Healthy air: a major economic factor for customers—and a real selling point for FM service providers

Many FMs and their end customers still base their decision on the cheapest purchase price when it comes to air filters. However, it is worth taking a look at the overall business calculation. Studies show that the cost-benefit ratio for high-quality filters is 1:8—with every pound invested returning an average of eight pounds in economic value to the end customer. The reason: fewer sick days mean higher productivity and more stable processes.

This is a strong argument for facility management companies to offer quality consulting. Once customers recognise the economic benefits of more efficient air filtration, they are more willing to invest in better filters and additional services in the future. In the end, both sides benefit; the customer through fewer absences due to illness and the FM company through higher sales.

Clean, well-filtered indoor air has been proven to reduce the risk of respiratory diseases and therefore, the level of employee absence due to illness. Studies have shown that targeted improvements in ventilation technology, for example doubling the ventilation rate, can lead to a reduction in absences of up to 35%.

Such findings provide FMs with strong arguments for customer consulting—those who can demonstrate how absences can be reduced with comprehensible figures gain trust and promote long-term customer loyalty. After all, a healthy workforce ultimately saves end customers money. If facility managers take the initiative here and approach customers, they can further develop business relationships and will be perceived less as pure service providers in the future.

Another telling statistic: noticeably improved indoor air quality can reduce sick leave due to infections by 9 to 20%. Respiratory diseases in particular often lead to longer absences, which impairs the productivity of companies and increases the workload for the remaining workforce.

This can be avoided with effective air filtration. Modern filter systems not only reduce viruses and germs, but also allergens, fine dust and other airborne irritants—a distinct advantage, especially in open-plan working environments and offices where employees and customers mix.

This results in a double benefit for facility managers. They actively promote the health of their workforce and gain the trust of their customers through sound knowledge of air quality. This not only strengthens customer loyalty but also creates new opportunities to provide advice on the selection of suitable filter solutions—establishing yourself as a valuable partner in day-to-day operations in the long term.

Allergies are among the most common chronic diseases and affect millions of people in the UK. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever), which is mainly triggered by airborne pollen, affects around 11 million people. House dust mite allergies are also triggered by airborne allergens and affect around 7% of the population. For those affected, this means significantly reduced performance in their everyday working lives, often accompanied by headaches, fatigue and breathing difficulties.

Modern filtration systems and high-quality air filters that specifically remove allergens such as pollen or fine dust from the indoor air provide noticeable relief, especially for sensitive people. Facility managers who incorporate this knowledge into their customer advice demonstrate their expertise and point out significant optimisation potential in the area of air filtration to their customers.

Facility managers have more at their fingertips than maintenance schedules and cleaning lists, they have a direct influence on how productively, healthily and economically companies operate. Those who take action on air quality create tangible added value—for their customers and for their own business model.

And best of all, this role pays off—through long-term customer loyalty, expanded service requirements and a new image as a business optimiser.

Further insights into how facility managers can also reduce operating costs with energy-efficient filter solutions can be found in the article: How facility managers can win over their clients: Boost energy efficiency, cut costs—without extra effort