Providing peace of mind for the Air Quality in Office Environments

One of the barriers to people returning to the offices post-Covid, is the perception that Virus particles could still be in the air. Employees are concerned about the potential that the quality of the air in offices is poor, and businesses are unable to provide a safe working space.

At ABEC, we are helping businesses to take back control of their internal air quality and assisting them to reassure employees that the working environment they are returning to is safe. We now install Indoor Air Quality sensors that integrate with most existing Building Management Systems.

When a business comes to ABEC to enquire about the types of solutions we offer, we talk through their needs and understand exactly what they are trying to achieve. Whether it’s monitoring CO2 levels in meeting rooms or checking the space’s Virus Risk, we listen to their requirements and provide recommendations for how these can be achieved.

We manage the project from inception to completion, supplying & installing the sensors, setting up the Dashboard to monitor the levels and provide demos and training, to support the customer’s on-going need to monitor the data and act when air quality needs improving. ABEC will also integrate the IAQ sensors with most existing Building Management Systems to give that single pane of glass approach.

At ABEC we are passionate about comfort and the environment. The IAQ sensors we install not only create a comfortable and safe working environment, but they also help reduce energy consumption in the process, making your building more sustainable.

We feel this is aiding the drive to get people back into offices, providing peace of mind and confidence that their environment is safe and their employees are looking out for their welfare.

Here’s some more information about Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality monitors help you see what’s hiding in the air you breathe, for a healthier, more comfortable working environment.

Smart indoor air quality sensors help you optimize ventilation and building maintenance for energy savings and ensure a happy, healthy, and productive workplace for tenants, employees, and students.

What is measured

Radon – In the air, radon breaks down into tiny radioactive elements (radon progeny) that can lodge in the lining of the lungs, where they can give off radiation. This radiation can damage lung cells and eventually lead to lung cancer. As with most contaminants, the danger of radon arises from high levels or prolonged exposure over time. Therefore, continual monitoring is key to understanding your risk.

PM – Particulate matter, or PM, isn’t just one contaminant or pollutant. It’s a range of particles of dust, dirt, and liquids that become suspended in the air. Some of these are large enough to see, like smoke, smog, or soot, but the most harmful are smaller, invisible particles1. These can get into your lungs and even your bloodstream. The healthier the air, the fewer PMs.

CO2 – Carbon Dioxide or CO2 is a greenhouse gas that is natural and harmless in small quantities, but as levels rise it can affect productivity and sleep. Most commonly produced indoors by the air we exhale, CO2 levels concentrate indoors with less ventilation.

Mould – Mould is a microscopic fungus that helps nature decompose dead organic material. Both mould and mildew are different types of fungus, but mould is usually shades of black, blue, red, and green, whereas mildew is white.

Humidity – Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air. Relative humidity measures the amount of water in the air in relation to the maximum amount of water vapor (moisture). The higher the temperature, the more water vapor the air can hold. Relative humidity is what your morning weather reporter would refer to.

VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a combination of gases and odors emitted from many different toxins and chemicals found in everyday products.

Pollen – Hay fever has a strange name. It’s an allergy to grass, not hay, and it doesn’t produce a fever. Pollen is the male fertilizing agent of flowering plants, trees, grasses and weeds2. Our environment needs it, but it is also responsible for hay fever which affects between 10% and 30% of the population2.

Virus Risk – The Virus Risk Indicator is affected by four factors of airborne virus risk to rank your risk level out of 10. These four factors use data based on three existing sensors in a Wave Plus: CO2, temperature and humidity.

Written by Joe Pinder & Sindy Cross

1 www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/air-pollution/types

2 www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-dictionary/pollen