Choosing the Best Air Quality Monitor: A Guide
Think about it: Right now, you're encased in air, which probably isn't something you're constantly aware of. However, between 20,000 and 30,000 times a day, you breathe that air. The oxygen then enters your lungs before passing to the blood vessels. Then it travels to the heart, which pumps it throughout the rest of your body.
As organs go, the lungs are important. That's not breaking news to anyone. However, many don't understand that most indoor spaces have high levels of particle pollution. This pollution contributes to poor air quality, and long-term exposure can result in devastating health effects, like respiratory disease, heart failure, and cancer.
This sad reality prompts the question: How do building managers maintain a healthy indoor air quality index? The answer is data.
Below, you'll find out how air quality monitors can capture this life-saving data for you. We'll explain what to look for in the best air quality monitors, and why they're necessary for taking accurate readings of airborne particle pollution, which will inform your actions to cure your building of unhealthy levels of air pollution.
Air Quality Monitors 101
An indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor consists of two basic parts. The first part is a hardware sensor. These sensors are placed throughout buildings to track the concentration of indoor pollutants within a given range.
Depending on the design, indoor air quality monitors track different metrics, including:
Particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Nitrogen dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Radon
Temperature and humidity levels
Mold/mildew
Good air quality sensors connect to Wi-Fi, which explains the need for the second main part of an IAQ monitor: a software platform. The software crunches and compiles the readings to spit out reports and alerts concerning air quality levels. For example, if a sensor tracks a dangerous level of mold in the air, it'll automatically send a notification to the building managers. Then, if the issue is severe, those in charge can order an evacuation.
Types of Air Quality Monitors Suitable for Buildings
Not all indoor air pollution monitors track the same metrics to the same degree. When shopping for solutions, you'll find different types in indoor buildings, including:
CO2 indoor air monitors: trace carbon dioxide levels to report on the effectiveness of indoor ventilation
Particulate matter pollution sensors: measure the concentration of tiny particles floating in the air
Temperature/humidity sensors: provide core metrics that can help enhance comfort and building safety
VOC sensors: track the presence of dangerous organic compounds and chemicals
Key Features to Consider for Building Air Quality Monitors
The more indoor air quality is studied, the greater the concern. For example, scientists now think pollution lowers global life expectancy more than smoking or war.
When you're considering investing in an air quality checker, you must choose one that provides enough information to enact positive change. In other words, you need fast and accurate air quality readings.
Sensor Accuracy and Range
Not all sensors measure air quality with the same effectiveness. Always consult the manufacturer, which will confirm the tracking distance of the air quality monitor. This way, you know your tool can measure IAQ at a far enough distance to get a proper reading. Then, once you know the distance, you can invest in enough sensors to cover the entire building.
Additional factors, like battery life, also affect sensor accuracy. Low battery life can diminish the ability of a sensor to provide accurate readings. After installation, check the sensors periodically to ensure they have fresh, working batteries.
Building-Wide Integration Capabilities
The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized air quality monitoring. For example, now, building owners can connect insights from individual appliances to a holistic strategy. This approach informs mission-critical decisions, like improving facility-wide air quality.
One example is that tracking facility-wide humidity and temperature levels allows managers to test indoor air quality and understand exactly which areas of a building have high traces of mold and mildew, allowing them to eradicate the threat to human health, the building, and its assets.
Scalability and Multi-Zone Monitoring
Zone monitoring is like using a sniper to identify pollutant sources and address the issue at its root.
Top IoT solutions enable maintenance crews to quickly and painlessly add modules to track each zone separately. This allows managers to break down buildings by segment to more accurately identify and eradicate sources of pollution.
Additional Benefits of Advanced Air Quality Monitoring in Buildings
Air quality monitors are full of superior benefits. On top of improved human health and more informed insights, investing in the right IAQ system provides many other benefits, including:
Easier compliance with federal health and environmental regulations
Enhanced workforce productivity and satisfaction
Reduced pollution-related damage from mold and humidity
Less lost revenue from pollution-related downtime
Energy savings through ventilation improvements
Make the Right Choice With Attune
Whether you're attempting to improve the indoor air quality of a school, a construction site, an apartment building, or an office, one thing is clear: You can't put off finding the best air quality monitors. It's a matter of occupational safety.
Attune offers market-leading technology to establish scalable, holistic IAQ tracking. On top of tracking every type of indoor air pollutant, our sensors can integrate into any building's infrastructure and come with fully customizable dashboards.
Get real-time data in the clearest possible format to spot pollutant sources and create a healthy environment for all involved. If you want to learn more about how Attune can help cleanse the air you breathe, schedule a demo to witness it for yourself.
