The Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf) is the largest manager of natural areas, responsible for 10% of Austria's land area, including 74 of the larger lakes, and 15% of its forested area. The sole shareholder of the ÖBf is the Republic of Austria. For its more than 1,000 employees, environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural resources are the top priorities of their daily work. The ÖBf's core business is forestry: Over 1.5 million cubic meters of timber are delivered annually to sawmills and the pulp and paper industry, among others. The company headquarters have been located in Purkersdorf, in the heart of the Vienna Woods, since 2002.
The impressive building is considered the largest all-wood office building in Austria. The dominant building materials, wood and glass, emphasize the company's connection to nature as well as its transparency. Solar heat and daylight are optimally utilized for the 140 employees through the circular, glass atrium at the center of the building and distributed throughout the individual office areas. “Our building impressively demonstrates how important sustainable resource use is to us. Unfortunately, the indoor climate wasn't quite as convincing at the beginning,” recalls Dr. Stefan Trzesniowski, safety specialist at the Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf). Measurements of the relative humidity immediately after moving in in 2002 showed values well below 20 percent. Since employees increasingly complained of dry mucous membranes, irritated eyes, and respiratory problems, occupational physician Dr. Sigrid Kölbl-Klufa recommended finding solutions to increase the humidity. Dr. Trzesniowski was tasked with evaluating various options for additional humidification together with the works council and the management board: “Our ideas ranged from 5-meter-high trees in the atrium and open air-conditioning fountains to small portable humidifiers in each office. A lack of controls, high maintenance costs, and hygiene concerns led to the rejection of all proposals.” When the possibility of humidifying the air in the air conditioning system was deemed too technically complex and maintenance-intensive, the Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf) finally opted for a new approach: direct room humidification.
Since 2005, the company has been using a Draabe high-pressure nozzle humidification system from Condair Systems. Small humidifiers, installed directly in the offices, ensure an optimal humidity level of 45 percent year-round, thanks to digital control. "This technology, ideally suited for retrofitting, impressed us from the start. After the system was installed, our employees' complaints disappeared immediately," reports Dr. Trzesniowski. Dr. Trzesniowski, who is also responsible for building services, doesn't have to worry about maintenance and cleaning: "The humidification system is very low-maintenance for us. The manufacturer regularly replaces the water treatment system and the humidifiers without us having to lift a finger." All humidifiers are operated exclusively with hygienically treated water, supplied through a multi-stage water purification process. The systems are housed in mobile containers, which are replaced every six months with fully serviced units. Annual VDI certifications and the DGUV test mark (AUVA in Austria) demonstrate the high standards of hygiene and maintenance.
After nearly 13 years of reliable operation, when the Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf) had the option of upgrading their humidification technology, the board immediately approved the replacement investment in a new system from Condair Systems. The new Draabe NanoFog Sens humidifiers are significantly smaller and quieter than their predecessors. The fine mist, which is sprayed directly into the rooms as needed, is therefore barely visible. Eighteen NanoFog Sens humidifiers with a maximum total output of 27 liters per hour are installed in the ÖBf's office areas. For Dr. Trzesniowski, the greatest advantage of the new technology lies in the water treatment: “The high-pressure pump and reverse osmosis system are now housed in just one container instead of two. This significantly reduces maintenance, space requirements, and energy consumption.”
Looking back on the past 14 years, Dr. Stefan Trzesniowski considers the additional humidification system just as indispensable as heating: “The year-round optimal humidity is a noticeable factor in the well-being and health of our employees. The humidification system is fully accepted, not least because it has been working flawlessly from day one for the past 14 years.”
"The optimal air humidity all year round is a noticeable feel-good and health factor for our employees. The air humidification system is fully accepted, not least because it has been working for 14 years from day one."
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