How the Brazilian legislation, the market and customers are behaving regarding indoor environmental air quality

Since 1998 when he died the then Minister of Communications Sergio Mota, the quality issue of indoor air (IAQ) gained national recognition with new legislation, technical standards and media exposure. New products and services reached the Brazilian market to meet the concept of caring for the air of the place where we spend more than 85% of our time was an important issue.

After almost two decades the concept of QAI has expanded the overall market, customers, government and market professionals. Few administrators professional services, or facilities, that do not know the subject or already have in their budget envelope for analysis of air quality, air-conditioning maintenance, filter replacement, specialized carpet cleaning, product control chemicals used in the environment, among other actions needed for better IAQ. In the main capitals of the country already we see inspection body requiring companies actions to improve indoor air.

In São Paulo, the main shopping centers, hotels, call centers and other places of great concentration of people has been inspected routinely, being required to comply with legislation, insusceptible to penalties and fines. The Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Porto Alegre already have similar actions. It is still small compared to the number of indoor public use and collective in the country.

The IAQ market already has several specialized companies, products and services aligned with the latest world technologies considered friendly to a healthy environment. Highlight products and services such as: – remote monitoring system; – Analysis of air quality; – Cleaning and sanitizing of air conditioning systems; – Specialized cleaning carpets and surfaces; – Photocatalysis technology; – More efficient air filters; – Coating materials (eg special inks.) And cleaning with low emissions of VOCs .; Also not lacking technical standards and defined procedures that guide those responsible for indoors guidance on how to take care of the environmental air. NBR 16401 of ABNT it comes to air conditioning systems HVAC projects already exists a unique chapter on IAQ. The customer is still the great player that needs to evolve within that IAQ theme. There is much lack of awareness. As he has no awareness of the importance of having a good quality of indoor air environment, the client always wants to buy the cheaper (and who would not?). A simple example is the case of air conditioner split type that represents more than 90% of sales system in Brazil in 2014. T

he installation cost is low compared to a central system, for example. However, in the conventional split system there is no provision of two key items for good IAQ. Renewal and air filtration. In developed countries such as the United States, for example, households use central systems where there is a possibility of having a capture the outside air that will allowed exchange of air, diluting possible internal contaminants, and an efficient filtration system.

Air filters are sold in supermarkets in these countries (photo). You do not need laws or inspections in these homes, only awareness of the importance. filters Photo filters in the US supermarket shelf. Some small awareness campaigns in Brazil begin to appear in public places. Some malls in São Paulo already informed its customers that the air environment that is maintained within the federal legislation. carbonomonitorhigienopolis Information to users of indoor air quality in shopping centers in São Paulo.

The more customers understand that a good indoor air quality brings financial returns with increased productivity of its employees on the premises of its companies, more will be invested in this theme. Studies show that for every Real (R $) invested in a good IAQ, from R $ 3.00 to R $ 5.00 return the company in absenteeism reduction figure (faults), increased productivity and reduced medical costs. A central air conditioning system can have an initial cost of higher installation, but the return on this investment is fast.