017 report by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - The 9 Foundations of a Healthy Building. You can find the full report here (PDF), but if you’re pressed for time, we’ve summarized the items you can have the most influence over as a facility manager, along with some additional information and links for further reading.
Ventilation is the process of bringing fresh air from the outside into the building. If at home you might just crack open a window, in commercial buildings, this will typically be handled by HVAC systems,
Poor ventilation can cause the air to feel stuffy and unpleasant which can reduce productivity. Air quality in poorly ventilated spaces is worse, and will typically contain high concentrations of pollutants which can cause both short and long-term health symptoms (see next item). It is a leading cause of sick building syndrome.
Indoor air quality is an umbrella term used to describe the presence and abundance of harmful agents in indoor environments. These substances include particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Air quality is closely tied to ventilation.
Buildings with poor indoor air quality hurt employee productivity, increase sick leave and absenteeism, and make recruiting and employee retention more challenging. Air pollution has also been shown to affect human cognition and hurt decision-making skills and informed risk-taking.
Contaminated water is a leading cause of disease globally and can carry a host of microbial diseases. In the US drinking water is generally of very good quality - however, much of the water infrastructure is very old and has deteriorated over the years, which can lead to contamination and decline in tap water quality.
While outbreaks of waterborne illnesses are rare in the United States, some smaller drinking water systems are not routinely tested for substances such as lead and copper, which have been linked to heart disease, hypertension, nerve disorders, and other health issues. Concerns have also been raised around returning to previously-empty buildings with the winding down of COVID restrictions, which could potentially cause the water to stagnate.
From a neighbor playing loud music to a construction site popping up nearby, we’ve all been exposed to levels of noise that we found uncomfortable or distracting. In workplaces, noise can be generated by HVAC and other systems, office equipment, vacuuming, or even conversations between occupants (especially in open floor plans).
Long-term exposure to very high levels of noise can lead to hearing loss or deterioration; background noise is not as dangerous but hurts productivity and prevents clear communication. Noise exposure can also alter the function of the body’s internal systems, and is associated with health issues such as hypertension.
Thermal health or comfort refers to the combination of thermal conditions that affect the occupants’ sense of comfort - with the two main ones being temperature and relative humidity. Due to the climate-controlled nature of modern commercial buildings, they can be thermally stable and optimized to maximize health and productivity.
Studies have shown that when people find thermal conditions uncomfortable, there is a significant impact on their performance in offices, schools, and homes; employees who are forced to work in uncomfortable temperatures will typically report lower job satisfaction. Extreme heat conditions can also have negative impacts on health, while prolonged exposure to cold temperatures might weaken the immune system.
Dust contains a multitude of contaminants that can be inhaled, absorbed through human skin, or inadvertently ingested. It’s estimated that adults ingest up to 100mg of house dust just going about their day. Office environments where people are constantly entering and exiting from the outdoors can often be dustier.
Dust acts as a reservoir for harmful agents such as viruses, bacteria, and chemicals - and unlike airborne chemicals, the ones in dust can remain a problem even after the source is removed. Pests such as dust mites and roaches also carry allergens as well as the same type of unwanted agents and have been associated with respiratory symptoms and asthma.
Common sources of moisture include plumbing leaks, condensation, poorly maintained drain pans, and outdoor conditions directing water into the building. Water damage is very common, and has been found in up to 36% of homes in Europe and North America, while 45% of offices had active leaks at the time of inspection.
Moisture causes mold spores to reproduce, typically on carpets, ceiling tiles, insulation, walls, or in HVAC systems. In addition to unpleasant odors, these fungi can have negative health impacts - mostly for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Mold has also been shown to worsen asthma severity, allergic symptoms, and airway infections
These last two elements are also covered in the Harvard report, but are often more systemic and go beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of facility managers - so we won’t cover them in this article. If you’re interested, you can find additional details in the report, which is linked above.
As you can see, turning your building into a healthy building is more of a marathon than a sprint, and requires a holistic approach to many different aspects of your indoor environment. However, this shouldn’t deter you from starting - as improving any single area will undoubtedly help your facilities become more efficient and welcoming to occupants. And if you’re not sure where to begin- learn why we recommend starting with indoor air quality.