How To Improve Indoor Air Quality In Commercial Spaces
Good indoor air quality is not a nice to have, it is a core part of keeping people healthy, comfortable, and productive at work. If you manage a building, lead a business, or own a commercial property, air quality sits alongside safety, energy efficiency and compliance. The right mix of ventilation, filtration, and temperature control protects staff, helps you meet standards, and reduces complaints or downtime.
Why indoor air quality matters for your business?
Indoor air quality (often shortened to IAQ) affects health, comfort, and performance. When air is fresh, filtered, and well balanced for temperature and humidity, people think more clearly, report fewer symptoms, and are more satisfied with their workspace.
Health and absenteeism: Poor IAQ is linked to headaches, irritated eyes or throat, coughing, and fatigue. Over time, that leads to more sick days and lower morale.
Productivity and focus: High CO₂ levels and stuffy rooms slow decision making and reduce task accuracy. Fresh air supports concentration and consistent performance.
Compliance and risk: Many workplaces must meet ventilation and temperature guidelines. Demonstrating proactive IAQ management reduces risk and supports your duty of care.
Asset protection: Balanced humidity limits condensation and mould, which can damage interiors, IT equipment, and stock.
Common signs your air quality needs attention:
You do not need specialist equipment to spot early IAQ problems. Watch for:
Stale or lingering odours, especially after people return from breaks or meetings.
Windows that fog or drip, and visible mould in corners or behind furniture.
Hot and cold spots between rooms or floors, or persistent draughts near doors.
Increased dust buildup on desks, vents, and equipment.
Staff reports of headaches, dry eyes, scratchy throats, or drowsiness in the afternoon.
Noise complaints from HVAC units that are working hard but not delivering comfort.
Rising power bills without a clear change in occupancy or hours.
Any two or three of these together suggest your ventilation or air conditioning is undersized, poorly balanced, or overdue for service.
The building blocks of better IAQ
Every workplace is different, but strong air quality plans usually include four pillars.
Fresh air and ventilation: Move stale air out and bring fresh air in. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery maintains comfort while limiting energy waste. Air changes per hour need to match occupancy and use. Meeting rooms, classrooms, and gyms require more fresh air than open plan desks.
Filtration and purification: Filters capture dust, pollen, and fine particles. Higher grade filters can be fitted to compatible systems, but the choice must balance airflow, noise, and energy use. For problem areas or high risk uses, add local purification with quality HEPA units or plasma filtration approved for your application.
Temperature and humidity control: Stable temperatures and moderate humidity support comfort and reduce mould risk. Modern heat pumps provide efficient heating and cooling with built in dehumidification. Right sizing the system is essential to avoid short cycling and uneven conditions.
Monitoring and maintenance: Small faults become big problems when they go unnoticed. Simple CO₂ spot checks, filter inspections, and seasonal servicing keep systems efficient and predictable.
Proven solutions Modserve can deliver:
Modserve designs and installs systems that improve IAQ without compromising energy performance.
Energy recovery ventilation: Our team supplies and services the Mitsubishi Lossnay ventilation system, which recovers heat from outgoing air to pre-condition incoming fresh air. This lowers heating and cooling load, helps control moisture, and reduces pollen ingress with quality filtration.
High efficiency heating and cooling: Modern commercial heat pumps stabilise temperatures quickly and quietly. If you are comparing options or planning an upgrade, speak with us about right sizing and zoning for your layout, including ducted solutions for discreet comfort.
Controls and zoning: Smart controls maintain target CO₂ and temperature levels across different spaces. Scheduling aligns operation with occupancy to save energy while protecting air quality.
Professional assessment: We review occupancy, building envelope, and existing plant to recommend practical upgrades. Where useful, we can stage improvements to fit budget cycles and minimise disruption. If you need ongoing support, our registered electricians provide regular servicing, fault finding, and repairs. That includes filter changes, coil cleans, fan and damper checks, and control calibration to keep air quality on track throughout the year.
Maintenance habits that make a real difference
Adopt these practices to protect IAQ and extend system life.
Book seasonal servicing before summer and winter peaks; address wear and airflow issues early.
Replace or clean filters on the manufacturer’s schedule, or more often in high dust or pollen seasons.
Keep outdoor units clear of leaves and debris; maintain at least 300 mm of free space around intakes and exhausts.
Audit fresh air volumes after fit outs, layout changes, or headcount shifts to avoid under ventilation.
Log complaints and spot measurements, then act on patterns, not one off comments. Train staff on basic controls to prevent constant manual overrides that fight each other.
When to call in a professional
Bring in an expert when you notice repeat symptoms, large temperature swings, persistent condensation, unusual noise, or rising energy use. A professional IAQ review should include airflow testing, filter and coilinspection, control logic checks, and verification that fresh air delivery matches occupancy. You will receive clear findings, priorities, and costs so you can plan upgrades confidently. Modserve’s team can complete that assessment and deliver improvements with minimal disruption. We work across offices, retail, hospitality, and light industrial spaces, always with safety and compliance at the forefront
Helpful options to consider now:
Upgrade to energy recovery ventilation for steady fresh air and lower running costs.
Add higher grade filtration where compatible to capture finer particles.
Zone meeting rooms and high occupancy areas separately for better control.
Review control strategies; small set point and schedule changes often deliver quick wins.
Plan a staged retrofit to spread cost across financial periods while lifting IAQ steadily.
How Modserve can help, from first review to ongoing care
You can count on a complete service lifecycle. We assess your site, recommend matched equipment, install to standard, and support you with scheduled maintenance. For ventilation, we regularly design and install the Lossnay ventilation system with attention to filtration, noise, and energy recovery. For heating and cooling, our commercial team specifies high efficiency heat pumps and ducted solutions integrated with smart controls.
If you need urgent help or routine servicing, our registered electricians are ready to fault find and repair quickly to keep your team comfortable and your operations running. If you would like to explore ventilation or air conditioning upgrades, start with a quick conversation. We will outline options, timeframes, and investment levels so you can make an informed decision.
Summary and next steps:
Better indoor air quality protects your people, boosts productivity, and reduces risk. The warning signs are usually easy to spot, from stuffy rooms and condensation to rising complaints and energy bills. The fix is a practical mix of fresh air delivery, effective filtration, stable temperature and humidity, and regular maintenance.
Modserve provides expert assessment, energy recovery ventilation, and efficient heating and cooling systems, all backed by dependable servicing. Talk to our team to schedule an IAQ review or request a tailored quote for ventilation upgrades that fit your building and budget.