Good indoor air quality at work is vital to ensure employee wellbeing, work productivity and, in this COVID-rattled world, safety. Additionally, maintaining optimal indoor air quality can result in energy efficiency and reduced building maintenance costs.
To ensure good indoor air quality, employers, building owners and facility managers should first consider using commercial indoor air quality monitors. These devices provide accurate data on the presence of chemicals, gasses and other factors that might influence air quality; the IAQ data that these solutions deliver is crucial in taking the right actions to protect employees and guarantee business growth.
What are commercial indoor air quality monitors, anyway?
Commercial indoor air quality monitors are devices used to detect and evaluate the levels of air contaminants in a work environment. These contaminants include particulate matter. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Formaldehyde that are commonly produced by unexpected sources. IAQ monitors can also be used to track temperature, humidity, air pressure and carbon dioxide as these also contribute to air quality.
The Importance of Installing Air Quality Monitors at Work
On employee health. By knowing what’s in the air, business owners and managers can immediately take actions to address issues and prevent a wide variety of health problems – from short-term effects like headache, dizziness, sore throat, cough and sneezing to long-term and more serious ones like asthma, lung cancer, bronchitis and virus outbreak.
On productivity and work performance. Healthy employees are productive employees. Workers who are comfortable and are exposed to healthy indoor air quality at work take fewer sick leaves and are more likely to continue doing their jobs at an improved pace and efficiency. Additionally, monitored IAQ also fosters confidence and trust between employees and the company knowing that wellness is prioritized.
On the business. The benefits of indoor air quality monitors reflect not only on wellbeing and the employee’s work ability, but on the entire business’ performance. Improving productivity and health positively affects the quality of deliverables, this can result in customer satisfaction and immediate business growth.
Top Considerations When Using Indoor Air Quality Monitors
Choosing the right sensor for your business needs is often the first step that many employers take to improve indoor air quality at work. But before selecting the appropriate device and expecting accurate data from it, one must first consider the following:
| Location | An IAQ monitor must be located in open spaces. This will allow the device to obtain adequate samples of the air employees are being exposed to. |
| Access | Commercial IAQ monitors are not something that you can install and forget. Periodic checking of the sensor is necessary to make sure that it’s still working well, therefore it must be easily accessible. |
| Communications | Some IAQ monitors offer a variety of technologies to communicate data. Some offer just one option, while others have multiple. Make sure to understand your device’s specific network requirements, carrier limitations and area coverage. |
| Security | IAQ monitors shall be out of arm’s reach, and shall not be placed behind a locked gate . |
Choosing the Right Indoor Air Quality Sensor for Your Business
To protect employee wellbeing, productivity and ensure business prosperity, workplaces need smart and comprehensive indoor air quality sensors.
uHoo Aura is a commercial indoor air quality monitor that is designed to determine the condition of the air by measuring various indoor air quality parameters such as Temperature, Humidity, Carbon Dioxide, Dust, VOCs and more. uHoo Aura also comes with a Virus Index that uses a 10-point scoring system and is divided into four categories: Good, Mild, Bad and Severe.
| 1 to 3 (Good) | Virus survival is low and the virus spreading in the air is unlikely. |
| 4 to 6 (Mild) | Virus survival is moderate and the virus spreading in the air is possible but air quality poses little to almost no direct health risk for people who are usually not sensitive to air pollution. Sensitive people may experience health effects. More attention to air quality should be given and actions to improve air quality are recommended. |
| 7 to 8 (Bad) | Virus survival is prolonged and likelihood of the virus spreading in the air is higher. Air quality poses some health risks. Critical assessment of your air quality is necessary and actions to improve air quality is required. |
| 9 to 10 (Severe) | Virus survival is high and the virus spreading in the air is likely. Air quality would affect most people and actions to improve air quality are necessary. |
Get a consolidated view of the IAQ data and all the uHoo Aura devices installed different areas of the facility through a simplified dashboard, set up alerts and push notifications on possible air issues in the building and get the option to present IAQ data via building screen, which is necessary to cultivate transparency, trust and confidence to employees and staff.
To meet every location’s connectivity needs, the device can be set up as quickly as possible either via Wi-Fi or via SIM card, without complex configurations.
uHoo Aura’s real-time IAQ measurements are vital in establishing ways and practices to eliminate air quality issues and safeguard employees from the negative effects of poor indoor air. To know more about the wonders that uHoo Aura can do for your business:
References:
US EPA, O. (2021, June 10). A Guide to Siting and Installing Air Sensors. Www.epa.gov. https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox/guide-siting-and-installing-air-sensors
Marques, G., & Pitarma, R. (2018). Indoor Air Quality Monitoring for Enhanced Healthy Buildings. In www.intechopen.com. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/63898
The Importance of Indoor Air Quality. (n.d.). News Direct. Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://newsdirect.com/news/the-importance-of-indoor-air-quality-809555127
Anciaux, L. (2018, February 7). The importance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) for Business Performance and Wellbeing. IOT Factory. http://iotfactory.eu/the-importance-of-indoor-air-quality-iaq-for-business-performance-and-wellbeing/
