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Presenatation From Sensware
Presenatation From Sensware
Presenatation From Sensware
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part 1: What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
05 The Standard Definition of IAQ
06 What Constitutes a Healthy IAQ?
Indoor Air Quality is a term that references the air inside of a building
that meets occupant requirements. The definition contains subjective
and objective components making it difficult to quantify.
05
WHAT CONSTITUTES A HEALTHY IAQ?
1. IAQ should not have a negative impact on 2. Air quality should meet people’s
health and productivity. This is somewhat expectations of being “acceptable.” Occupants
quantifiable due to studies conducted to should describe their environment as fresh
investigate how cognitive abilities can and pleasant. To an extent this is somewhat
be influenced by exposure to various air “subjective.” People are relatively aware
pollutants. of healthy indoor air quality or if there is a
dangerous level of pollutants in the air.
06
Part 2
The Impact & Importance
of Monitoring IAQ
THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING IAQ
08
WHY MONITOR IAQ?
09
WHICH POLLUTANTS SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT?
The graph below represents the number of years a person’s life is reduced due to poor IAQ.
One study conducted uses pollutant levels and its impact on Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY). DALY is a measure of overall disease
burden, expressed as the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death. With research being conducted, the importance of
monitoring continues to increase and standards continue to evolve. Experts have quantified pollutants that are harmful in some quantity to
human health. The graph above represents the number of years a persons life is reduced due to external factors i.e poor IAQ and exposure
to pollutants. It also illustrates life years lost based on exposure (per 100,000/yr). As you can see, PM 2.5 is one of the most influential
pollutants on a person’s DALY. On average it accounts for 1000 total years lost /100,000 people it affects. The second data point on the graph
is second hand smoke. It accounts for about 100 years lost for 100,000 affected by second hand smoke. With this data, the message is
consistent - one can positively impact health by limiting exposure to pollutants.
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY STANDARDS
3 3
PM2.5 25 µg/m (1 day avg.) 35 µg/m (1 day avg.) 5 ppm
3 3
PM10 50 µg/m (1 day avg.) 150 µg/m (1 day avg.) 15 ppm
3
SO2 20 µg/m (1 day avg.) 75 ppb (1 hr. avg.) 5 ppm (8 hr.
0.5 ppm (3 hr. avg.) avg.)
3
NO2 200 µg/m (1 hr. avg.) 53 ppb (1 yr. avg.) 5 ppm (8 hr.
3
40 µg/m (1 yr. avg.) 100 ppb (1 hr. avg.) avg.)
IAQ pollutants are present everywhere and we are constantly breathing in various levels of Particulate Matter (PM), Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs), etc. It’s the levels that matter. Different organizations have set unique standards for what they quantify as being
acceptable levels of various pollutants. Above, we see 3 different organizations and the difference in standards they recommend for
maximum defined levels. The organizations also provide additional aspects of acceptable IAQ. For example, OSHA refers to ASHRAE 62.1
which defines building ventilation rates for acceptable IAQ. Healthy IAQ goes beyond organizations standards and some states have imposed
regulations to ensure healthy indoor environments. California and New Jersey have IAQ regulations that reference various contaminants
but IAQ levels are rarely defined. While there is no consensus on pollutants limits, organizations acknowledge that daily dose and exposure
averages over time matter. Extensive research in this field is still establishing and redefining standards for IAQ pollutants. As more indoor air
research continues forward, standards will similarly move to match science. As we learn more about health effects, more limits will be set
and redefined.
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Part 3
Challenges of
IAQ Monitoring
CHALLENGES IN MONITORING IAQ
CAN IAQ BE QUANTIFIED AT ALL? NOT EASILY.
Inaccurate measurements.
Cross talks with other pollutants can skew results and lead to faulty
measurements.
Uncontrolled environments.
There are 100s of 1000s of compounds and particles that affect us and
our health; however, not all are measurable without precise controlled
environments and equipment.
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WHAT DOES IAQ DATA LOOK LIKE?
TIME INTEGRATED VS. REAL-TIME SAMPLING
When discussing IAQ data there are two type of data that people use.
Time-Integrated Real-Time
Time-integrated is a one off sample set in Real-time monitoring provides you with
which you put out a sensor, (i.e radon puck) visibility into your IAQ immediately. With real-
to collect data over a given amount of time time IAQ sensors you can monitor several
- week, month, etc. The pollutant is captured pollutants and create thresholds for each
and is sent to a laboratory and you receive individual pollutant. By monitoring specific
an average quantity of pollutant. This type of pollutants in real-time, you gain visibility into
sampling is sufficient for certain situations trends and are able to take proactive actions/
when needing to know an average level - measures in order to bring yourself or building
for example radon is known to be variable. occupants out of potentially dangerous
Although this type of data can be beneficial, situations. With real-time IAQ monitoring,
there are also some issues. Mainly, the you are also able to maintain mechanical
sampling provides information after the equipment that shows degradation based
fact, preventing you from learning about a on air quality profiles being measured. It is
dangerous situation as it occurs. This makes it increasingly important to know both if IAQ
less helpful than knowing about situation and reaches unhealthy levels and also when it
the trends beforehand so you can take action reaches those levels. Real-time gives you
to bring yourself into a safe environment. clear visibility of specific trends and events.
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REAL-TIME MONITORING SAMPLE DATA
The graph below shows real-time CO2 monitoring with two different thresholds.
The graph illustrates CO2 data over time. In this If this was time-integrated sampling it would be
instance, two separate thresholds have been the average of all data so the value might actually
created - 1000 parts per million for a warning appear below the 1000 threshold; however, when
alert and 2000 parts per million for a critical looking at real-time data you can see instances
warning level. With this real-time IAQ monitoring, when CO2 levels went above the 1000 threshold
the facility manager or building engineer receives and when CO2 levels got close to the critical
real-time alerts via email as levels of CO2 reach warning level. You wouldn’t normally receive this
thresholds. This enables proactive action to data if looking at a time-integrated sample but
happen to reduce critical levels of CO2. can easily see with real-time samples.
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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTS - NEW IAQ TRENDS
What is being done today and what are the new trends in IAQ monitoring?
Cost effective
Continuous Monitoring Available but:
Wireless
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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTS - NEW IAQ TRENDS
As new research is conducted and standards are imposed, new solutions are created.
Real-Time IAQ sensors allow you to:
Receive real-time alerts if thresholds are met. Install devices simply due to
wireless solution.
Save money - Sensors are very cost effective. Monitor data in the cloud where
various analytics can be run.
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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTS - NEW IAQ TRENDS
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Part 4
IAQ Monitoring
Applications
IAQ USE CASES
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IAQ USE CASES
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IAQ USE CASES
Construction
Real-time IAQ monitoring can be useful in several aspects of construction projects - from IAQ flush outs to
renovations. Often times construction happening in one section of the building impacts the whole building
i.e- spread of pollutants created by projects.
IAQ Monitoring Results: By monitoring IAQ in real-time during construction projects, companies are able to:
• Protect and monitor occupied zones of the building when there is construction or renovation.
• Protect workers and equipment sensitive to IAQ such as servers, etc.
• Provide protection from liability of health issues or equipment failure.
• Provide data that enables building engineers to be proactive in maintaining a healthy IAQ i.e - adding
additional HVAC filtering.
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IAQ USE CASES
Carbon Monoxide
Many places have detectors but based on latest standards, for example WELL Building Standards,
it’s recommended to monitor Carbon Monoxide in real-time around kitchens, boiler rooms, etc.
This ensures that CO levels don’t meet critical thresholds. Basic CO detectors trigger an alarm at
700 ppm within 1-4 hours or 400 ppm between 4-15 minutes. Usually it is too late. According to
ASHRAE standards, exposure to CO levels of 9ppm is dangerous.
IAQ Monitoring Results: With real-time CO monitoring you know you if and when your need to
investigate - enabling proactive behavior.
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CARE ABOUT YOUR AIR
REQUEST DEMO
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