How to test air quality?

Providing a healthy breathing environment for all employees within the workplace is definitely something employers should be concerned with. Its benefits are not limited to better health and reduced absenteeism but can actually boost productivity through improved comfort and well-being. Luckily, modern technology offers many effective solutions to monitor and improve the indoor air quality in commercial buildings. So how does office and commercial building air quality testing work, and why is it something worth investing in?

Why is indoor air quality important?

Inhaling pollutants can be detrimental to your health, causing all kinds of health problems, from allergies and headaches to asthma episodes, respiratory illnesses and concentration problems. The longer the exposure to unfavourable conditions, the higher the risk of developing adverse effects. In short, poor air conditions can lead to financial losses for your company resulting from health-related absences and the impact of impaired cognitive functions on your employees’ performance.

The importance of air temperature and humidity

It’s important to understand that pollution is not the only factor affecting the indoor air quality in your business premises. It’s just as important to monitor its temperature and humidity levels.

The value of relative humidity shows how much water vapour there is in the air. It’s estimated that the level of humidity should be between 40 and 60% — this range provides the optimal conditions for human health as well as office equipment and furniture. Too much moisture can lead to mould growth, and too little results in, e.g., upper respiratory tract or skin irritation and more severe allergic reactions.

Temperature fluctuations can affect not only the air humidity levels but the well-being of the occupants as well — and in the case of offices or other commercial spaces, these are going to be your employees or customers. Studies show that a workplace that is either too hot or too cold can be distracting and increase the number of work errors. This suggests that you can help your team stay focused throughout the day by maintaining comfortable thermal conditions.

What are the causes of indoor air pollution?

Among the most common causes of indoor air pollution, we can distinguish chemical, biological, and physical airborne contaminants, which can lead to health issues when inhaled. Apart from relatively easy to control factors such as temperature and humidity, your office air quality can be worsened by insufficient ventilation, inefficient heating systems or hazardous substances present in building materials, e.g., formaldehyde. It’s also important to note that the quality of indoor air can be affected by outdoor pollution, e.g., due to inhalable particulate matter (PM 2.5 / PM 10) getting into the building.

What are the most reliable methods of indoor air quality testing?

Some air hazards are easily noticeable, such as the presence of characteristic odours indoors, lack of air movement, stale air, growth of mould, damp walls or window condensation, among other things. Although such issues are not necessarily a direct result of poor IAQ and may be caused by different, non-air related factors. Nonetheless, such signals should never be ignored. Unfortunately, other problems may not be as apparent, which is not to say that their impact on the building and the health of its occupants can be underestimated. By conducting a thorough air quality check, you can avoid further complications and pinpoint possible areas of concern, as well as improvement opportunities, to create a healthier and safer work environment for your employees.

What is an air quality monitor, and how does it work?

An indoor air quality monitor is a device equipped with sensors and technologies capable of detecting and recognising the most common airborne pollutants and measuring their levels along with the temperature and humidity of the indoor air. Thanks to their compact and stylish design, they can seamlessly fit into any modern office space to provide valuable measurements without taking up too much space or disrupting aesthetics.

The type and number of pollutants that can be identified during testing can vary depending on the model you choose. That’s why it’s essential to learn more about potential airborne hazards and risks your business is especially prone to in order to choose the most effective device. Remember that in order to get precise readings, you should place the monitor in the area you want to test. Make sure it’s not covered by furniture or any other elements that could interfere with the sensors’ performance by limiting air access.

What do the air quality meters check?

Depending on the model you choose, our air quality meters can detect and measure the exact levels of the following:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2).
• PM2.5 / PM10.
• Formaldehyde Gas (HCHO).
• Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC).
• Temperature.
• Humidity.

Indoor air quality test — how often should this process be repeated?

Prolonged exposure to indoor air pollution can cause the development of health problems or worsen the existing issues. That’s why regular, preferably daily, testing is essential to continuously maintain high levels of air quality and stop the emergence of possible hazards. Due to the number of factors that can affect indoor conditions, air quality can change dynamically, so it’s important to constantly monitor all important parameters.

This is not a problem when your office is equipped with its own air quality monitor. This way, you can easily control whether air conditions within your business space are stable and comfortable enough to provide your employees and customers with a healthy environment.

The benefits of monitoring workplace air quality

Compared with the initial investment, the benefits of installing an air monitoring system in your company building go far and beyond. There’s a well-known saying that knowledge is power, but in this situation, it’d be more accurate to say that knowledge is the opportunity to prevent problems instead of having to solve them in the future. By detecting air pollution and its roots, it’s possible to eliminate pollutants before they cause any harm. In addition, by providing your employees with a more comfortable work environment, you can make their work not only easier but also more effective.

Learn more about high-quality solutions from AIR8

At AIR8, we understand the importance of control in maintaining good air quality in crowded places such as public and healthcare institutions, educational centres or office buildings. And to make this task as easy and comfortable as possible,we’ve come up with a range of technologically advanced monitors packed with sensitive sensors perfect for monitoring air conditions for commercial purposes.

If you want to find out more about specific solutions from our offer, send us your questions, and we’ll make sure to provide you with everything you need, from giving you a detailed description of the different models of our air quality monitors to discussing with you their benefits, uses, and differences between them.