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We have recently re-sited an air con unit to a new location due to some light finger individual removing the previous one. Since the installation of this re-sited unit the 3 blokes in there have been complaining of headaches. We had the contractor back in who did the equipment move but there seems to be little improvement. NOTE: The air con cannot be turned off as this a calibration lab and a constant 20 deg. is required.
Any suggestions to improve the situation would be appreciated.
Badger
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Barrie(Badger)Etter wrote:We have recently re-sited an air con unit .......... Since the installation of this re-sited unit the 3 blokes in there have been complaining of headaches.
Any suggestions to improve the situation would be appreciated.
Badger Can you re-site the 3 blokes? Or alter their work pattern so they spend more timea way from the area concerned. Also - have you checked whether the unit is drying the air out too much? That could cause headaches
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Alan beat me there
Check the humidity Barry
I'd guess this is important for a calibration lab anyway
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Without seeing the situation it is difficult to comment, but I agree about humidity. This is an issue with air conditioning. When my daughter and I did a large scale study of skin condition in office workers, at the end when analysing the results it became clear that those working in air conditioned offices tended to have drier skin (as measured using a skin hydration monitor) compared with others not in an air conditioned environment.
One other thought. Does the new location result in these people working in a draught of cold air? This might not be obvious but try a simple smoke tube test.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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RE: Can you re-site the 3 blokes? Or alter their work pattern so they spend more time away from the area concerned.
No they cannot be re-sited as they are the calibration technicians performing the calibrations.
RE: Also - have you checked whether the unit is drying the air out too much?
If anything the air blown by the air con chills the air to a moisture point that starts to rust the equipment in the lab. Therefore a dehumidifier has been running constantly. Since the humidity was raised it has jogged a memory that an older technician use to control the humidity levels in the lab by switching the dehumidifier off when it reached a certain level.
RE: Does the new location result in these people working in a draught of cold air?
As indicated earlier the contractors were called back in, whilst here they fixed the problem of sitting in a draft.
As for new location its the air con unit that moved to the cal lab not the other way round.
Off the top does anyone know what % humidity should be on average?
Badger
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Rank: Super forum user
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Re skin and RH, when measuring skin condition we like to keep the RH at 20-25%.
You say the ambient temperature is very low. What is the range?
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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OOPS!
When typing my response someone asked me a question. Inevitable result is that I looked at the wrong figures. Ambient temperature 20-25 deg. C, RH around 40%.
My apologies!
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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Barrie,
the Handbook on Facilities Management (Chapter 10 - Workplace Facilities) recommends that "For staff health and comfort, the optimum adequate level of relative humidity is normally considered to be about 50 per cent relative humidity (RH) and certainly not less than 40 per cent" .
PH2
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Rank: Super forum user
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chris.packham wrote:Re skin and RH, when measuring skin condition we like to keep the RH at 20-25%.
You say the ambient temperature is very low. What is the range?
Chris Chris The temp has to be kept @18.5 to 21.5 deg. C. I remember reading document now that gave specific humidity range but am unable to find it. Typical, put it in a safe place and cannot retrieve it! Badger
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Rank: Super forum user
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... the Handbook on Facilities Management (Chapter 10 - Workplace Facilities) recommends that "For staff health and comfort, the optimum adequate level of relative humidity is normally considered to be about 50 per cent relative humidity (RH) and certainly not less than 40 per cent"
Thanks PH2
Those figures seem to tie in with the missing document and UKAS max figure of 55%.
Have spoken with the chaps and they will try working within a higher level then the 25% they have been running the dehumidifier, over the next week. If no improvement then I'll be back to seek further suggestions.
Badger
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Not sure I fully understand the scenario. You say the air con has moved to a calibration lab, so therefore the people are still working in the same place as before?. When you say it moved you mean the stolen one was replaced by another (either new or moved from another part of the building?); or is everyone and the air con in a different room?
I was wondering if anything else has changed (so not down to air con) light levels, some one changed the coffee to decaffeinated etc. Or is the new air con noisier than the previous one.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Where the focus on controlling the environment for process or calibration requirements with air locks etc. there is often a lack of consideration of FRESH air requirements and room air change requirements. All aspects of air quality can be adversely affected.
Problems are exacerbated by smaller room size and the number of people. A bit a specialist area for resolution though.
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Rank: Super forum user
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chris42 wrote:Not sure I fully understand the scenario. You say the air con has moved to a calibration lab, so therefore the people are still working in the same place as before?. When you say it moved you mean the stolen one was replaced by another (either new or moved from another part of the building?); or is everyone and the air con in a different room?
I was wondering if anything else has changed (so not down to air con) light levels, some one changed the coffee to decaffeinated etc. Or is the new air con noisier than the previous one.
CHRIS ... so therefore the people are still working in the same place as before? ANS-YES. ... You say it moved you mean the stolen one was replaced by another? ANS- YES, from another position on the building. Ron, ... there is often a lack of consideration of FRESH air requirements and room air change requirements. ANS- Whilst there is a requirement for temp control providing the temp is nominal the technicians are allowed to open the window should they so desire providing the temp control is not compromised. For a short while this a.m. the window was open. Badger
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Rank: Super forum user
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Forgot to mention no change in lighting or coffee. the "new" air con is quieter and appears to be more efficient than the stolen one so no quibbles there.
Badger
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