Indoor Air Quality Monitoring: How To Test, Measure & Improve
To be frank, we were approached for this purpose by a few of the facility managers who use our innovative air quality control program. They were more than ever involved in tracking some other part of their buildings remotely as a way of reducing costs, such as electricity consumption. Much afterwards, when continuing to collaborate with us, did they hear about indoor air quality testing in UAE and incorporate it in order to provide a cleaner, healthy atmosphere for buildings — and to avoid the adverse effects of indoor air pollutants.
For several facility operators, you might even neglect the value of your building's air quality. Although that doesn't mean that it ought to be rejected because you can't see it. Studies have also shown that low air quality affects people greatly:
- Around 3.8 million people worldwide suffer from indoor air pollution each year. The cause of various
- respiratory illnesses, including asthma, breathing inflammation, lower lung capacity and cancer, is particulate matter.
- Low air pollution limits human efficiency and information processing capabilities.
How Can You Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Monitoring of the indoor air quality testing means achieving a safe indoor climate, so what does it actually mean? It says generally:
- Suitable ventilation is available (the introduction and distribution of clean air).
- Pollutants are tested.
- The degree of temperature and humidity is convenient.
Adequate Ventilation
In indoor air quality, ventilation plays a significant role. According to the EPA, ventilation is "a phase mix leading to air supply and removal from a house." These processes include ventilation indoors, air conditioning and indoor air mixing, air circulation in the building and some indoor air outside. If the condition of the indoor air is impaired for one or more operations.
Mechanical ventilation is used in many industrial buildings—vans and ducts—as part of heating systems and HVAC systems. In addition, natural ventilation may also be used by opening doors or windows.
Contaminants To Control
VOCs — These contribute mostly to low air quality indoors; both indoors and outside are omnipresent. VOCs are organic chemicals released from substance or process gases, the majority of which you can detect. Typical indoor VOC outlets include washing agents, disinfectants, air-coolers, dehumidifiers, etc. (Although anything like a fresh carpet seems harmless, formaldehyde gas is also released.) Outside sources of VOC contaminants can contain volatile pollutants that have been drawn in during water use in contaminated groundwater.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)—Carbon monoxide can be smelled, tasted or used, as opposed to VOCs. It may cause fatigue, chest pain or vision damage at low or moderate concentrations; it may be fatal at high concentrations. Carbon monoxide sources are engines, improperly kept boilers or furnaces, automotive exhaust from nearby idling cars, etc.
Particulate matter (PM)— Within and beyond, a combination of solid particles and fluid droplets, such as dust, pollen, smoke, and soot, is contained in Particulate Matter. The particles are of varying sizes, but they are the least important — 10 micrometres in diameter or less — since they are possible to inhale. PM inhalation can impact the lungs and cardiac arteries. Outdoor PM, for example by building or through burning fossil fuels, is entered by natural and mechanical ventilation in buildings. Fireplaces, smoking cigarettes and other activities can be manufactured indoors.
Temperature/Humidity Levels
Temperature and humidity, partially because of convenience, are considered by EPA to be significant elements of air quality. However, excessive temperature and humidity have other implications. Mould will begin to develop because of high moisture, even at elevated building temperatures, the rate of release of chemicals from construction materials is normally greater.
The temperatures indoors are often difficult to monitor than they seem to be because of factors such as sunlight heat gains, outdoor conditions and outdoor air circulation.
How Can You Improve Indoor Air Quality?
No one approach is prescribed to improve the condition of indoor air. A variety of variables, including your individual house, the outside environment and the extent of the issue, can influence the approach you take.
In certain situations, a temporary air pollution problem is caused by a single, unexpected occurrence within a space or house, including an overcrowded conference room. In those situations, anything that you need, like opening a window or getting a fan, can be a short-term repair. Yet more nuanced issues—which are regularly established by inappropriate outcomes of air quality monitoring—will need another method.
Control The Source
If a specific source may be detected, controlling a pollutant source is typically one of the best (and more cost-effective) approaches to improve air quality. Examples include:
- A "low-VOC" folder will help reduce the amount of your VOC.
- Moving pollutants in a better-ventilated environment will lead to the dilution of the contaminant.
- The isolation of the pollutant helps to mask formaldehyde emitting products and suppliers.
Final Words
When it comes to industrial facilities, air filtering techniques are normally more successful when paired with all of the above methods, even when the emissions source is outside the house.
To know more visit: https://www.cornerstonemiddleeast.com/solutions/indoor-air-quality-testing/
