What is indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring?
Indoor air quality monitoring is the real-time collection of data on the various indoor pollutants present in your space. These pollutants range from tiny particles and invisible gasses to harmful chemicals and compounds. Some of which include particulate matter, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and more. Exposure to high concentrations of indoor pollution can cause a variety of adverse health effects including fatigue, irritation, and even increased risk of heart and lung disease. In this blog, we’ll cover how to pick the right monitoring solution for your needs and use the data to improve your building’s health.
How to pick the right IAQ monitor for your space.
Indoor air quality monitors, often referred to as IAQ sensors, come in a variety of designs and use cases. At qlair, we recommend using a multi-pollutant IAQ sensor that tracks particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity. These pollutants pose a significant risk to occupant wellbeing and building efficiency.
IAQ monitor design types:
Touchscreen data display: If you want to see the status of your air quality from the device itself, choosing a monitor with a touchscreen display can be a great option. These monitors present data on the pollutant levels in your space so you can check the status at any time.
Discrete monitors: Most hardware options do not showcase their data directly on the device and require a software solution to view data. This can be a good option if you want to ensure building operators know air quality levels, but not necessarily occupants and staff.
IAQ data collection types:
Multi-pollutant sensing: This sensor type monitors more than one air quality parameter. Unlike a carbon dioxide monitor that strictly monitors one gas’ concentration, multi-pollutant sensors gather a variety of indoor air quality data pertaining to several indoor pollutants. This is a good option if you are looking to get an expansive read on the status of your indoor air quality.
Single-pollutant sensors: These include hardware such as radon detectors and carbon dioxide monitors, and only gather data on one specific indoor air quality parameter. If budget is limited, or you would like to focus your attention solely on one IAQ parameter, this will be the way to go.
Choosing the right location for your indoor air quality monitors.
Before aimlessly deploying your monitors throughout your indoor space, it is important to have a clear plan of attack. Some spaces are of high priority – like conference rooms, athletic facilities, and other areas with high occupancy. It is recommended to start here.
By tracking the areas that have had issues in the past, you can confirm the source of the issue and take steps to resolve them. Expanding your monitoring area will result in a larger data set to analyze and can be helpful in tracing trends associated with air quality and building activities. This should be the goal.
However, large indoor air quality projects can be daunting, so starting off small is a great first step. Uncover the most important spaces to you and your occupants and begin gathering data.
Tracking progress and monitoring the effects of changes.
Many indoor air quality monitors come with a software solution to help you visualize your building’s data and act on them. If you use a solution like qlair, data can be viewed at any time from the web or on your smartphone with a dashboard and app.
These applications and systems are imperative, as they provide valuable insights into what adjustments must be made to improve air quality. Once any new solution or strategy has been implemented, you can ensure they are effective by tracking progress via the web or mobile.
