Why monitor indoor air quality?

When it comes to air toxins and pollutants, our focus tends to go outdoors, but research shows that our indoor air can be just as harmful, if not more; with some indoor spaces showing significantly higher C02 levels than the outdoors. Add to this, the rise of airborne illnesses like COVID-19, and you’ve got a lot happening (that you can’t see).

For businesses and building owners this raises a lot of concerns around employee wellness. However, with technology in place, like air quality monitors, there are many benefits that can be realised:

  • Improved productivity – how often have you sat in a stuffy conference room and fought the urge to doze off? Well-ventilated rooms with clean breathing air can increase your concentration levels, and focus. The lower the air quality in occupied workspaces, the less productive your teams will be. Not only that, proper ventilation reduces the risk of contracting airborne illnesses, and can minimise the sick days your team are likely to take.
  • Building efficiency – the better the air quality in a building, the more it will benefit on both financial and operational levels. If building owners are committed to providing better living and working conditions, the value of their building will increase as it’s a safer environment for its occupants.
  • Increased awareness – you can’t manage what you can’t measure. The more aware you are of CO2 levels, the better you’re able to manage them. Being able to view in real-time when safe thresholds have been exceeded is essential.

One of the main challenges of indoor air quality is poor ventilation. There’s a ton of research to support the fact that improved ventilation is a key factor in overall strategies to combat COVID-19.

What this means is that building managers, business owners and organisation team leaders need to closely evaluate the quality of the air within their workspaces and take steps to improve it.

CO2 levels – when do they get risky?

COVID management aside, constant monitoring of air quality is essential. To do this, you need a solution on board that will allow you to see the levels of CO2 in your building and workspaces so that you can react accordingly. Here’s some C02 levels worth noting:

Ventilation Category CO2 (ppm) Actions
Good 400 – 600 Good ventilation – lowest risk of infection. Maintain.
Fair 600 – 800 Fair ventilation – low risk of infection. Maintain.
Poor 800 – 1500 Poor ventilation – moderate risk of infection. Reduce occupancy if unable to mitigate.
Very poor 1500+ Very poor ventilation – high risk of infection. Evacuate if unable to mitigate.

Air quality monitors provide remote, continuous, scalable and centralised CO2 monitoring in any indoor environment. It means that you can view the CO2 levels at any time, and in any area of your building and workplace. You’re provided with real-time data so you can make the right decisions for your occupants and your teams.

ESP can help keep your people breathing clean air. We’re dedicated to air quality monitoring, managing building ventilation, and understanding what you can do to provide a safer, healthier environment for your occupants and employees. Find out more information about our air quality monitors.