When to commission an office air investigation
The most common triggers are staff complaints (headaches, dry eyes, drowsiness, odours), post-refurbishment concerns, suspected mould or damp, unexplained absenteeism clusters, lease or tenant evidence requirements, and as part of WELL or BREEAM In-Use certification. An investigation is appropriate when the question has moved beyond what routine maintenance or facilities review can answer.
What an office air investigation covers
A full investigation combines: occupant symptom survey, continuous IAQ monitoring (CO₂, PM2.5, PM10, TVOC, temperature, humidity, sometimes NO₂ and CO), targeted laboratory sampling (VOC speciation, formaldehyde, microbial), HVAC and ventilation inspection, and a building fabric review where damp, infiltration or material concerns apply. Findings are integrated into a single written report.
What you receive
An independent investigation report covering: occupant survey results, measured pollutant concentrations against UK and international standards, identified root causes, prioritised remedial actions with indicative costs, and the verification plan. The report is written to be defensible — suitable for HSE enquiries, lease disputes, insurance and tenant communications.
Follow-up and verification
After remediation, follow-up measurement verifies the issue has been resolved. We hold this as a standard part of the engagement — investigation without verification is incomplete.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an office air investigation take?
Typically four to six weeks from instruction to final report — two to four weeks of monitoring plus laboratory analysis and writing.
Is an office air investigation confidential?
Yes. All raw data, interim findings and the final report are confidential to the commissioning client. Anonymised data may be used in our own benchmarking with explicit permission.
What if you can't find a cause?
Rare — but where the investigation does not identify a single dominant cause, the report sets out what was ruled out, what residual factors remain, and the targeted further measurement that would close the question.