Step-by-Step Guide To Check Indoor CO2 Levels
Poor indoor air quality comes from many sources, but CO2 is particularly sinister, given human senses can't detect its presence.
High levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) result from poor ventilation, high occupant density, or excessive exposure to the combustion of fossil fuels. When untreated, CO2 can lead to severe health effects. Even in low doses, CO2 remains a dangerous indoor pollutant, as it can deplete energy and cause loss of focus. However, high carbon dioxide in blood circulation can be fatal.
If you're the type who'd rather not catch CO2 poisoning, you'll need to learn how to check your indoor CO2 levels the right way. Many choose to slap up a CO2 detector and call it a day. However, it's important to conduct a manual check for safe CO2 levels, even if the indoor CO2 detector isn't going off.
Below, we'll explain how to check for CO2. We'll also show how indoor air quality monitors are a must when checking an indoor environment's CO2 range, and how to interpret findings to root out the cause.
Tools Needed for Measuring CO2 Levels
You can't just lick your finger and hold it in to detect CO2 like you would in the direction of the wind. Scouting out the sources so you can decrease carbon dioxide in blood and in the air requires unique tools, which could include:
CO2 Gas Detection Tubes
Handheld CO2 Data Monitor
Indoor air quality monitors and sensors
Each of these tools performs the same function, which is to test the concentration of CO2 in a given area. As such, they follow the same basic step-by-step guide, which we'll explain next, along with which methods provide the most advantages.
Step-by-Step Measurement Process
Regardless of the method you choose, for accurate CO2 reading results, you can't rush the process. Getting a precise reading requires following a dedicated process. Only then can you determine if you have normal CO2 levels. Then, if tests reveal high levels, you can find the indoor sources of pollution and correct them before they unfold into serious health concerns.
Step 1: Choose the Right Location
The reason CO2 is so difficult to detect is that it's a colorless, odorless gas.
So, finding the area with the highest indoor concentration of CO2 isn't a cakewalk. For one, you can't let the outdoor levels of CO2 interfere with your indoor reading, meaning you should get your test samples from an area that's not near an open window or door.
Prepare a list of places you wish to monitor. Typically, areas most likely to experience high levels of CO2 are those located near combustion sources, such as kitchens. Prime CO2 locations are also spaces with high occupancy rates, like conference rooms or office floors.
For best results, take multiple readings both in places with more and less CO2 sources, as this will help provide you with a more accurate average.
Step 2: Set Up Your Measurement Tool
Whether you use IoT sensors, a handheld monitor, or a tube test kit, you must read the instructions thoroughly so you can use them properly to secure an accurate environmental quality assessment.
Ensure your tools have fresh batteries (if necessary) and are free of any damages or defects. It's also wise to ensure they have undergone any outstanding software updates. Finally, once they're fully functional, you can begin your tests.
Step 3: Record the CO2 Levels
You can't simply run a single test and call it a day. CO2 levels can drastically fluctuate based on the ammount of people in a room at a given time or any momentary bursts in CO2, such as a lit cigarette or a stove with an open flame.
For a well-rounded recording, test your measurements in different parts of a room. This step is especially necessary for larger spaces with more occupants.
It's at this stage where IoT sensors work best, given it's easier to record larger data sets because you can set automated readings throughout a building for more holistic analysis. With handheld monitors and test tubes, you'll need to go around and take multiple readings for a single room.
Accurate results also require multiple readings throughout the day. It's not atypical for CO2 to spike at peak hours, such as when many people occupy a room at once. As you test for CO2, take readings at different hours, and record all findings as you begin to identify any trends.
Step 4: Interpret the Data
Once you've recorded your data, correlate your findings to determine the threat level.
CO2 is measured in parts per million (PPM), a calculation to determine the concentration of a given substance within a given number of cubic feet.
Safe indoor CO2 levels measure between 250-1000 PPM, anything above this indicates a poor concentration that could cause direct effects to the lungs or heart. Depending on the severity of the indoor PPM, you may need to order an evacuation of the premises until levels are lowered.
The more data you gather the more precise your interpretation and safer your building occupants will be. For example, you may find that certain parts of a large office space experience higher levels of CO2, while others are normal. In that case, you can draft plans to build adequate ventilation in that specific area or move office desks around to balance room occupancy levels.
Maintain Optimal Indoor CO2 Levels With Attune
The best CO2 monitors automatically track and provide accurate results at all hours of the day; not just when you have the time to run tests. This is why it's wise to install a network of IoT sensors throughout your indoor spaces that track CO2 levels and issue alerts as soon as levels spike above normal.
Attune offers one of the IoT market's top-tier indoor air quality assessment solutions to expertly track a wide range of air quality metrics. From there, they process data, and issue immediate alerts and reports on every metric—CO2 included!
Don't settle for anything less than the best IAQ standards. Contact us today for a free demo to witness how Attune can be your go-to solution for cleaner, safer indoor air.
