Why Monitor Indoor Air Quality?
Most people are aware of the health implications of air pollution and the risks of too much exposure when Particular Matter levels (PM2.5) are high outside. But indoor air pollution can also have a cumulative and dangerous impact on your health. Formaldehyde, for example, is above the maximum allowable standard in more than 92% of homes we test, while indoor PM2.5 levels tend to be only 25% better than outside.
(When filtration is inadequate: as soon as outdoor pollution increases past ~70 ug/m3, indoor becomes unhealthy)
Comfortable and safe indoor air quality needs regulated temperature and humidity, an adequate supply of fresh outdoor air, and control of pollutants from inside and outside of the building. Common problems include high levels of particulate matter, not enough ventilation, contaminated air, or poor upkeep of heating and air-conditioning systems. Identifying the sources and causes of pollution is the first step to improving the indoor environment, but the process doesn’t end there.
Once the problems have been identified, and steps taken to improve the quality of indoor air quality, ongoing commercial-grade monitoring is essential for maintenance, self-auditing, and communicating the health improvements with your staff, residents, and guests. With the easy availability of inexpensive consumer-grade monitors, it is easy for employees or tenants to test homes and offices themselves, and if they discover poor quality, it can lead to problems with marketing, selling or recruiting. Knowing an employer or landlord is committed to creating a healthy indoor environment is invaluable and provides peace of mind to your staff and guests.
Variance (inaccuracy) from Reference Machine
(Not all monitors are created equal: the professional-grade reference machine is on the left; other monitors become inaccurate over time.)
By using a commercial-grade air monitoring system, users can see accurate real-time information on the quality of the indoor environment, including tracking PM2.5, PM10, TVOC (total organic volatile compounds), CO2, temperature and humidity. Sensors in the monitors collect the data, which is displayed on the screen and then, depending on the monitor, sent to the cloud for remote access through the advanced Qlear APP. Users can also access their real-time home or office air quality data at any time by logging on to the APP from anywhere and compare to outdoor levels near their monitor’s location.
Monitors give greater control and understanding of users’surrounding environment and help identify trends in the quality of the inside air. If you are planning to invest in high-quality filtration solutions, these smart systems let you judge its real impact and demonstrate ROI. Without ongoing monitoring, we see all too often that even the best-meaning clients let maintenance, and therefore results, slip once we leave.
Real-time IAQ on different devices
Monitoring data also allows companies and residents to carry out self-auditing and commercial building operators to move towards green building performance validation since cloud-based monitoring is the first step towards the likes of RESET、LEED or WELL green building certification.
Different green building certifications
On the filtration side, when integrating monitoring with our filtration technology, our clients see typical energy savings of 70 - 80% since the filtration system operates only when it is needed. In addition to energy savings, facility managers also see benefits through reduced maintenance costs since filter changes and cleanings are performed only when monitor readings show a reduction in performance instead of a regular schedule. Finally, facility managers or building owners can now quickly and meaningfully depict the health performance of a space with in-place monitors instead of having to commission lengthy audits with handheld particle counters.
ECS (Eco-smart Control System) helps to save energy
Last but not least, there are immense benefits for staff and residents, who can clearly see the data and feel reassured about the quality of their indoor environment. Increasingly, office buildings with efficient monitoring systems display real-time data in elevators and lobbies to show their commitment to a high quality environment. Continuous air quality monitoring is a critical component of effective IAQ management.
PureLiving has completed over 6,000 projects since 2010, helping clients to improve and manage their indoor environments. Learn more here or get in touch to find out how we can help.