Over Half Of UK Businesses Have Installed Clean Air Tech To Prepare For Reopening
A further 31% of businesses plan to implement the technology in the next 12 months
In preparation for the reopening of their buildings, four-fifths (83%) of UK businesses have either already implemented clean air technology (52%) or plan to in the next twelve months (31%), according to a new research report from Johnson Controls.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the healthcare sector leading the way in clean air technology implementation. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of healthcare organisations have already installed clean air systems, with a further 31% set to follow suit in the next year. Comparatively, just 47% of commercial real estate, including offices, retailers and banks have implemented clean air technology.
|
Industry |
Already implemented clean air technology |
Plan to implement clean air technology in the next year |
|
Healthcare |
62% |
31% |
|
Hotels |
61% |
32% |
|
Pharma/Biotech |
58% |
35% |
|
Manufacturing |
55% |
37% |
|
Commercial businesses |
47% |
39% |
|
Data centres |
45% |
46% |
|
Other |
47% |
28% |
Many of these businesses will be looking to simultaneously reduce office space, while encouraging people back to work. The vast majority (82%) of UK businesses are planning to reduce permanent workspace and instead provide temporary work cubes, meaning employees will have to share workspaces more frequently. Meanwhile, just 16% of businesses will offer the majority of their employees the option to work from home full-time now that restrictions have lifted.
Mark Bouldin, Clean Air Expert, Johnson Controls UK&I said: “If businesses want their employees to return to the workplace, they must understand it’s a two-way street. They need to prove to staff that the workplace is safe to return to. Installing clean air technology is critical to building that trust.
“However, the benefits of clean air go beyond health and safety. Research also shows that productivity can increase by up to 11% if buildings have a constant flow of clean air. Business leaders who want to improve productivity and protect their people are taking the right steps by adopting clean air technology. What’s more, our workplaces are going up against the comfort of our own homes now, meaning clean air is necessary to create an environment which is both comfortable and safe."
Clean air technology played a key role in keeping essential buildings open during the pandemic. Over four-fifths (87%) of businesses relied on smart technology, such as clean air solutions, to keep their buildings open, while over a third (37%) even claimed that the technology was either critical or essential.
One school, serving 800 students and 100 teachers, used clean air technology to reopen and resume in-person classes safely during the pandemic. By installing a combination of clean air technologies, the school was able to capture 99.97% of airborne pathogens, preventing children and staff from breathing in contaminated air.
When it comes to achieving indoor clean air, there is no one-stop shop. The following technologies have all helped businesses achieve their clean air goals, creating a healthier environment for their employees along the way:
- 73% use air purification
- 60% have installed IAQ-indoor air quality technology
- 60% have implemented air quality monitoring
- 57% use UV sanitation in their buildings
- 32% of buildings are installed with filtration technology
