Blog4 August 2021

Air purification can support transition to a new normal, according to study

Many Brits intend to persevere with masks and social distancing despite government restrictions easing, a recent study by Andrews Sykes has found.

We conducted a survey of 2,000 adults who revealed their thoughts and attitudes towards the idea of reverting to normal life once the pandemic subsides.

A staggering 50 per cent of respondents admit they will continue wearing masks for the foreseeable future, despite there being no legal obligation to do so in most settings.

One in three will insist on sitting away from anyone they don’t know in pubs and restaurants, while 28 per cent will still ask for a table outside and 24 per cent will insist on table service.

More than a third will open windows when others come round and 28 per cent of workers will insist on a through-draft at work by doing the same.

It emerged 52 per cent of those polled fully intend to maintain social distancing with people they don’t live with.

Just under six in 10 believe the impact of Covid-19 has changed their views towards the general notion of air quality.

Another 40 per cent are apprehensive to some degree about the relaxation of social distancing, particularly in relation to workers returning to offices.

And nearly a third admit they do not have much confidence in their workplace ventilation system.

Reflecting on the data, an Andrews industry professional explained: “Prior to this pandemic, the main reason people had to worry about air quality was largely limited to pollution from cars.

“Nobody enjoyed walking alongside a busy road with large vehicles hurtling past, spouting out fumes.

“However, now the problem has really been brought closer to home – literally – by Covid-19, with awareness around clean air a huge issue for millions.

“As the nation starts to return to their offices or other places of business, clean air is going to be a really big priority.”

As a result, 40% of those asked acknowledge that they consider air quality more important than any time previously, with a similar proportion vowing to make more effort to get ‘fresh air’ whenever possible.

Another 45 per cent say they will be ‘less tolerant’ of atmospheres that feel stuffy and old, in the months going forward.

At work, 34 per cent are now worried about the amount of people who will be sharing a relatively small space.

A third are concerned about a lack of windows where they spend their working day, and 35 per cent have no air conditioning system to assist the dispersal of stale air.

Fifty-two per cent, meanwhile, admit they have no idea how an air purifier actually works – but would feel much happier if one was installed at their work.

Summarising the situation, our expert explained: “Air purifiers are kind of like big sieves for air; they catch it as it goes through and filter out nasty particles.

“Allergens could include smoke, pollen, pet hair – and of course, bacteria and viruses, which is how Covid-19 and other illnesses spread.

“It’s extremely sensible to have concerns about air quality in your workplace, so we’d advise speaking to building managers about how they intend to maintain air quality in the future.”

 

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1.Which of the following do you intend on continuing should restrictions ease on the 19th July? Tick all that apply

% n
Continue to eat/drink outdoors 28% 561
Insist on a table by the door in a pub or restaurant 16% ↓ 325
Insist on sitting further away from other people you don’t know in a pub or restaurant 36% ↑ 718
Insist on table service to continue to limit mixing 24% ↓ 472
Insist on windows being open at work 20% ↓ 405
Open windows when someone comes to your house to increase airflow 34% ↑ 671
Remaining socially distant with people I don’t live with 52% ↑ 1034
Wear a mask 50% ↑ 1002
Not sure -I haven’t decided yet 13% ↓ 257
None of the above 12% ↓ 232
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

2.If you’ll continue to wear a mask, where will you still wear one?

% n
Wearing a mask in supermarkets 87% ↑ 868
Wearing a mask until I sit down at a table in a restaurant 57% ↑ 576
Wearing a mask when shopping generally 84% ↑ 844
Wearing a mask while working 32% ↓ 323
Other – somewhere else 4% ↓ 41
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample;base n = 1002
 

3.When do you think you’ll eventually stop being cautious when it comes to the air you breathe from beyond the 19th July?

% n
1-2 months 17% ↓ 340
3- 4 months 18% ↓ 361
5-6 months 15% ↓ 307
7 months + 7% ↓ 136
I won’t stop until the pandemic is officially over 43% ↑ 856
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

4.To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? ‘I’m concerned about the relaxation of social distancing when heading back to into my workplace’

% n
Strongly agree 18% 364
Somewhat agree 22% ↑ 448
Neither agree nor disagree 16% 315
Somewhat disagree 6% ↓ 120
Strongly disagree 7% ↓ 147
N/A; I don’t work/don’t have a workplace 30% ↑ 606
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

5.To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? ‘Covid has changed my outlook towards air quality’

% n
Strongly agree 21% 422
Somewhat agree 36% ↑ 710
Neither agree nor disagree 29% ↑ 572
Somewhat disagree 8% ↓ 169
Strongly disagree 6% ↓ 127
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

6.Prior to the pandemic, did you ever consider the air quality around you?

% n
Yes 40% ↑ 792
No 47% ↑ 939
Not sure 13% ↓ 269
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

7.If so, what things did you consider

% n
Air conditioning 45% ↑ 355
Being near someone unwell 56% ↑ 445
Stuffy rooms with no ventilation 59% ↑ 467
The air quality of the area you live 44% ↑ 346
Traffic fumes 78% ↑ 614
Warm air 32% ↓ 251
Warm rooms 36% 285
Other 2% ↓ 17
N/A; nothing in particular 1% ↓ 5
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample;base n = 792
 

8.Which of the following statements do you agree with?

% n
Air quality is more important to me than ever 40% ↑ 804
I make more of an effort to get fresh air now than I did before 39% ↑ 782
I will be less tolerant of spaces that feel stuffy and old 45% ↑ 909
None of the above 22% ↓ 440
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

9.Do you trust the ventilation in your workplace?

% n
Yes 44% ↑ 620
No 30% ↓ 424
Not sure 25% ↓ 350
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample;base n = 1394
 

10.If you don’t trust the ventilation in your workplace, what is it that concerns you?

% n
A lot of people in a small space 34% ↑ 146
Always stale air in rooms 29% 121
There are a lack of windows 35% ↑ 149
There is a lack of ventilation 48% ↑ 203
There is an old air con system 26% 109
There is no air con system 35% ↑ 147
I don’t know 6% ↓ 27
Other 1% ↓ 5
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 424
 

11.Which of the below have become commonplace in your life since the pandemic began? Tick all that apply

% n
Asking someone else to open a window in their home 18% ↓ 363
Avoiding physical contact with other people 53% ↑ 1051
Keeping your home ventilated 39% 782
Staying a further distance from someone compared to before 64% ↑ 1280
Wearing a mask even when it’s optional 47% ↑ 938
None of the above 12% ↓ 236
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

12.Have you used an air purifier since the pandemic began?

% n
Yes 21% ↓ 414
No 79% ↑ 1586
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

13.To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? ‘Good air is difficult to describe, but you know it when you feel it’

% n
Strongly agree 28% ↑ 556
Somewhat agree 44% ↑ 885
Neither agree nor disagree 24% ↑ 480
Somewhat disagree 3% ↓ 54
Strongly disagree 1% ↓ 25
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

14.Would the atmosphere play a key factor in whether you’d go inside somewhere for a longer period of time e.g. if it were stuffy and warm in a shop or restaurant ?

% n
Yes 55% ↑ 1099
No 19% ↓ 385
Not sure 26% ↓ 516
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

15.Even when you no longer regularly wear a mask, do you think you’ll carry one, just in case?

% n
Yes 59% ↑ 1176
No 20% ↓ 401
Not sure 21% ↓ 423
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

16.Have you ever had a difference of opinion over air quality with someone? E.g. a colleague or someone you live with

% n
Yes, often 13% ↓ 250
Yes, occasionally 23% ↓ 460
No 57% ↑ 1146
I don’t know 7% ↓ 144
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

17.If you think you’ve become more aware of air quality since the pandemic began, what do you think about more because of it ?

% n
How busy somewhere public might be 40% ↑ 799
How frequently I eat out 27% 533
How frequently I go shopping in person 29% ↑ 586
How often I plan to go to my workplace in person 17% ↓ 348
Whether to meet someone who is feeling unwell 28% 559
Who I mix with 37% ↑ 735
Other 1% ↓ 12
N/A; nothing in particular 33% ↑ 658
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000
 

18.Do you think enough is done to ensure the air you breathe is clean in your workplace?

% n
Yes 40% ↑ 563
No 29% ↓ 405
Not sure 31% ↓ 426
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample;base n = 1394
 

19.What would make you more comfortable with air quality and your workplace ?

% n
Colleagues respect other people’s space 43% ↑ 598
More windows remain open when it’s not too cold 33% ↑ 459
Stringent checks are made before everyone enters the workplace 35% ↑ 488
That air purification is installed 30% 414
The numbers of people in at any one time remain limited 40% ↑ 558
Visibly seeing something has been done to improve ventilation 38% ↑ 523
Other 1% ↓ 8
N/A; nothing in particular 19% ↓ 268
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 1394
 

20.To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? ‘I have no idea how an air purifier works, but I’d feel much happier knowing one is in use’

% n
Strongly agree 18% ↓ 356
Somewhat agree 34% ↑ 675
Neither agree nor disagree 36% ↑ 727
Somewhat disagree 8% ↓ 152
Strongly disagree 5% ↓ 90
(c) One Poll 2021; Total sample; base n = 2000