The Office of National Statistics says 40% of people worked from home in 2023. The stats show many of us understand the trials and tribulations of home working. Creating a productive space is key. How do you do that, though? Many factors can create a productive workspace environment, but something often overlooked is air quality.
So can air quality really boost productivity in the workplace? Yes! Studies have proved poor air quality leads to reduced cognitive function and fatigue. It's legit to ask where an oak structure comes into this. Well, it turns out that an oak office isn’t only pleasing to the eye, but the natural properties can also improve air quality. So read on to find out how oak offices can help.
The Science Behind Indoor Air Quality and Productivity
First, let’s look at evidence that confirms air quality helps productivity in the workplace. You can find many studies about this. Nonetheless, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more reputable source than the Harvard School of Public Health. After all, it was the first professional public health program in the USA. Not to mention, scientists affiliated with the school have received the Nobel Prize.
So when they study air quality in the office, it holds weight. Research, first published in September 2021, studied 300 office workers across the world and had striking conclusions.
The year-long study stated,"Air quality within an office can have significant impacts on employees’ cognitive function, including response times and ability to focus."
Another study published by Clarify revealed that high humidity and indoor air pollutants also cause fatigue.
Jose Guillermo Cedeño Laurent, a researcher for the Department of Environmental Health said,"Overall, the study suggests that poor indoor air quality affects health and productivity significantly more than we previously understood."
Link to the article ‘Office air quality may affect employees’ cognition, productivity’ here.
Oak Wood: A Natural Air Purifier
Now, let's look at how an oak office can improve air quality and, thus, productivity. See, oak has natural properties that can contribute to improved indoor air quality. These include:
- Moisture Regulation: Oak is hygroscopic. Hygroscopic means absorbs and releases moisture from the air. As such, oak helps to maintain a balanced humidity level, even when the timber is part of a structure.
It's important to regulate humidity to prevent damp. Severe damp and mould release harmful toxins into the air. Damp and mould not only affect indoor air quality but are a health risk according to GOV UK.
It's one reason why we always recommend a damp proof course between timber and the dwarf solid wall of offices. A damp proof course is a further barrier preventing damp.
- Reduced Allergens: Unless you state otherwise, we'll plane oak beams. The smooth surface doesn’t trap dust, pollen, or other allergens. This helps maintain a cleaner environment.
On top of that, timber is easy to clean. As it's a smooth surface, dust is easy to wipe off the oak. Regular cleaning can help reduce pollutants and improve indoor air quality in your oak office.
- Natural Anti-Microbial: Oak has natural anti-microbial characteristics. Simply, this means oak naturally restricts the growth of mould and bacteria. Its oak's high tannin content which helps make it off-putting to insects and fungi. Limiting the growth of such bacteria makes it a clean choice for the air.
GB Projects studied the anti-microbial properties of timber. They summarised, "there is some evidence that micro-organisms have a lower survival rate on wooden surfaces compared to plastic or stainless steel."
VOC-Free: VOC is an abbreviation of volatile organic compounds. These are often found in paints and can contribute to indoor air pollution, causing headaches and respiratory issues. Pure oak has no such harsh chemicals. Of course, if you treat oak without researching the product, you could use a finish that releases VOCs.
The UK is awakening to the risks of VOCs, and so is regulating their use. Nonetheless, many paints still contain a trace. If you decide to treat oak beams, we recommend Osmo Oils who make low-VOC and zero-VOC oils.
Psychological Benefits of Natural Materials
Oak has psychological benefits for the office too. There’s a design craze that is taking the workplace by storm. It doesn’t look like it’s a passing trend either. It’s being coined ‘biophilic design’. This design philosophy places importance on materials from the natural world. The aim is to connect workers to nature in their place of work.
Earthy colours and natural patterns are the cornerstone of biophilic design. Many experts point to wood as a key material to achieve the look. Think Wood even cites exposed wood.
At Oak Timber Structures, you can opt for exposed beams in your garage. You can go even further and include interior oak cladding. Now studies show natural materials reduce stress and improve mood, that’s sure to make your workspace more productive.
Additional Considerations for Optimal Indoor Air Quality
- Professional Builder Advice: We'd always advise to seek professional advice. Factors such as footings and the damp proof course affect damp, which affects air quality. Professional guidance will make sure our oak office kits are assembled water tight.
- Proper Ventilation: Circulating fresh air improves air quality. At Oak Timber Structures, we can sculpt the oak frame to glazing requirements. As we make each office bespoke, you can also have the frame fit any size door.
- Regular Cleaning: Regular cleaning using natural cleaning products rather than harsh chemicals will remove dust and allergens.
- Additional Air Purification: If the area is already well-prepared by a pro, you might not need an air purifier. Still, you can regulate humidity using a dehumidifier. Or, for a natural option, try adding Peace Lilies or Areca Palms. According to Happy House Plants these species are great for air quality.
The Benefits of Oak Beyond Indoor Air Quality
Improved indoor air quality only begins to scratch the surface of an oak office. Here are some more benefits you can expect from a standalone oak office:
- Aesthetic Appeal: Oak structures have a striking natural beauty that won't only make for an inviting workspace but elevate your entire property. We only use high-grade oak to build all our products. Furthermore, our skilled artisans have a collective 100+ years of working with timber. It's a winning formula that leaves you with a timeless oak office. Check out the gallery on our Oak Office Page to see for yourself.
- Sustainability: Oak is a sustainable choice. Our wood comes from European forests where they regrow trees after harvest. This is much better for the environment than making bricks, which requires lots of energy and creates pollution.
- Increased property value: Oak offices can add value to your property. Of course, the property market is unpredictable. That being said, according to Unbiased, a garage office can add 5%-10% to your property value. So not only will an oak garage level up your work day, but they’re a worthwhile investment.
- Multi-Purpose Space: Oak offices are a private space away from the house. They’re zones away from distractions.
Conclusion
Let’s not forget there are many positives to home working and you can overcome most of the drawbacks. If productivity is an issue, there are steps you can take. Investing in an oak office creates a healthy and productive home workspace. Not only offering a spectacular garden structure, but allowing you to reach your full potential.
With the aid of oak’s natural properties you can improve indoor air quality. To recap, improved air quality in an office leads to:
- Increased cognitive function
- Reduced fatigue
- Improved mood
So it's a long list of positives for home workers to get to work in an oak office. If you want to create a healthier and productive workspace at home, head to our Oak Office page. Here you can use the Online Designer to create your dynamic workspace. Whatever the size, we can help you design a bespoke oak office that meets your unique needs.
Further Reading: How To Set Up Your Home Office For Peak Productivity