The New Normal: Technology & IAQ
What is Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common indoor pollutants can help reduce the risk of health concerns across the indoor environment. Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality issues. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.
Common IAQ pollutant sources can include:
- Fuel-burning combustion equipment
- Building materials and furnishings
- Products for cleaning and maintenance
- Outdoor air pollution
A Forward-Thinking Approach to IAQ Monitoring
Traditionally, IAQ management has solely been a product of ad hoc investigations that took place on a quarterly or semi-annual basis within designated areas of a building. Spot check investigations conducted with Grade A instrumentation have shown that they can produce highly accurate results – but provide significant limitations as it pertains to painting the true picture of a building’s overall health throughout a specified time period.
This is where real-time IAQ monitoring provides value. By implementing a multi-parameter IoT-based IAQ monitoring solution that utilizes sensor-based technology and analytics, you can ensure that your building’s IAQ is being actively managed, 24/7/365. Understanding the real-time performance of specific areas within your building is crucial as it relates to the health and well-being of tenants, guests, and operations staff.
Real-time access to the key components that make up IAQ is paramount when assessing the overall health of a building. Without a solid understanding of these parameters, IAQ-related issues can become much harder to remediate. The most common parameters that are measured include:
- Temperature / Relative Humidity
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Particulate Matter (PM2.5 / PM10)
- Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs)
- Formaldehyde (CH2O)
- Ozone (O3)
Implementation of a real-time IAQ monitoring solution provides significant benefits and advantages to indoor environmental quality initiatives when compared with traditional methods. Given that IAQ is constantly changing and evolving within an indoor environment, ad hoc investigations provide little benefit as it relates to assessing the overall status of a building and how its mechanical systems are performing each day.
If you are interested in learning more about TBL’s RESET® Accredited solution, or real-time IAQ monitoring in general, TBL is here to help.
