The 1970s energy crisis caused a significant change in how buildings were designed and built, many of which are still in use today. Structures became increasingly airtight and insulated to conserve energy. While these design changes resulted in energy savings, they also reduced the fresh air circulating through a building’s HVAC systems. Additionally, synthetic materials became common in the construction, decoration, and maintenance of built structures.
Research now shows that inadequate ventilation, chemicals, and other factors related to building design contribute to indoor pollution and can have a detrimental impact on human health. Addressing indoor air quality (IAQ) must therefore be a top priority for building owners and facility managers. By incorporating smart technologies with your BMS, you can create a cutting-edge IAQ monitoring system that safeguards the health of building occupants.
Smart IAQ monitoring systems continuously measure airborne contaminants that affect IAQ. Identifying and quantifying these contaminants is the first step toward resolving air quality concerns.
Important contaminants to monitor:
Due to the wide array of pollutants that affect IAQ, monitoring systems need to employ a variety of devices.
Hardware forms the foundation of any IAQ monitoring system. In advanced systems, this hardware includes IoT sensors that measure specific pollutants and transmit this data to a centralized building management system. In recent years, the cost and size of sensors have decreased considerably. This has significantly lowered the barrier to entry and makes monitoring possible in most built environments.
Monitoring systems with highly accurate sensors are very sensitive, so it's important to consult professionals for installations to help reduce issues and minimize risk. Here are a few things to consider:
It’s best to consult experts when deciding which sensors to choose, how many you need, and where to locate them.
Gathering data is only part of the IAQ monitoring process. Your monitoring system must reliably evaluate data and make that data useful to you. This includes identifying areas where contaminants regularly exceed healthy levels and revealing trends over time.
Integrating smart monitoring technologies with an intelligent BMS lets you get the most out of IAQ monitoring. A unified system with advanced analytics allows you to:
From sending you alerts when filters need changing to automatically adjusting fan speed to address air quality issues in real time, an integrated system with analytics unlocks the full potential of your IAQ monitoring system.
Buildings IOT offers state-of-the-art solutions for smart building monitoring systems. Contact our team of experts to learn more about what we can do for you.