Feature: The importance of indoor air monitors
Eltek explain how their air quality monitors are helping to track air quality as accurately as possible and provide alarms via email or SMS if levels exceed a defined threshold
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 90% of us live in areas where the quality of the air exceeds the guidelines for pollutants and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the levels of air pollutants can be two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.
Indoor air quality is the biggest environmental risk factor in diseases such as cancer, and heart and lung diseases.
In Britain, CO2 is classified as a ‘substance hazardous to health’. Although CO2 is naturally present in atmospheric air, it is in very low concentrations, which is harmless. At higher concentrations, CO2 can cause dizziness, headaches, and a loss of consciousness.
Because CO2 has a greater density than Oxygen and Nitrogen, and because people exhale CO2, indoor spaces are particularly susceptible to the accumulation of CO2.
Increased CO2 levels have also been linked with an increased risk of Covid-19 transmission as it often signifies poorly ventilated spaces.
According to government guidelines, CO2 levels of 800 parts per million (ppm) or less indicates a well-ventilated room whereas values over 1500ppm likely mean overcrowding or poor ventilation.
Indoor spaces are also particularly susceptible to collecting high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). High concentrations of these have been linked with the numerous health risks outlined above.
Therefore, ongoing monitoring of air quality is essential at home, allowing you to consider whether it’s necessary to have open windows or, in places where opening a window is not possible, an air ventilation system.
Eltek Data Loggers have monitors for CO2, CO, NO2, VOCs, PMs 1, 2.5 and 10, and Ozone (O₃), as well as temperature, humidity, visible and ultraviolet light.
The Eltek Air Quality Monitor has been developed in conjunction with Bartlett Institute at University College London. Dozens of these units were installed across London by the UCL team in a large research project monitoring air quality.
Eltek’s many customers use these monitors to track air quality as accurately as possible and provide alarms via email or SMS if levels exceed a defined threshold. Eltek’s software then stores this data making it easy for you to either see a real-time reading or to track levels over time. Eltek has also recently updated its sensors to work on LoRaWAN and Sigfox as well as 4G and Wi-Fi.
Plus, it is now possible for the data to be sent to Eltek’s new browser-based software, Darca Connect, which means you can view real-time and historic air quality online in an instant, at any time, from anywhere, on any device. With a fully customisable dashboard, you can simply view levels or even produce reports to ensure you are showing due diligence in protecting the home and its inhabitants from undue risks caused by poor air circulation.
If you think you would benefit from air quality monitoring, Eltek will be happy to help find a bespoke solution for your needs.
Contact Eltek Data Loggers:
+44 (0)1223 872111
But what if opening your windows to improve the ventilaiton just lets in your neighbour’s burned cooking fumes, or his diesel exhaust (engine left running outside the houses while his car warms up in the morning, or just because he’s got the radio on?), or worst still when the neighbour’s wood stove is sending smoke your way? Then you need an air quality monitor otuside too? But what can do about the pollution that someone else is emitting, apart from move? If you can. Here in the UK, our local councils are not really on to this and don’t have much power to stop anyting anyway. Particularly when the smoke and fumes happen after dark. Of course you can try to show “due diligence” in your own home or workplace but how to make others behave more responsibily is a big problem.
as well as temperature, humidity, visible and ultraviolet light.
If you think you would benefit from air quality monitoring, Eltek will be happy to help find a bespoke solution for your needs.