DIY exposure measurement

What about air quality at the office?

By Peter Boodts – Occupational hygienist Arizo
13 October 2026

Healthy air in workplaces is less self-evident than you might think. This is unfortunate because the quality of indoor air affects not only the health and well-being but also the productivity and overall comfort of your employees. A professional analysis of the air at the office is therefore definitely worth it!

Impact of various factors

You might not have given it any thought, but air quality at the office depends on several possible sources of pollution both indoors and outdoors.

Consider for instance:

  • Poor ventilation
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from office furniture, floor covering, paint, adhesives and cleaning products
  • Particulate matter and chemical fumes from printers
  • Chemicals and allergens on surfaces and in carpets
  • Microbiological contaminants such as moulds, bacteria and viruses – especially in cases of moisture problems or inadequate ventilation
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2) with human respiration as the primary source in offices
  • Particulate matter and air pollution from outside such as vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and construction dust

Impact of various factors

You might not have given it any thought, but air quality at the office depends on several possible sources of pollution both indoors and outdoors.

Consider for instance:

  • Poor ventilation
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from office furniture, floor covering, paint, adhesives and cleaning products
  • Particulate matter and chemical fumes from printers
  • Chemicals and allergens on surfaces and in carpets
  • Microbiological contaminants such as moulds, bacteria and viruses – especially in cases of moisture problems or inadequate ventilation
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2) with human respiration as the primary source in offices
  • Particulate matter and air pollution from outside such as vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and construction dust

Healthier employees

Do you want to avoid health risks and discomfort among your employees? Then it is best to take a proactive approach: by measuring the air quality in the office. Studies show that employee absenteeism is noticeably higher in offices with poor air quality.

Warning signs include headaches, fatigue and irritation of the eyes and airways. Employees in well-ventilated offices – with a better air supply and lower concentrations of CO2 and other harmful substances – are said to perform around 61 per cent better on cognitive tasks than in conventional working environments. Improving the air quality in the office reduces absenteeism by 10 per cent and increases productivity by 10 per cent.

Mandatory for employers

Better air quality in offices and public spaces is also a government objective. As an employer, you are required to carry out a risk analysis and assess the air quality in the workplace.

This involves identifying pollutants and possible risks in rooms where employees spend long periods of time, such as meeting rooms, offices and classrooms. Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more.

Mandatory for employers

Better air quality in offices and public spaces is also a government objective. As an employer, you are required to carry out a risk analysis and assess the air quality in the workplace.

This involves identifying pollutants and possible risks in rooms where employees spend long periods of time, such as meeting rooms, offices and classrooms. Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more.

Risk analysis and targeted recommendations

To make it easy to analyse air quality in the office, Arizo developed the AQM programme (Air Quality Monitor). An advanced measuring device simultaneously monitors all essential parameters: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, VOCs, humidity, temperature and particulate matter. This gives you a complete picture of the air quality and reveals the presence of pollutants.

The result: you know exactly what the risks are in your office and receive tailored recommendations to improve indoor air quality. After all, protecting your employees is our priority too.