Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Facts

ne of the side effects of our efforts to conserve energy has been a deterioration of the air quality inside our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates indoor air pollution levels may be as much as five times greater than outdoor levels. Approximately 50 million people, one of every six Americans, suffer from allergies and as many as 26 million Americans suffer from asthma. And most allergy victims are allergic to indoor allergens such as dust, dust mites and pet dander.

Use of a Beam Central Vacuum System is clinically proven to reduce allergy symptoms. A study of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) patients by the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of California-Davis School of Medicine found patients who used a Beam Central Vacuum System instead of a conventional vacuum experienced the following:

• 44 percent improvement in sleep-related symptoms
• 47 percent improvement in nasal symptoms
• 48 percent improvement in non-nasal symptoms
• 61 percent improvement in both emotional- and eye symptoms when participants used a central vacuum system
• 52 percent reduction in practical problems
• 46 percent stated they experienced less impact on normal work or leisure activity

Since the findings of the U.C.-Davis study, the American Lung Association now includes central vacuum systems in its standards for its Health House National Demonstration Program. Leading green building programs offer points toward “green” certification to homes that have central vacuum systems and leading national builders are providing central vacuum systems as recommended options or standard features in their Indoor Air Quality packages. In addition, the U.S. EPA acknowledges central vacuum systems as an indoor air quality enhancement.