Office air quality is easy to overlook because many of the problems that affect it are not immediately visible. A workplace may look clean while employees continue to experience stuffy meeting rooms, persistent odours, uncomfortable humidity or concerns about ventilation.
On 22 October 2026, the NSW Legislative Council's Portfolio Committee No. 2 – Health tabled its final report, Clean Indoor Air (Report No. 69). The inquiry examined the health, workplace safety and productivity implications of indoor air quality, along with ways to improve ventilation, monitoring and air management across New South Wales.
The report is relevant to office managers because it brings greater attention to the relationship between building conditions, ventilation, moisture, maintenance and the environment in which people work. It also highlights an important distinction: cleaning is one part of maintaining an indoor environment, but it cannot correct every cause of poor air quality.
For Sydney businesses, the practical question is not simply whether the office looks clean. It is whether the cleaning routine, building maintenance arrangements and ventilation systems are being managed as separate but connected responsibilities.
What Does the 2026 NSW Clean Indoor Air Report Actually Recommend?
The parliamentary inquiry produced 11 findings and 38 recommendations after receiving submissions and hearing evidence from health professionals, technical specialists, government representatives, workplace organisations and members of the public.
Some of its main recommendations include developing a NSW indoor air quality strategy, establishing an expert advisory council, improving indoor air monitoring in public buildings and advocating for nationally consistent, health-based indoor air performance standards.
The report also discusses possible changes to building standards and work health and safety requirements. Some recommendations focus on specific settings, including public schools, hospitals, public transport, social and public housing, and moisture problems in rental properties.
One recommendation is particularly relevant to the future design and operation of commercial buildings: the committee wants the Australian Building Codes Board to explore improvements involving mechanical ventilation, filtration performance and the assessment of indoor environmental outcomes. This is a recommendation for further consideration, not a completed change to building regulations.
The NSW Government response to the report is due by 22 January 2027. Office managers should therefore distinguish between recommendations being considered and requirements that are already in force.
You can review the original NSW Parliament Clean Indoor Air inquiry and Report No. 69 for the full findings and recommendations.
Does the Report Introduce New Indoor Air Rules for Private Offices?
No. The parliamentary report itself does not introduce a new set of indoor air standards for every private office in Sydney. It makes recommendations to the NSW Government and calls for further national and state action.
That does not mean businesses have no existing responsibilities. Under the NSW work health and safety framework, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that ventilation allows workers to carry out their work without risks to health and safety. The framework also addresses exposure to airborne substances above applicable exposure standards.
The committee discusses concerns that existing exposure standards do not fully address the wider indoor air picture in everyday workplaces. For example, general office environments may raise questions about ventilation, fine particles, moisture and airborne pathogens that are not resolved simply by checking compliance with an exposure limit for a particular chemical.
For office managers, the sensible response is to keep existing workplace safety responsibilities in view, document recurring concerns and work with the people responsible for the building and its mechanical systems. The new report provides a reason to review current arrangements, not a reason to assume that a new office-cleaning regulation has already commenced.
Three Areas That Influence Indoor Air Quality
The report identifies three broad approaches to improving indoor air quality: source control, ventilation and air cleaning. Understanding the difference helps office managers decide which issues belong in a cleaning schedule and which need building or technical attention.
1. Source Control: Address Problems at Their Origin
Source control means reducing or removing the source of pollution rather than relying only on ventilation or filtration after contaminants have entered a room. The report discusses moisture control as an important example. A leaking roof, persistent dampness or moisture within building systems can contribute to conditions that support mould and microbial growth.
In an office, possible warning signs include recurring damp patches, water staining, condensation around windows, musty odours or materials that remain wet after a leak. Cleaning a visible surface may improve its appearance, but it will not resolve a leaking pipe, failed waterproofing or an ongoing moisture problem.
2. Ventilation: Bringing Fresh Air into the Workplace
Ventilation involves supplying air to a space and removing stale or polluted air. It can be natural, mechanical or a combination of both. In a commercial building, ventilation may be managed through air-conditioning systems, fans, extraction systems and building controls.
A meeting room that becomes stuffy when occupied, uneven airflow between rooms or recurring humidity problems may justify a closer look at the ventilation arrangements. Opening windows is not always a complete solution. Weather, outdoor pollution, noise, security and the building's design can all affect whether natural ventilation is suitable.
Large or complex air-handling systems need inspection and maintenance by competent specialists. A routine office cleaning team should not be expected to diagnose airflow problems, adjust mechanical systems or carry out HVAC servicing.
3. Air Cleaning: Filtration Is Not the Same as Ventilation
Air-cleaning technologies are designed to remove or neutralise certain contaminants. The report discusses particle filtration, gas-phase air cleaning and disinfection as different approaches.
For example, a particle filter may capture airborne particles, but it does not automatically remove every gaseous pollutant. An air purifier also does not correct a blocked ventilation system or repair a water leak. Equipment selection should be based on the pollutant of concern, room conditions and competent technical advice.
These distinctions matter because a workplace can have clean-looking surfaces and still have an indoor air issue that needs a different solution.
How Office Cleaning Contributes to a Better-Maintained Workplace
Regular cleaning supports a well-maintained office by removing everyday dirt, settled dust and waste from accessible surfaces and commonly used areas. Workstations, reception spaces, meeting rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and floors all need attention according to how frequently they are used.
However, surface cleaning should not be described as an indoor air quality assessment. A cleaner cannot confirm the concentration of airborne particles, test carbon dioxide levels, measure ventilation performance or establish whether an air-handling system is operating correctly simply by cleaning a room.
Cleaning methods also deserve attention. Dry sweeping or unsuitable dusting can disturb settled particles. The appropriate approach is to use methods and equipment suited to the surface, follow product instructions and avoid unnecessarily spreading dust or cleaning chemicals into occupied spaces.
KV Office Cleaning's office cleaning services in Sydney cover agreed workplace areas such as desks, floors, kitchens, bathrooms and shared facilities. For areas that need more detailed attention than a routine visit provides, businesses can also review the scope of office deep cleaning services.
Our existing guide on why dust builds up in Sydney offices covers common accumulation points and practical dust-maintenance considerations. This is a related cleaning issue, not a substitute for investigating ventilation or measuring air quality.
What Should Sydney Office Managers Review?
The report gives office managers a useful reason to look at the whole workplace rather than treating cleanliness, ventilation and building maintenance as unrelated tasks. The following checks can help identify gaps in existing arrangements.
Review the Building's Ventilation Maintenance
Ask the building manager or facilities team when the air-conditioning and ventilation systems were last inspected and serviced. Find out who is responsible for maintenance, how faults are reported and whether recurring airflow complaints have been investigated.
In multi-tenant buildings, the tenant may not control the central plant or mechanical systems. Establishing who manages those systems is important before arranging repairs or specialist work.
Identify Rooms Where Occupants Notice Problems
Record where and when staff report stuffy conditions, unusual odours, excessive humidity or inconsistent airflow. A problem that appears mainly in a crowded meeting room may need a different investigation from one affecting the entire floor.
Note the time of day, room occupancy and whether the problem changes when the space is used less frequently. These observations can help a qualified building or ventilation professional investigate the issue. They should not be treated as proof of an indoor air quality failure.
Look for Moisture, Condensation and Water Damage
Include visible water staining, recurring condensation, damp carpet edges, ceiling marks and musty smells in routine workplace inspections. Report leaks and water damage promptly rather than covering or masking the affected area.
SafeWork NSW advises that moisture problems need attention at their source. Significant mould growth or suspected contamination may require specialist investigation. Avoid disturbing affected material or treating a serious mould problem as an ordinary cleaning task.
Check the Cleaning Scope and Product Use
Review what the cleaning contractor actually covers. Are accessible surfaces, floors, shared kitchens, bathrooms, bins and high-use areas included? Are less frequently cleaned areas addressed periodically? Does the agreed scope identify any restricted spaces or tasks that require specialist assistance?
Discuss the cleaning products and application methods used at the site. Products should be suitable for the task and handled according to their labels and safety instructions. Unnecessary spraying, incorrect dilution or the use of products in ways not intended by the manufacturer should be avoided.
Cleaning schedules should also reflect how the office is used. A busy reception or shared kitchen may need more frequent attention than a room used only occasionally. The aim is to maintain the agreed standard without treating every space as though it has identical cleaning needs.
Keep a Record of Recurring Issues
Record complaints, maintenance requests, leak reports, cleaning observations and the actions taken. A simple log can help identify whether the same room or building system repeatedly causes concern.
It also helps property managers, employers and service providers understand which problems have been addressed and which still need attention. Where technical testing is necessary, the results and recommendations should come from appropriately qualified professionals.
When Is a Cleaning Issue Actually a Building Issue?
Some problems can be addressed through a revised cleaning routine. Others need a building-maintenance response or specialist assessment.
For example, dust on accessible shelves may be addressed through a more suitable cleaning schedule. Dust repeatedly appearing around a ventilation outlet, persistent stale air, visible mould, unexplained dampness or recurring condensation should not automatically be treated as evidence that cleaners have missed an area.
Similarly, cleaning an accessible vent cover is not the same as inspecting or cleaning internal ductwork. Mechanical ventilation systems may contain components that require specialist equipment, technical knowledge and controlled access.
Office managers should report persistent symptoms or concerns through their workplace health and safety process. Where ventilation, moisture or possible contamination is involved, the next step may be to involve the building manager, HVAC technician, occupational health professional or qualified mould specialist.
Bringing Cleaning and Building Maintenance Together
The NSW clean indoor air report reinforces a practical point for commercial workplaces: a healthy indoor environment depends on more than one service. Cleaning helps manage accessible surfaces and everyday workplace hygiene. Building maintenance addresses leaks, dampness and the condition of facilities. Ventilation and air-cleaning systems require appropriate technical management.
For Sydney office managers, the best starting point is to review the current cleaning scope, identify recurring building concerns and make sure the right person is responsible for each issue. A clear division of responsibilities can prevent problems from being passed between a cleaning contractor and building management without being resolved.
KV Office Cleaning provides office cleaning across Sydney and Greater Sydney. To discuss routine cleaning or detailed maintenance requirements for your workplace, contact our team with your office location, areas requiring attention and preferred cleaning schedule.
