04/11/2025
Breathing Easy – why indoor air quality testing matters
Written By: enevo
Estimated Time: 4 mins
Building Compliance
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is no longer the niche assessment it perhaps once was. It has become a headline topic and serious health, safety and legal issue across buildings of various shapes, sizes and uses.
We spend up to 90% of our time inside. Yet rules still largely focus on outdoor air quality and pollution.
Homes, offices and schools can all trap pollutants from gas appliances, cooking, cleaning products and damp. Ventilation is often poorer than necessary, and problems can go unnoticed until people start to feel unwell.
What poor indoor air quality can cause…
The risks associated with poor indoor air quality are quite clear and, in some cases, catastrophic:
- Mould spores can worsen asthma and cause infections
- VOCs and particulates can cause headaches, tiredness and reduced focus
- Carbon monoxide from faulty boilers is deadly
- Long-term exposure raises the risk of heart and lung disease
The Royal College of Physicians has called indoor air a public health priority. Poor ventilation, damp, and emissions from everyday products all contribute.
During the COVID pandemic, we were all reminded how easily infections can spread in badly ventilated rooms, and now, with updated laws and increased awareness, expectations are even higher. Landlords and employers are under more scrutiny. Tenants and staff expect clean, safe air in working environments and people are more willing to take action if it’s missing.
The legal and regulatory landscape around indoor air quality
Indoor air isn’t covered by one law, but several rules apply:
- The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require sufficient fresh air and thermal comfort
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 set exposure limits for chemicals
- Part F of the Building Regulations covers ventilation in new and refurbished buildings
- Awaab’s Law puts pressure on social landlords to tackle damp and mould fast
- Insurance policies are starting to exclude IAQ-related claims if systems aren’t properly maintained
Certifications also matter. BREEAM version 7 now requires low-VOC materials and better air quality management. Labs must be accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. The WELL Building Standard and the UK Green Building Council are also pushing for better indoor air.
The Environment Act 2021 introduces targets for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which influence indoor strategies too. England aims to hit a 10 µg/m³ annual mean by 2040, per uk-air.defra.gov.uk.
What professional air quality testing includes
A full assessment looks at:
- Ventilation rates, occupancy, cleaning methods, recent refurbishments
- Sampling for CO₂, CO, VOCs, PM2.5/PM10, mould spores and allergens
- Surface sampling for hidden microbial issues
- HVAC performance, filter condition, and duct layout
- External influences, like nearby roads or industrial emissions
Results are compared to benchmarks from the Health and Safety Executive, BREEAM, and the World Health Organisation.
What the data shows about your air quality
Testing often finds:
- CO₂ and VOC build-up in sealed buildings with poor ventilation
- Carbon monoxide from old gas appliances
- Mould from roof leaks or weak bathroom extraction
- High particulates from log burners or cooking with gas
At enevo, we’ve seen how straightforward solutions can help. New offices with high VOCs and CO₂ caused by sealed windows and a failing ventilation unit. Simple maintenance and adjustments improved air flow and reduced staff complaints. In rental properties, mould behind insulation was fixed through relatively inexpensive roof repairs and better extraction. Straightforward adjustments, but a much safer and comfortable environment for everyone.
Why it’s worth testing IAQ
IAQ testing helps you:
- Improve health and comfort
- Reduce sick days and raise productivity
- Comply with HSE rules and Building Regulations
- Protect yourself from claims or insurance issues
- Gain credits from schemes like BREEAM, WELL, or RESET
Testing also avoids future costs. Spotting an issue early means cheaper repairs and less disruption.
The enevo air quality testing approach
enevo delivers independent, accredited IAQ testing as part of our wider TICC and compliance services.
Our reports are clear, and we explain everything in plain terms. If you don’t pass the first time, we’ll stay with you until you do, at no extra cost. Our goal is to give practical, low-cost advice that works.
Getting started
To get up and running, you only need to provide basic info: floor plans, HVAC details, and any concerns that have been highlighted or spotted. We’ll handle the rest, which consists of typically one to two days on site, and results in a week. After that, we explain the findings and suggest next steps.
Want to know more?
If you own, manage or work in a building, this is something you should be looking at. Clean air matters. It protects people and protects you.
To arrange testing, contact enevo. We’ll help you breathe easier and stay compliant.
