CO2 Air Quality Monitors: Why CO2 Matters for Indoor Air
You're busy at work when it hits — a throbbing headache right behind your eyes. It's the fourth one in just two weeks, and they all occur at the office. You can't attribute the headache to illness. Could there be an issue with the building's air quality?
There might be. Pollutants and particulates can spread through indoor air, undetectable to the human eye. And in areas where lots of people congregate, high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) can encourage their proliferation. When this occurs, sensitive individuals may experience fatigue, headaches, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Many organizations use a CO2 air quality monitor to track indoor carbon dioxide levels. These devices measure current CO2 concentrations, along with other important air quality metrics such as temperature and humidity. To accomplish this task, air quality monitors incorporate non-dispersive infrared sensors that evaluate ventilation in real-time.
Monitoring systems tell you everything about indoor air quality. If CO2 levels get too high, you can take corrective action, mitigating the risk of uncomfortable symptoms for occupants.
What CO2 Levels Reveal About Indoor Air Quality and Building Performance
Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of oxygen. It's created every time you exhale. In fact, the average adult breath contains 35,000 to 50,000 parts per million (ppm) of CO2. When you're in a room with lots of people, CO2 levels can rise rapidly as people breathe in and out. Other sources of indoor carbon dioxide include cigarette smoke and fuel-based appliances, such as gas stoves or heaters.
CO2 levels reflect a building's ventilation efficiency and air circulation quality. When carbon dioxide levels get high, building inhabitants may notice that the air feels stuffy and that odors are more pronounced. Adequate ventilation is critical for indoor air quality (IAQ), as it removes built-up contaminants such as volatile organic compounds and particulates. It can push out CO2 and freshen a space, providing clean air for people to inhale.
Several regulations place limits on average exposure to CO2 indoors. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets an average Permissible Exposure Limit of 5,000 ppm over eight hours. And the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) limits short-term CO2 exposure to an average of 30,000 ppm over 15 minutes.
State and local governments may have stricter CO2 limitations that apply to office buildings, schools, healthcare centers, and multifamily housing. Building owners and administrators must adhere to these guidelines to protect occupant health and safety.
The Role of Industrial IoT in CO2 Air Quality Monitoring
As a building owner or manager, having tools that check for safe indoor CO2 levels can help you stay compliant and safeguard tenant health. Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) companies produce sensors that track building IOQ in real-time and transfer the data to a unified dashboard.
Sensors can be placed throughout the building, gathering IOQ data across every room. These sensors cover large spaces, and they interact with each other to transfer data to a single host unit. That unit gathers the information and sends it to a cloud platform, where you can view stats on your building's current indoor air quality.
Cloud-based platforms give you centralized visibility into each room's IOQ. That's different from standalone units that capture isolated data for a single space. With a standalone unit, maintenance teams must go from unit to unit and verify current IOQ measurements. A cloud-based solution allows you to view all IOQ metrics from a unified platform.
Must-Have Platform Capabilities for CO2 Monitoring Systems
There are multiple air quality monitoring systems available for commercial use. However, they differ in their abilities. When searching for a system for your building, choose one that offers these features:
Platform flexibility: Platforms with customizable analytics dashboards allow you to view the metrics that matter most.
Deployment options: Systems that are easy to install let you begin collecting IOQ data immediately.
Sensor interoperability: Units that connect with one another and share data provide clear insights into your building's IOQ.
Integration with other tools: IOQ monitors that connect with HVAC and building management systems enhance monitoring and support energy efficiency.
Data ownership and security: Systems that provide end-to-end encryption and full control over data help maintain compliance and data privacy.
Accessibility: Platforms with role-based access control let you authorize who can view IOQ metrics.
IOQ systems may issue firmware updates that introduce new features and correct bugs. Verify that your system can handle these updates remotely, without requiring hands-on assistance.
Scalability and Long-Term Adaptability for Smart Buildings
If you're planning to introduce air quality monitors across multiple locations or building portfolios, using the same system will allow you to view metrics from a single platform. You can create multiple dashboards for each building, and allow teams to access the ones they're responsible for.
Some industrial-grade IOQ systems support additional sensors besides CO2, temperature, and humidity. For example, Attune offers particulate matter and volatile organic compound sensors. These tools detect gases and particles that can harm a building occupant's health.
With an industrial-grade air quality system, you can add or remove sensors at any time. This makes it possible to future-proof your building operations, so your system evolves with your needs.
When choosing an air quality monitor, there are a few red flags to look out for. Avoid a system that:
Lacks robust security features, such as end-to-end encryption
Can't scale when you need to add new sensors
Provides limited data visualization options
Look for air quality monitors that provide strong coverage over your space. Well-built sensors are always active, giving you real-time insights into building status.
Choosing a Future-Ready CO2 Monitoring Strategy
High CO2 air quality levels make a room feel stuffy and stale. Above certain levels, they can cause adverse health effects. By implementing an indoor air quality monitoring system, you can track CO2 levels and take action if there's an issue.
Attune's market-leading indoor air quality monitoring systems give you instant visibility into your building's CO2 levels. Our sensors start working the minute you install them, aggregating data into a single platform that's accessible through desktop and mobile devices.
Attune scales with you as your building portfolio grows. Adding new air quality sensors is a breeze, and you can incorporate other tools to monitor building assets and energy efficiency.
Don't wait for air quality issues to happen. Schedule a demo with Attune to learn more about how we can support your building's air quality.
