Choose The Best Air Purifier For Office Space – Improve Your Health Now

Want the best air purifier for your office space? Read this before buying.

Indoor air quality can neither be ignored nor neglected, whether it is at home or office. Generally, people pay more attention to their home’s air and are willing to invest in home units. Offices, on the other hand, tend to prioritize other aspects of the commercial space. Offices are always focused on work-related infrastructure. However, clean air is necessary everywhere. Ideally, office spaces need clean air as much as homes do. 

Offices need to be free of ultra-fine dust, dust mites, mold, and other allergens. The indoor air in our offices also needs efficient filtration to prevent diseases and germs, which is common when you share the space with your co-workers how many ever there may be. An air purifier in the office is a boon that cleans the air from any airborne particles and helps you maintain good health while working in the office.

With the increasing levels of air pollution surrounding us, we greatly need systems that can clean air. Systems such as air purifiers capture and filter the unwanted particles that fill our environment, causing ill health. With so many diseases prevalent these days, no one would not want to risk their health even further.

It is not easy to identify poor air quality in workplaces when compared to residential air quality. It is always good to let fresh air into our offices to do our optimum best at work and offer a good and healthy environment to the entire workforce. 

Top 5 Reasons to buy an air purifier for office space?

Our office space is where we spend about eight to ten hours a day, sometimes even more. During these hours, the office environment encounters a lot of air pollution. Since we spend much time in the office, we must experience good air quality. Obviously, working in an environment that is full of air contaminants affects our health leading to low productivity levels. 

We usually give importance to our office space, decorating it to our satisfaction, arranging the items to be functional and aesthetically appealing. Most of us try to work in a clean and tidy space. But, not all of us give much thought to the air inside the office.

But, wherever we are, and whatever we are doing, breathing clean air is essential. After all, we would want to prevent harmful particles from entering our lungs, regardless of our activities.

There are several reasons why office spaces can do with a good quality air purifier. Here are the top 5 reasons why we need an air purifier in the office:

✔ We need an air purifier in the office because it uses state-of-the-art technology to curb the harmful impact of air pollutants pervading the indoor working space.

✔ Air purifiers can cleanse air pollutants such as dust, dust mites, smoke, negative ions, viruses, including bacteria, H1N1, and PM 2.5 particles which we don’t even notice as they are not visible to the naked eye.

✔ Air purifiers can decontaminate the air inside the office of harmful particulates and toxic gases by 99.97%.

✔ The air purifying unit has an in-built ionizer that cleans the environment from the negative ions, which are the potential source of any form of infection. The ionizer circulates fresh air inside the room and improves the physical and mental well-being of the co-workers.

✔ An air purifier delivers excellent service in a large-sized room with an area of up to 41 square meters. With a Clean Air Delivery Rates (CADR) capacity of 334m3/h particulate matter and 200 m3/h formaldehyde, the air purifier successfully provides fresh and clean air inside the office space thereby ensuring a safe working environment. 

Which is the best air purifier for office space in 2022?

Because climate change is a great concern for everyone across the globe, there is great awareness of air pollutants and the need to ensure that we enjoy clean air indoors. That means indoors in office as well as home.

One of the more important characteristics of a good employer is to provide a safe and healthy environment to their employees. Commercial spaces – big or small – need air purifying systems to ensure that only healthy air is circulated indoors. 

Suppose you are also looking to reduce air pollutants such as dust, allergens, or viruses that may be floating around. You are probably looking for the right air purifier to suit the size of your office and that fits in your budget. The below discussion on a few of the best air purifiers in the market can help.
 
Here, you have a well-researched and complete guide on how to buy the best air purifier for office spaces – small to large. 

How we selected the best air purifier for this article?

To help you make the right choice of air purifier in your office space, we have reviewed the best air purifiers in the market, and below are their unique features and each model’s pros and cons. It should make it easier to make you pick.

7 Best Air Purifiers for Office Space (April 2024)

Our Verdict

After reviewing several air purifiers in the market, our verdict is the Alen BreatheSmart Air purifier because it matches all the requirements needed for the best air purifier for an office space. It offers excellent performance, high coverage, low noise levels and is user-friendly. The BreatheSmart also offers customizable front panels that allow you to match your decor. It can easily blend into any environment.

Best Air Purifier for Office Buying Guide [Important Things To Keep In Mind Before You Buy]

Before buying air purifiers for your office, there are a few factors to keep in mind. A few decades ago, air purifiers were considered almost a luxury when you already had an HVAC unit installed. You had ways of keeping the air cool or warm depending on the weather conditions.

You could also include a humidifier to maintain the relative humidity balance indoors. Humidifiers could keep the air as moist as it is healthy because some regions contain very dry air. And, you could also install dehumidifiers that could remove excess moisture from the air. Both of these serve a function, and that is to keep the right levels of humidity.

However, with the high levels of air pollution these days, caused by climate change and the vast number of vehicles, the viruses and bacteria floating in the air, the energy drawn from fossil fuels, there is serious concern about how harmful these air contaminants can be. Even those that start out with a healthy pair of lungs can feel the impact of air pollution.

Therefore, it is essential to understand relevant factors before investing in a unit that can save your health in the long term because you would want the air purifier to fulfill its entire purpose.

a) Technology:

Air purifiers contain a pre-filter and several layers of other filters, some of which need to be changed periodically. The technology behind the filters is key to providing optimum protection from air pollutants.

Newer air purifiers come with patented technologies that use sensors to register the level of pollution, capture the most microscopic pollutants, and recirculate purified air.

b) Room size:

Measuring the office space is necessary if you want to buy an air purifier that will be enough for the room. Air purifiers come in various sizes and differ greatly in price based on the technology and the unit’s coverage area. The right air purifier would depend on the square footage of the room.

You could choose a compact one or a more heavy-duty one depending on the area of the room. The right unit should be able to purify the air and should exceed the size of the room.

c) ACH (air change per hour):

It is in your best interests to pay attention to the air change per hour, i.e., the number of times the air purifier can clean the total volume of air in the room within the hour. Generally, air purifiers with more than 4 ACH are considered more effective in removing microscopic particles from the air. 

d) Type of filter:

Air purifiers have pre-filters and other layers of filters that may need to be replaced regularly. 
When it is operating, the air passes through the pre-filter, which captures the larger particles, pet dander, and pet hair, before the air passes through other filters. By the time the air is recirculated into the room, 99.97% of the pollutants are trapped or prevented from entering the room. 

e) CADR:

The clean air delivery rate is an important consideration as it measures the volume of air that can be cleaned at its maximum speed setting. You would do well to choose an air purifier that has a higher CADR because it can purify air at a faster rate. 

f) Noise levels:

Office spaces can already be noisy with a lot of interruptions. You would not want to have an air purifier that is noisy. It makes sense to buy a unit with low decibel levels to purify the air surrounding your workspace when it is running. Therefore, look for one that has a noise rating of less than 50 dB so that you can work undisturbed. 

There are several additional features in the newer models, including WiFi-enable air purifiers and the premium ones that come with sensors to gauge the air quality and have indicators to give you real-time updates on the indoor air quality.

f) Warranty:

It is best to determine the warranty period when you purchase a new air purifier, especially when it ensures good after-sales service. 

Know how to choose the right size air purifier for office space

In many ways, the best air purifiers for our homes can be the best air purifiers for our offices. The device is bought according to the room specifications and can be optimally suited for the size of our space, and can offer the right purification systems for our needs.

Therefore, if you’re looking for an air purifier that makes your workspace healthy, comfortable, and productive, prioritizing quiet technology and a sleek design (physically and in terms of usability) makes sense as it won’t distract us from our work. 

Before looking at air purifiers, measure your office space, be it the home office or otherwise. It is best to calculate the square footage of the space. Different models offer varying efficiency according to room size. Therefore, noting down the correct dimensions of the office is the first determining factor for choosing the right air purifier. 

The second determining factor is if the air purifier is capable of trapping most of the impurities in the environment. Most good quality air purifiers offer three types of purification:

1. A pre-filter (to capture larger airborne particles).
2. A HEPA filter (a high-efficiency particulate air filter to trap small particles such as pollen, dander, and smoke).
3. An activated carbon filter (to absorb unwanted odors).
4. Any combination of these will work, but some of the higher-end models offer additional purification abilities, like a UV-C light with its potential to prevent bacteria, mold, and viruses from entering the indoor air. 
5. CADR, i.e., clean air delivery rate, will play a significant role in the choice of an air purifier. It measures the volume of air that can be cleaned at its highest speed setting. You may want to choose a unit that offers high CADR. 
6. Most appliances can get noisy when operational. Air purifiers are no different. However, there are noise levels that vary. You would want an air purifier that is quiet so you can work undisturbed. Ideally, air purifiers that come with less than 50dB are best. 

How to improve indoor air quality in office [6 Simple and Effective Tips]

1. Let natural air in:

Cross ventilation is always best to get as much fresh air as possible into office spaces. Open the doors and windows when temperature and humidity levels allow. The open-air and natural sunlight and temperature will keep the air fresh and circulating.

Opening the room at least once a week or fortnightly will help some fresh air to flow into enclosed office spaces. The indoor pollutants will have a chance to escape, and new air will have a chance to enter the space. 

2. Use Air Purifiers:

Air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters do a great job of filtering airborne contaminants. Most air purifiers capture particulate matter but may not also remove gas and other chemicals. Choosing an air purifier that has activated carbon filters to remove gas and chemicals would be effective.

3. Replace air filters frequently:

Whether maintaining your HVAC or air purifier, regularly replacing or cleaning the filter will prevent air pollutants from being recirculated into the air. It will also remove all clogging in the filters due to its efficient trapping of air particles. 

4. Get Indoor plants:

One of the most natural ways to get clean and healthy air is to be around plants. Indoor plants are not only for beautifying the office but also for ensuring cleaner air. Many plants are known for their ability to absorb toxins from the air. The only thing to keep in mind is that plants may attract mold due to dampness caused by over-watering.

Along with your regular maintenance of devices, plants also will need monitoring. Some of the most commonly used plants to improve indoor air quality include Spider Plant and Golden Pothos, as they are effective in absorbing benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene from the air.

Now and then, they need to be taken outside the office to prevent mold growth. Spider plants are small enough to be placed in every office room or in different corners of your office space. Other plants such as Chrysanthemums work very well in a closed office area. 

5. Check Building materials and furnishings:

Some small amounts of chemicals are continuously released into the air from insulation, carpeting, cabinetry, or furniture made of pressed wood and paint. It is one of those invisible but insidious air pollutants. That can be damaging to health in the long term. Keeping the office space as free as possible of such materials will go a long way t keeping better air quality indoors.

Also, decluttering is a great option as a collection of unused material can be detrimental to free airflow. Keeping the office space clean and sanitized is imperative if you want to improve the office environment.   

6. Restrict Smoking in the office area:

Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, etc. Studies show that continued exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke may result in inner ear infections, asthma, and lung cancer, even in nonsmokers. However, with the increased use of electronic cigarettes indoors contributing new sources of air contaminants, it is best to restrict all types of smoking.

7. Clean and service your HVAC Air Ducts regularly:

Our HVAC Air ducts circulate cold and hot air throughout your office. They also run throughout the year. In time dust, debris, mold, bacteria, and even dead insects and rodents can accumulate inside these air ducts. These contaminants spread throughout the office and the air and bring airborne infections and bad odor. These are silent triggers of allergic reactions.

Using scheduled maintenance services, keeping the air ducts cleaned and maintained is essential for a clean indoor environment.