Dust and Cleanliness Management Throughout a Building’s Life Cycle – Supporting the Controlled Use of Premises

Cleanliness and dust management during the use of a building is often seen as routine cleaning, even though its impact extends much further. Cleanliness management directly affects indoor air quality, the functionality of the premises, and the wellbeing experienced by users throughout the building’s life cycle. In practice, however, responsibilities and interfaces often remain unclear, particularly after the building has been completed and taken into use. This article examines cleanliness management as part of the controlled use of a building and highlights situations where the underlying cause of a problem may be something other than the technical issue first suspected.

Cleanliness Management Does Not End at Building Handover

Dust and cleanliness management does not end when a building or major renovation is completed. Dust and cleanliness management during construction has developed significantly in recent years and is now treated with appropriate seriousness. The work is guided by extensive legislation, authority requirements, and numerous instructions and standards.

On construction sites, dust levels are measured, safe working conditions are ensured, premises are protected and placed under negative pressure, and construction activities are closely monitored. However, once the building is completed and handed over to the client, attention to cleanliness management may begin to decline. The premises are cleaned as they have always been, with the main focus placed on surfaces that can be easily reached from floor level.

Cleanliness Management During Use Is Too Often Overlooked

In reality, dust and cleanliness management throughout the building’s life cycle is at least as important as it is during construction. At many properties, maintenance cleaning is viewed as an unavoidable expense rather than as a process that affects indoor air quality, the functionality of the premises, and user wellbeing. The adequacy of cleaning is often assessed only after one or more users report symptoms.

Dust is continuously generated while a building is in use. People bring contaminants with them as they move around, textiles wear down, equipment circulates particles, and outdoor pollutants enter the building. Dust that has accumulated on surfaces can easily become airborne due to airflow and vibration. If maintenance cleaning is only superficial, the dust is not removed. Instead, it continues to accumulate over time, potentially exposing users to symptoms.

Inadequate Cleanliness Management May Be Behind Reported Symptoms

Insufficient cleanliness management quickly becomes visible in indoor air quality. Symptoms, unpleasant odours, and dust accumulating on surfaces can cause users to lose confidence in the building. The causes are often initially sought in completed renovations, building structures, or ventilation, even though the underlying issue may simply be inadequate or incorrectly targeted maintenance cleaning.

When problems are addressed only after complaints are made, the costs may become many times higher than those of preventive maintenance.

The quality of maintenance cleaning is not only a matter of how often cleaning is carried out. It is also essential to understand how dust behaves and where the key risk areas are within the building. High surfaces, ventilation terminals, light fixtures, textile surfaces, high rooms, and technical spaces often receive too little attention, even though a significant amount of fine dust accumulates in these areas.

Cleaning methods and equipment also play an important role. Incorrect methods may spread dust more effectively than they remove it.

Cleanliness Management as Part of the Building’s Life Cycle

Responsibility for the cleanliness of the premises is transferred from the building contractor to the client at handover, and the first challenge often arises when the premises are occupied. Will existing loose furniture that will continue to be used be cleaned? Will new furnishings receive commissioning cleaning?

The overall process and the steps involved in transferring the premises to the client’s daily use should be clearly described, and the necessary measures should be planned. These measures should then continue as part of well-managed maintenance cleaning.

Cleanliness and dust management should be regarded as part of property life cycle management. It should be a planned, measurable, and continuously developed process that is taken into account when designing premises, including material selections and structural solutions.

When dust and cleanliness management during use is treated as seriously as it is during construction, permanent and long-term benefits can be achieved, along with significant cost savings.

Better indoor air quality, a better feeling for everyone.

Jaakko Laamanen
Technical Site Manager, Jokiväri Oy