Why Air Conditioning is Essential For Commercial Buildings in The UK
As the UK endured a gruelling, record-breaking heatwave, businesses up and down the country started to reconsider their stance on air con.
Commercial air conditioning is not just for those tough summer weeks though. The health benefits and indoor climate control are essential for occupants in the building all year round.
Health Benefits of an Air Conditioning System
Adequate Air Quality
Pollutants get picked up by the filters so any pollen, dust, allergens are removed before they get the chance to start circulating. For many people with allergens, this can have a severe impact on their ability to work so minimising this goes a long way to improving the health and day-to-day comfort of workers inside the premises.
The humidity control is essential for combating mould growth. Having a Ventilation System like air con installed enables a consistent relative humidity to be maintained (this is between 40 to 60%). As a result, it will prevent mould growth and dampness in corners of your room (if it’s caused by condensation).
This would be the result of humid air staying in the corners and resulting in moisture. Now there’s a continuous airflow, that moist air doesn’t get the chance to accumulate and stay in one place.
Prevent Sickness!
As the filters trap these airborne particles like viruses, it will end up reducing the amount your colleagues or occupants in a building are exposed to. Effectively, you’re helping reduce the transmission of bacteria and viruses.
The end result? Fewer sick days and healthier air flowing through the rooms.
Ventilation
The importance of a good, stable ventilation system should not be overlooked. When a room doesn’t receive this, the body will often suffer with poor focus and productivity. In other words, you’re making sure that the air is rich in oxygen!
Workplace Health, Safety & Wellbeing Regulations 1992
In fact, in this legislation from 1992, it outlines that employers must make the efforts to make sure all enclosed workplaces are ventilated with “sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air”.
Whilst it isn’t law for the UK company to use air con, the result should still be achieved (adequate, proper ventilation) so it may become necessary if a building is laid out in a way where natural air flow isn’t possible.
This applies to temperature regulation too. If a building is overheated and a healthy, safe temperature can’t be maintained then again, aircon becomes necessary.
Better Customer & Visitor Experience
Away from all the health benefits, installing air con is an appealing and welcome comfort for those entering your business premises. As soon as they enter the building, a climate controlled room can be noticed. In those intense heatwaves, many shoppers will often go into stores for respite from the high temperatures. Ensuring your business is a welcome physical relief for potential customers is great for business. A distressed and flustered customer is less likely to spend time browsing and leave with a good, lasting impression of your company.
Energy Efficiency
Modern HVAC units are designed to be energy efficient and economically savvy. SMART controls allow for you to cool only the current occupied zones so you’re not wasting any money on cooling empty rooms. Along with this, regular maintenance is still needed to prevent a system from overworking. There are some tasks that the designed staff in the building can do such as the cleaning to swapping of filters and dusting the outer plastic vents. Meanwhile, HVAC professionals must carry out air con maintenance regarding specialist tasks such as deep cleaning blocked internal coils and testing internal electricals for the system.
Looking for a HVAC System in Birmingham?
If you’re a Birmingham based business, we’d be more than happy to provide you with everything for your ventilation needs. From a new air conditioning system, right through to an air conditioning maintenance plan. The 2026 heatwave was a massive wake-up call for UK businesses to take air con seriously. Don’t let yours fall behind!
You can contact our team for a quote today.
FAQ
Where can I get a commercial aircon unit?
If you’re seeking installation service for an aircon unit, head to the air conditioning page on the BDS Energy website. You can request a quote there.
Does commercial air con remove pollen and other allergens?
Absolutely. As long as your system is maintained properly, they will remove pollen and other allergens in the air.
How much would commercial air conditioning cost my business?
Air con for a small office will start at around £2,500 in the UK.
What aircon would I get for a small office?
At the entry level, the budget of around £2,500 could get you a regular wall-mounted single-split unit. For an accurate quote, please speak to our BDS energy team. You can call us on 0121 796 6451.
What are the benefits of a ventilation system?
Adequate ventilation is crucial for helping regulate humidity, temperature and ensuring carbon dioxide is replaced with fresh air.