Smart Buildings

Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework in Commercial Buildings

May 31, 2025

Creating Healthier Workplaces Through Smart Integration and Standards Compliance

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has emerged as one of the most important metrics for commercial building performance, with direct impacts on occupant health, productivity, and wellbeing. As awareness grows around the risks of airborne pollutants—especially post-COVID—building owners and facilities managers are seeking more robust, proactive, and technology-driven ways to improve indoor air. This is where an Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework comes into play.

What Is the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework?

An Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework (IAQIF) is a comprehensive, technology-enabled approach to monitoring, managing, and enhancing air quality within commercial buildings. Rather than treating air quality as an isolated issue, this framework combines multiple systems and disciplines to create a unified strategy for cleaner indoor environments.

Key elements include:

  • Continuous Monitoring: Real-time sensors track levels of PM2.5, CO₂, VOCs, humidity, and temperature.
  • Data Integration: Air quality data is fed into the Building Management System (BMS) or an independent platform for analysis and action.
  • Smart Automation: HVAC and filtration systems respond dynamically to poor air quality events using predefined rules or AI-based algorithms.
  • Preventive Maintenance: Filters, ducts, and systems are monitored to ensure optimal performance and reduce the risk of contamination build-up.
  • Occupant Engagement: Visible IAQ dashboards or alerts can help educate and reassure occupants, promoting healthier behaviour and transparency.

This framework integrates with broader sustainability goals and supports regulatory compliance while significantly improving the health profile of buildings.

How Much PM2.5 Is Safe?

PM2.5 refers to fine inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometres or smaller. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, making them especially hazardous.

Safe Limits for PM2.5:

  • World Health Organization (WHO) guideline (2021):
    • Annual mean: 5 µg/m³
    • 24-hour mean: 15 µg/m³
  • UK Government target (under the Environment Act 2021):
    • Annual mean: 10 µg/m³ by 2040

While the UK target is more lenient than the WHO guideline, forward-looking commercial buildings are adopting the stricter WHO recommendations as part of their ESG, health and safety, and wellness strategies.

What Is the UK Air Quality Framework?

The UK Air Quality Framework is defined under several pieces of legislation and guidance documents, the most notable being:

1. Environment Acts 1995 & 2021

Provide the legal foundation for air quality monitoring and set out duties for local authorities to review and act on air pollution levels.

2. Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010

Implement legally binding limits for a range of pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO₂, ozone, etc.) in line with EU directives and WHO guidelines.

3. Clean Air Strategy (2019)

Outlines government actions to reduce emissions and protect public health through better design, monitoring, and regulation.

4. Local Air Quality Management (LAQM)

Requires local councils to regularly assess air quality in their areas and take action when national objectives are not being met.

For commercial buildings, aligning with these frameworks often means installing indoor monitoring systems, improving filtration and ventilation, and contributing to wider urban air quality targets.

What Is the ISO Standard for Air Quality?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed several standards relevant to air quality in buildings, with a focus on performance metrics, measurement methods, and acceptable exposure levels.

Key standards include:

1. ISO 16890

  • Relates to air filters used in general ventilation.
  • Classifies filters based on their efficiency in capturing PM1, PM2.5, and PM10.
  • Replaces older EN 779 standards and helps ensure accurate air filter selection.

2. ISO 16000 Series

  • Covers indoor air quality measurement methods.
  • Includes guidelines for measuring formaldehyde, VOCs, particulate matter, and microbiological contaminants.

3. ISO 14644-1 (Cleanrooms)

  • While primarily for cleanroom environments, it sets a rigorous standard for airborne particulate cleanliness.

For commercial buildings, compliance with ISO 16890 and ISO 16000 can help support a robust air quality strategy, ensure international best practices are followed, and boost certifications like WELL or BREEAM.

Why Integration Matters

Improving air quality isn’t just about adding filters or opening windows. It’s about combining technology, standards, and strategy into a unified framework that continuously adapts to changing indoor and outdoor conditions. An Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework provides:

  • Better health outcomes for building occupants
  • Operational insights that reduce energy waste from over-ventilation
  • Compliance support with UK and international standards
  • Competitive advantage through enhanced ESG credentials and tenant satisfaction

Final Thoughts

Air quality is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s a core aspect of building performance. By adopting an integrated framework that leverages real-time monitoring, automation, and global standards such as ISO 16890, commercial buildings can not only meet legal requirements but also provide a safer, smarter, and more sustainable environment for all who enter.