Hay fever costing UK businesses £324 million each year

Lost productivity caused by employees suffering from hay fever costs British companies around £324 million a year, according to a study by AXA PPP healthcare.

The report states that one in four Britons – 16 million people – suffer from hay fever, an allergic condition for which there is no cure. While symptoms can be relieved with over-the-counter treatments such as antihistamines, the figures released by AXA PPP healthcare highlight the impact hay fever has on the UK’s economy.

Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools, workplaces, healthcare centres and other occupied spaces can help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever, asthma and other allergic conditions. This in turn helps children in schools to concentrate and learn better, patients and staff in hospitals to avoid harmful air pollutants and staff in offices to be more productive.

IAQ is often overlooked during the design and running of a publicly-used building, as energy efficiency and cost reduction tends to be the main focus. However, it’s clear that the knock-on effect of poor IAQ is significant, which is why there is so much to be gained from improving air-handling equipment in occupied spaces.

Gibbons Engineering Group has three divisions dedicated to the improvement of IAQ:

Gibbons Ultraviolet Solutions install ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems for air handling units (AHUs) within HVAC equipment. Our offering includes the revolutionary CoilCare® and InDuct® systems:

•          CoilCare® applies the disinfecting power of ultraviolet C (UVC) band light to the AHU’s cooling coil, eradicating existing bacteria, mould and viruses and preventing regrowth. 
•          InDuct® is a UVGI system used in ductwork, where it can be remotely controlled. This solution removes odours, smoke and chemicals while reducing bacteria, viruses and mould.

For more information, call Colin Hardman on 07940 544206 or email colin@gibbonsgroup.co.uk.

Gibbons HVAC Services provides a comprehensive range of services for AHUs, from supply and installation to maintenance and repair. We operate across all sectors including schools, hotels, offices, hospitals and a host of other buildings where a clean, healthy and well-performing HVAC system is crucial.

We help our clients ensure the best possible IAQ while maximising energy efficiency and significantly reducing costs. Our product offering is supported by leading industry brands and includes fans, motors, coils, pumps, filtration and variable-speed drives.

For all HVAC enquiries, call Andrew Knight on 07850 204915 or email andrew@gibbonsgroup.co.uk.

Gibbons Humidification supplies adiabatic and steam humidification systems, offering precision control, high reliability and low-energy output.

Along with a completely fail-safe system against Legionella which sees water flow shut down in the event of a malfunction, our systems do not use recycled water. In addition, our humidifiers include a UV steriliser which has a minimum disinfection rate of 99.99 per cent.

We’ve carried out humidifier installations, servicing and maintenance across Europe, serving clients in all sectors. To discuss your humidification requirements, call Steve Rix on 07966 423165 or email steve@gibbonsgroup.co.uk.