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rooms, and printing facilities. (For a more detailed discussion of ventilation, read
Fact Sheet:
Ventilation and Air Quality in Offices
)
Air cleaning
can be a useful adjunct to source control and ventilation but has certain limitations.
Particle control devices such as the typical furnace filter are inexpensive but do not effectively
capture small particles; high performance air filters capture the smaller, respirable particles but
are relatively expensive to install and operate. Mechanical filters do not remove gaseous
pollutants. Some specific gaseous pollutants may be removed by adsorbent beds, but these
devices can be expensive and require frequent replacement of the adsorbent material. In sum, air
cleaners can be useful, but have limited application.
Education and communication
are important elements in both remedial and preventive indoor
air quality management programs. When building occupants, management, and maintenance
personnel fully communicate and understand the causes and consequences of IAQ problems,
they can work more effectively together to prevent problems from occurring, or to solve them if
they do.