Tenants: When considering office space for a new office or relocation there is more to consider beyond location, parking, rental rates, etc. One element often overlooked by tenants shopping new office space is comfort. Temperature and HVAC issues are often cited as the number one complaint among office building tenants. Offices that are too hot or too cold can negatively impact productivity and employee satisfaction. There are also health and wellness issues to consider. What elements effect tenant comfort in the office environment? These are the questions you should be asking the prospective landlord:
What type of HVAC system does the building have? Get an understanding of how it operates.
Does it constantly circulate and turn over air? Is the airflow filtered? What level of filtration? Does the system mix in outside air? Is the air quality routinely tested?
What are the hours of operation? Is there a specified temperature range? These should be stated in your lease.
Is there a cost to the tenant to operate the HVAC during off hours?
Is it maintained in proper working order? In today’s business environment many property owners struggle with cash flow challenges, deferment of basic building maintenance is common and often directly effects the reliability of HVAC systems.
How is the temperature controlled in your office? Where is the thermostat for your office suite located? Older buildings often have offices that have been reconfigured over the years placing the thermostat for your office in an adjoining office under the control of another tenant.
Are you able to control the thermostat or is it behind a locked box? Are you required to call the landlord for temperature adjustment?
Do the office exterior windows face the direction of direct sunlight for much of the day? Are the windows tinted with reflective film? Are there window blinds to control the sunlight?
If your office has a server room be sure to consider the special needs required for cooling.
Do the research before signing the lease and you will know what to expect relative to the building’s HVAC performance and office comfort.
Comments