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"Most of us spend the majority of our time indoors. So wouldn’t it be reassuring to know that the air we breathe in was free from harmful and irritating pollutants." Medical Research has established a clear link between a polluted environment and allergies such as hay fever, asthma, eczema, and bronchial attacks. In the past, houses were built with inadequate insulation, open fireplaces and single glazing. Houses were, therefore, cold and draughty, creating natural ventilation. Today, as we seal our houses with draught-proofing, double-glazing and insulation, we have practically no natural ventilation, which leads to: • Condensation
and mould growth Condensation and mould is a growing problem
It should be remembered that vapour pressure will equalize humidities throughout a dwelling so that damp air in one part will have an impact on relative humidities in other parts. Solution: To remove this danger and threat contact ADM Systems and we will phone you... or call us now on 01756 701051. House dust mites and indoor allergy irritants
Hayfever Hayfever is a very common condition, affecting 2 to 3 million people in Britain every year. It is caused by an allergy to pollen, or sometimes mould spores. In hayfever, the body's immune system overreacts to the presence of external substances, as if they were something toxic. This results in irritation and inflammation. The symptoms vary from person to person and often involve sneezing, runny/blocked nose, red, watery, and itchy eyes, and an associated itchy throat. Different pollens, the weather and the air quality all affect the severity. Why should Hayfever sufferers need to take increasing amounts of drugs to control the symptoms? Commonly stated medical advice for Hayfever sufferers to help prevent the onset of symptoms states:
Solution:There should be a continuous low level of background ventilation. Dwellings with higher occupant density and smaller room sizes will require increased levels of ventilation. Furnishings and housekeeping practices can also have some influence. Contact ADM Systems and we will phone you... or call us now on 01756 701051. The air inside a building can be up to ten times more polluted than the air in the street (Building Research Establishment Report 1996). The average adult consumes about 40kg of air every day and spends 90% of their time indoors. This is disturbing news when you realise that the highest concentration of airborne pollutants is found in the indoor environment. As we seal our homes and reduce the fresh air supply, the dangers to health become greater. The Building Research Establishment have found that potentially dangerous gases - Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Radon - pose serious health risks and can exceed the Government's recommended limits in many homes. Construction materials, new paint, some furniture and cleaning products can give off harmful gases - have a look at the warning labels. According to The Radon Council it is known that some 2,500 deaths occur each year from the effects of Radon. Radon can cause lung cancer. It builds up due to poor ventilation with improved insulation that traps the gas and allows it to build up. Areas known to have high levels of Radon include Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and the Highlands of Scotland. Solution:Contact ADM Systems and we will phone you... or call us now on 01756 701051.
The smells associated with damp and mould can cause depression and anxiety. These feelings of shame and embarrassment can lead to social isolation. (This is an extract from the housing report from the office of The Deputy Prime Minister - see below) Solution: To reduce these risks and to create a healthy indoor environment for all the family contact ADM Systems and we will phone you... or call us now on 01756 701051. If you live in the city, near a road or, even worse, by a railway station or an airport, you are loathe to open your windows due to the unwanted noise ingress. It may be a planning condition that prevents the use of trickle ventilators in windows. You may be a developer or architect wanting to sympathetically build on a brown field site that has noisy ‘neighbours’. Solution:To keep out noise and ensure a healthy ventilated environment contact ADM Systems and we will phone you... or call us now on 01756 701051. Ordinary extractor fans are noisy and unsightly, and as with open windows create unwelcome draughts. By extracting air, they simply allow all the heat to escape into the atmosphere. They are also prone to stall if there is insufficient replacement air. For many people the excessive noise they generate is a major problem. SOLUTION: THE ANSWER LIES IN CONTROLLED VENTILATION
Increased comfort and significant improvements in air quality can be achieved by changing the air consistently. As a result, harmful pollutants and stale odours are removed and simultaneously replaced with a supply of fresh air. The improvement in air quality reduces humidity, removes unsightly mould, prevents damage caused by condensation and has significant health benefits to allergy sufferers. At the same time heat can be recovered from the extract air and it is made available to help raise the temperature of the incoming air if required. Simply opening windows depends on too many different factors: the wind, location of the house and difference in temperature between the inside and outside (stack effect). Open windows pose a security risk and enable dust, pollen, noise and troublesome insects to invade the home. ADM offer the following solutions: • Heat Recovery Ventilation Contact ADM Systems and we will phone you... or call us now on 01756 701051. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON HOUSING & HEALTH CLICK HERE FOR THE DOWNLOAD PDF FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.
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A typical household of four people can produce
up to 18 litres of moisture per day, simply by breathing, cooking and
washing! Unless checked this can lead to condensation, mould growth and,
in some cases, it can damage the actual fabric of the building itself.
As a
responsible company, we keep up-to-date with the links between housing
and health. Did you know spores of many moulds and fungi
(including timber-attacking fungi) can be allergenic?
The spores can also be carcinogenic, toxic and cause infections. 
House dust mites flourish
in damp conditions. Damp conditions are caused by reduced ventilation
levels and increasing humidity caused by cooking, clothes drying,
bathing, showering. These conditions can lead to the
onset of ASTHMA...
The
detritus from house dust mites and mould spores are potent airborne
allergens. Prolonged and repeated exposure can lead to ASTHMA, the
severity of which intensifies with increasing humidity.
Indoor
pollutants vary from tobacco smoke, cooking smells and pet odours to
the less obvious such as airborne dust and pollen.
The
indoor environment is crucial to our health, safety and well being.