As the threat of airborne transmission of Covid-19 in enclosed spaces loomed, people also began to invest in indoor air quality monitors and other interventions to assess and clean up the air in their homes and offices. As everybody rushed to purchase such interventions, the topic of indoor air quality monitor prices also became more talked about.

It’s not like air quality wasn’t a concern pre-Covid-19; it wasn’t like air quality monitors were novel in the Covid era. Still, the air quality conversation before the pandemic was largely focused on outdoor pollution. As industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, construction and demolition-generated pollutants, and forest fires sent dust and smoke up into the air, this outdoor focus was natural.

The thing with outdoor, or ambient, air pollution is that the onus of measuring it and improving it is on public authorities and private corporations. Since individuals and households don’t bear the burden of improving outdoor air quality, they weren’t investing in air quality monitors as much as large institutions and public agencies were. When it comes to indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring and management, however, the picture is quite different.

Market segmentation: The effect of device category on indoor air quality monitoring device price

The air quality monitoring system market in India is booming. A report by Expert Market Research forecasts that the market size will grow at a CAGR of 14.8% from 2024 to 2032. Within this market, there are several categories. Each device on the market is situated at an intersection of two or more of these segments. The indoor air quality monitor price will depend on which segments it is a part of, in addition to other product features like quality, accuracy, and number of sensors.

For starters, to reiterate a segmentation we have already addressed, the air quality monitor market may be categorised by product type – indoor monitors, wearable monitors, and outdoor monitors. While the first segment can be further divided into fixed and portable IAQ monitors, the latter segment can be further segmented into portable, fixed, dust and particulate matter, and air quality monitoring (AQM) stations.

The market can also be divided by pollutant type. Both outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring device prices may be affected by whether the device measures chemical contaminants (like ozone, carbon monoxide, lead, etc.), physical pollutants (like suspended solids), biological contaminants (think bacteria, mould, and pollen), or a combination of these.

To a large extent, indoor air quality monitor price in India is also determined by the IAQ sampling methods used. The air quality monitoring market in the country is broadly segmented into active or continuous monitoring, intermittent monitoring, passive monitoring, and stack monitoring.

While stack monitoring is largely limited to manufacturing facilities and industrial chimneys, passive monitoring involves using settle plates to collect microbes and other biological contaminants. In most residential and commercial spaces, however, intermittent and active/continuous monitoring are the go-to IAQ solutions. Intermittent monitoring, as the name suggests, is non-continuous – such monitoring devices use filters, sorbents or other sampling tools to provide a snapshot of indoor air quality at a given point in time.

The best, most effective air quality monitors are continuous monitoring systems. They provide 24×7, real-time insight into the quality of your air. The benefits of continuous operations and data collection, management and display systems are compounded by the economical continuous indoor air quality monitoring device price. Even if you do have to shell out a little more for a sophisticated variety, the data and insight you get from such a device make it well worth the investment.

Finally, the air quality monitoring market in India is also segmented based on end-use – residential, commercial, and industrial. As governmental regulations and public awareness increase, there has been growth across these use cases.

Factors affecting indoor air quality monitor price in India

Regulatory grade monitors currently used to measure ambient air quality are fairly expensive – they can each cost north of Rs 20 lakh. Recently developed low-cost monitors for ambient air are significantly more economical. Even at a cost of around Rs 60,000 each, these devices have been shown to have an accuracy of 85 to 90% compared to their more expensive counterparts.

Needless to say, these high costs are a prohibiting factor. While even public agencies are limited by the multiple-lakh worth of regulatory monitors, individual homes or buildings would also hesitate to install the low-cost kind.

For smaller enclosed spaces like homes and offices, or even entire buildings or corporate campuses which have multiple smaller rooms, special indoor air quality monitors are better choices. Given the smaller budgets of households and the large number of rooms that a corporate office has to monitor, the market for IAQ monitors is still price-sensitive. Nonetheless, the product range starts at a much lower price point.

A quick Amazon search will reveal that the indoor air quality monitor price in India can be as low as a few thousand rupees. It can also cost upwards of a lakh. So how do you decide which of these options you should go for? How do you decide what indoor air quality monitor price is justified?

Assessing the following benefits against the cost of an IAQ monitoring system can help you make a decision.

1. The number of sensors. Less More is more when it comes to sensors. Indoor air quality is a complex concept, which encompasses levels of carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, sulphur and nitrogen oxides, temperature, humidity, and more. The more sensors your monitor has, the easier it is to justify the indoor air quality monitoring device price.
2. Sensor accuracy. A large number of sensors is no substitute for sensor accuracy. Regardless of how many sensors your monitor has, you want them to have high accuracy levels. Accuracy data can be found from third-party testing agencies, the IAQ monitor manufacturer, or the sensor manufacturer.
3. The area to be monitored. A single monitor can only measure air quality within a specified area around it. To measure IAQ in a larger space, you will need multiple strategically placed devices. In this case, your overall IAQ monitoring system price will increase with the number of devices.
4. Data management systems. Particularly with continuous air quality monitors, all the data that is collected needs to be transferred and stored securely. You will also need to access historical data to identify trends over time. All of this requires a top-quality data management system and dashboard, which may add to the indoor air quality monitor price.
   
   

At the end of the day, nobody else can decide how much you should spend on your IAQ monitoring device. It is a matter of personal preference and budget and the requirements of your space. Nevertheless, you would do well to assess the indoor air quality monitor price against the benefits it offers to ensure that you get your money’s worth.

The post Indoor air quality monitor price guide: How much should you spend? first appeared on Dew Point.

In the circular, the municipal corporation mandated that construction sites should minimise the dust emitted from them by erecting tin or metal sheets, at least 35 feet in height, around under-construction buildings over 70 metres tall. For construction sites of areas less than one acre, the fencing should be at least 25 feet high. Moreover, all construction sites absolutely must be enclosed by green cloth, jute sheets, or tarpaulin 360 degrees around. The circular also noted that it was compulsory to sprinkle water over debris or earth material to prevent dust from being thrown up into the air. 

The guidelines enumerated several measures, like the use of anti-smog guns, dedicated storage for construction material and debris, and rules for vehicles carrying construction material. Most importantly, the BMC mandated that builders deploy sensor-based air pollution monitors at construction sites; should the monitors reveal that pollution levels have exceeded permissible limits, the builder should take immediate action.

Construction sites violating these air quality management guidelines would be sealed and issued notices to stop work.

The need for builders to institute air quality management systems

Construction and demolition dust is a major contributor to air pollution in India. Not only does it affect ambient air quality, particularly in dense urban commercial areas, but it is also particularly hazardous to the health of workers who spend long hours at construction sites.

Simultaneously, air quality management is also a matter of indoor environmental quality. Well-designed and implemented air quality management systems for buildings can make or break occupants’ health, well-being and productivity.

As such, for builders, establishing an air quality management system is a two-faceted process. It involves not only maintaining acceptable levels of air quality during the construction phase but also designing and constructing structures in a way that does not hamper the well-being of those who will eventually occupy them.

Building regulations for air quality management in India

First published in 1970, the National Building Code of India (NBC) is an instrument guiding regulations for building construction across the country. Designed as a Model Code for all agencies involved in building construction, public and private, it lists administrative regulations, development control rules, and general building requirements. It encompasses fire safety requirements, stipulations about construction materials, structural design and construction, building and plumbing services, and approaches to sustainability.

Over the years, the Code has been amended and revised a few times. Today, the National Building Code of India, 2016 – which has been modernised to incorporate advancements in construction techniques and evolving environmental requirements – is in force.

On the indoor air quality management front, the Code calls for the inclusion of new and energy-efficient options for air conditioning, heating, and mechanical ventilation. It calls for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) provisions which consider adaptive thermal comfort for energy efficiency. Additionally, it has specific provisions for HVAC in metro trains and stations, data centres, and healthcare facilities.

Since indoor air quality management is closely linked to energy efficiency in buildings, the Code also touches upon building envelope optimisation.

Beyond the NBC, the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016; the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); and state-specific regulations also govern building construction activities as they pertain to air quality management in India.

What can builders do to meet air quality management standards in India?

Clean construction practices. As listed in the aforementioned BMC circular, builders can and must adopt some clean construction practices to minimise their impact on air quality. Commissioned by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Clean Air Asia has prepared a toolkit on ‘Advancing Better Air Quality with Clean Construction’. This toolkit encompasses a 14-point list of guidelines to reduce dust pollution and enhance air quality management systems during construction, demolition, waste management, operations like drilling and sawing, and material handling and storage.

Clean construction practices also emphasise the importance of building the capacity of project teams, planning for air quality management in the design phase, and equipping workers with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Design elements. Builders must ensure good air quality management systems not only during construction but also after, when the building is in operation as a home, office, or other commercial space. This includes incorporating design elements like efficient mechanical ventilation systems, using materials which do not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), HVAC systems fitted with appropriate air filters, and more.

Air quality monitors. What isn’t being measured cannot be improved. Builders should use air quality monitors during the construction phase to monitor air pollution levels affecting worker health and ambient air. Additionally, buildings should be strategically fitted with indoor air quality monitoring systems so that occupants can be aware of the quality of air they are breathing and take measures to improve air quality when necessary.

An investment with high returns

Investing in indoor air quality management systems has high returns not only for builders and building owners but also for building occupants.

For builders, for starters, investing in good quality air is a matter of regulatory compliance. Meeting safety and indoor environment quality standards may be mandated by different authorities, as per the location and purpose of the building. As the global air quality situation deteriorates, both indoors and outdoors, regulations governing air quality management will also get more stringent. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in legal action and penalties.

Even when there are no legally enforced standards, as people become more aware of indoor air quality management systems, a failure to deploy them can result in reputational loss. Conversely, prioritising indoor air quality can be a feature that sets you apart from your competitors. Buildings equipped with effective indoor air quality monitoring and management systems demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, human health, and environmental health. Such buildings can even charge tenants and buyers a premium for their comprehensiveness in ensuring occupant health, safety, and well-being.

Finally, beyond the legal and economic imperatives to implement air quality management systems, builders must do their bit to ensure clean indoor air for the sake of people’s health and productivity. Poor indoor air quality has been shown to have detrimental effects on people’s cognition and physical health – these factors affect their ability to work and also compromise their safety in the workplace. Meanwhile, in both commercial and residential buildings, poor indoor environmental quality can affect occupant comfort and health.

At the end of the day, investing in good indoor air is an investment in people’s health and well-being. Builders would do well to prioritise air quality management in all their projects, regardless of the economic and legal imperatives to do so.

The post Why builders should prioritize air quality management in their projects first appeared on Dew Point.

When people come to us for indoor air quality solutions, their questions cover myriad concerns.

“Can we monitor the air quality in our entire office campus?”

“My home is 10 years old. Is it too late to install monitoring and purification systems now?”

“How do I know if my home is at risk of a radon problem?”

“We’re remodelling our house. What should we keep in mind regarding indoor air quality solutions?”

The good news is that it’s almost never too late to get started on your journey towards clean and healthy air. Whether it’s your home or your place of work, you have the option of deploying different indoor air quality solutions. Whether the structure in question is still in the pre-construction phase, is a few years old, or is undergoing renovation, there are myriad ways in which you can ensure that your family, workforce, and/or community are breathing in fresh, clean air.

How to improve indoor air quality at home and in the office: General principles

As outlined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), there are three general principles to improve indoor air quality.

Source control: The most effective way to eliminate air pollutants is to eliminate their source or minimise their emissions. For instance, if incense sticks or strong chemical cleaning compounds are causing the problem, refraining from using these products is the best solution.

Ventilation: Most buildings nowadays have very tight “envelopes” to minimise energy loss. However, these envelopes mean that not a lot of fresh outdoor air is making its way into your building. Indoor air quality solutions to this problem include opening windows, doors, and other forms of mechanical ventilation. You can use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to dilute polluted or humid indoor air with fresh outdoor air. If you have an HVAC system, you can set it to draw outdoor air while also fitting it with air purifying filters. These solutions aren’t always effective, especially when the outdoor air is more polluted than indoor air. In many situations, however, increasing ventilation can dramatically improve indoor air quality.

Air cleaning: When you can’t prevent indoor air pollution, it’s time to clean up the air instead. The question of how to improve indoor air quality in your office or home is most often met with the answer of air purification. You can measure how well an air cleaner works based on its efficiency rate (how well it collects pollutants) and its air circulation rate (how much air it draws through the filter). Both small tabletop models and sophisticated full home/office air cleaners are available. Air-purifying plants may also help to a certain extent.

How to improve indoor air quality in the office vs at home: What’s the difference?

The general principles of indoor air quality solutions remain the same, regardless of the type of enclosed space you’re working with. Nonetheless, when you get down to the details, you find that there are some key aspects in which how to improve indoor air quality at home differs from solutions for your office.

Standards: Though indoor air quality standards are not as well defined, monitored or enforced as outdoor air quality standards, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has outlined standards for “acceptable indoor air quality”. For residential buildings, acceptable indoor air quality is defined as “air toward which a substantial majority of occupants express no dissatisfaction with respect to odour and sensory irritation and in which there are not likely to be contaminants at concentrations that are known to pose a health risk.” For non-residential buildings, acceptable indoor air quality refers to “air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations, as determined by cognizant authorities, and with which a substantial majority (80 per cent or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.”

For indoor air quality solutions in India, the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) has outlined standards.

Nature of pollutants: Depending on what activities are carried out in each of these spaces, the answer to how to improve indoor air quality at home differs from that for office or commercial spaces. For instance, in homes, emissions from fireplaces and kitchen stoves will call for certain air cleaning measures. On the other hand, emissions from printers and office furniture, and the relative lack of ventilation require different solutions for offices.

Autonomy: When you feel like the air is stuffy at home, you can pop open a window. If certain cleaning products seem to leave persistent smells, you can switch them for other cleaners. In your workplace, on the other hand, you most likely have less control over the indoor environment. In buildings with central cooling or heating, you may not be able to control the temperature of the room or open windows for ventilation. This can significantly impact your experience at work.

Responsibility: On whom does the onus lie to install and maintain indoor air quality solutions? If you own an independent house, you have to take things into your own hands. If you live in an apartment building, maybe the builder has installed indoor air quality solutions, with residents and/or a building manager taking responsibility for upkeep. In workplaces, however, indoor air quality becomes a matter of occupational health. For instance, in the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can get involved if work conditions, including IAQ, do not ensure the health and safety of people.

Indoor air quality solutions for common IAQ problems

Radon: Radon is a radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium, usually in the soil. Since the air pressure inside homes is usually less than the pressure in the soil surrounding its foundation, radon makes its way in through openings like cracks in the foundation. Radon is among the leading causes of lung cancer, but you cannot see or smell it. So the only way to detect radon is to use specific equipment.

Before you can fix a problem, you have to assess or measure it. That’s why the first of indoor air quality solutions for radon is testing. You can either purchase a radon test kit on the internet or from home improvement stores or you can hire a professional who can measure and mitigate the problem.

If there is, indeed, a radon problem, you can install a radon reduction system. While deciding how to improve indoor air quality at home with such a system, you should consider the initial radon level, installation and system operation costs, the size of your home, and the type of foundation.

Mould: Moulds are fungi that reproduce through spores. Invisible to the naked eye, these spores float in the air and when they land on wet surfaces, you can get mould growth. Outdoors, this isn’t a problem but indoors, mould can be responsible for allergic reactions and trouble the eyes, skin, nose, lungs, and throat even of people who are not allergic.

You can’t get rid of all spores from the air, but if there is no wet surface for them to land on, they will not grow into mould. So the first indoor air quality solutions for mould include controlling moisture indoors – ventilation and regular cleaning can help. If there is already mould growth, you should clean the mould and also fix the moisture problem. You can clean up the mould yourself or hire a professional to do so.

Carbon monoxide: Colourless, odourless and toxic, carbon monoxide may be emitted by unvented kerosene heaters, leaking chimneys, gas stoves, tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust, gas-powered generators, and other such sources characterised by combustion. Its effects can range from fatigue and chest pain to impaired vision and brain function to even death at very high concentrations.

The primary indoor air quality solutions for CO are source control – installing outdoor-vented exhaust fans over gas stoves, not idling the car inside your garage, using proper fuel when you have to use a kerosene heater, etc. You should also install carbon monoxide detectors at strategically selected spots to prevent CO poisoning.

PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, CO2, ozone, and other common indoor pollutants: For all other indoor air pollutants that pose a risk to your health, you should install high-quality indoor air quality monitors. These IAQ monitors give you an accurate, real-time assessment of the quality of your indoor air. Associated softwares also allow you to manage your air quality data and observe trends over time. Continuous indoor air quality monitoring is a non-negotiable in any enclosed area that claims to be safe for people to inhabit.

When problems related to the above pollutants are detected, the indoor air quality solutions deployed range across source control, ventilation, and air cleaning. Filtration is an important part of the latter approach. You should ideally select air filters with a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting values) rating of at least 13. HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are the gold standard, with a MERV rating of 17 or higher. When your building has an HVAC system, it can be upgraded to meet these standards. In the absence of an HVAC system, you can use portable air purifiers.

In many countries around the world, authorities don’t rely on individuals or households to individually filter and purify their drinking water. Just as municipal authorities provide clean drinking water, some experts believe that it’s time we begin to work towards a similar approach to clean indoor air. Until then, we should continue to take the measures that we can and demand healthy air – from our communities, workplaces, business owners, and public authorities.

The post The Essential Indoor Air Quality Solutions for Homes and Offices first appeared on Dew Point.

Indoor air quality testing in different enclosed spaces

VOCs, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, lead, asbestos, mould, ozone, and pet dander are common indoor air pollutants. However, the presence and concentration of these pollutants will vary based on the type of indoor environment we’re talking about.

Kitchens with stoves and rooms with fireplaces may be more susceptible to carbon monoxide and particulate matter pollution. Spaces that are cleaned with certain chemical products may have high concentrations of VOCs. Damp basements which don’t get used or cleaned much and have poor ventilation may develop mould problems. Similarly, printer rooms, newly constructed and upholstered office spaces, and bathrooms will all have distinct indoor air pollution concerns.

This goes to show that indoor air quality testing is not a one-size-fits-all process. Particularly, in the absence of legally binding indoor air quality testing standards, you will have to be judicious in deciding how to test indoor air quality at your home and your workplace.

Fortunately, there are some tried and tested options for you to take your indoor air quality testing into your own hands. From identifying perceptible signs to hiring professionals to installing high-quality monitors for continuous and comprehensive indoor air quality testing, we’ve outlined the ABCs of how to test indoor air quality.

Before indoor air quality testing: Identifying troubling signs and symptoms

You don’t always need to know the specific concentration of air pollutants to know that there is a problem. Sometimes, the pollutants leave you hints. Visual hints, olfactory signals, visceral ones, and health-related ones.

Smell. If you have a musty odour in parts of your house and it persists even after cleaning, you may be dealing with a mould infestation. Additionally, inadequate ventilation can also lead to persistent smells – food smells, pet smells or any other strange scents lingering in the air can be signs of pet dander, VOCs, or other air pollutants.

Humidity. By itself, humidity isn’t a problem. But it can contribute to mildew, rot, and mould growth. Humidity is also known to trap contaminants.

Sight. In addition to its smell, mildew and mould can be identified by visible signs, including black spots and water spots. It is also possible to detect tobacco smoke by discoloured walls behind frames or devices placed or hanging against walls. Excessive dust on surfaces is also an indication that your indoor air could use some cleaning.

Health. Sick Building Syndrome, in which people experience adverse health effects when they are in a polluted indoor environment, can be one of the first signs that you desperately need indoor air quality testing. The symptoms of inhaling polluted air can range from coughing, sneezing and watery eyes to dizziness, headaches, nausea, fatigue and cognitive impairment. If such symptoms recur often, you should probably look into how to test your indoor air quality so that you can remedy it.

Environmental drivers. Construction, renovation or painting work in your or your neighbour’s house, wildfires in nearby forests, and high density of traffic on highways nearby can all have detrimental effects on your outdoor and indoor air quality. When you identify these drivers of pollution, it’s time for indoor air quality testing in your home and/or office. It’s always better to test before you start seeing health or other issues crop up in the first place.

How to test indoor air quality

Hire a professional. Whether you have detected any of the above signs and symptoms or not, regular indoor air quality testing is a must. One way to do this is to hire a professional. Indoor air quality testing usually involves a professional visiting your home or office to collect samples for further lab analysis. The professional will likely use sophisticated portable equipment to perform the tests. When hiring such services, you should also have them include radon testing and mould testing. Such an assessment, which provides a picture of your air quality at that point in time, is called spot testing.

After testing, you can expect a detailed report about the air quality in your space. In the absence of uniform indoor air quality testing standards, they may also interpret the findings and recommend ways in which you can clean up your air. They may use standards set by ASHRAE, ISHRAE or green building codes like LEED to give you a picture of what a healthy indoor environment looks like and what you should aspire towards.

Continuous monitoring. We saved the best for last. Continuous indoor air quality testing involves using IAQ monitors to collect real-time air quality data 24×7. After all, what doesn’t get properly measured doesn’t get properly managed.

Continuous indoor air quality monitors like the Kaiterra Sensedge and Kaiterra Sensedge Mini use multiple sensors to track levels of PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, carbon dioxide, temperature, and relative humidity. The display screen and associated dashboard help you to continuously monitor pollutant levels and analyse historical data to observe trends. Additionally, given the deadly nature of carbon monoxide, installing CO detectors on every floor of your office and home, especially in rooms that have stoves, fireplaces, or furnaces, is a non-negotiable. With strategically placed IAQ monitors across your home or office, you can get a holistic picture of air quality and take a data-driven approach to improving it.

Outdoor air is regularly monitored by national and regional authorities. Ideally, they also enforce certain rules and policy measures to control outdoor air pollution levels. When it comes to indoor air, however, the situation is quite different. Given differences in acceptable pollutant levels in different circumstances, there are no uniform global standards for indoor air quality. While conducting indoor air quality testing, professionals usually rely on guidelines outlined by industry bodies like ASHRAE and ISHRAE. If the building is vying for a green building certification, maybe the developer or building manager will refer to the standards expected by LEED and other such programmes. Regardless, the onus lies on citizens to maintain clean air indoors. In such a scenario, learning about indoor air quality testing – as you just have – is the best thing you can do to take your health into your own hands.

The post The essential guide to indoor air quality testing first appeared on Dew Point.

Research has shown that improving indoor environments is positively correlated with better human health. Indoor air quality, or IAQ, is an important aspect of indoor environmental quality, or IEQ. Meanwhile, IEQ is an essential consideration in green building and associated certifications. Thus, enhancing indoor air quality in green buildings is a critical part of enhancing human health outcomes.

The onus of achieving high indoor air quality in green buildings and conventional buildings is not solely on homeowners or building managers. Improving every aspect of indoor environmental quality is a holistic and long-term process which ideally also involves policymakers, environmentalists, architects, and engineers. Involving all these stakeholders in the path to achieving certain baseline indoor air quality requirements is a non-negotiable if you want to take a strategic approach to sustainable living. Essentially, it is a well-rounded approach to indoor air quality in green buildings that will provide people with a pleasant experience with regard to comfort, health, and productivity.

What is green building?

Way back in the 1980s, the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainability. It was at this point in history that green building was conceived as a pathway towards environmental responsibility.

Green building is a way of describing sustainable building. It refers to the practice of designing and building structures using resource-efficient and environmentally responsible processes and materials. Accordingly, green buildings are those that are built using the methods and principles of sustainability to minimise their impact on human and environmental life. Think energy efficiency, occupant well-being, responsible land use, pollution control… the list goes on.

Green building goes beyond optimising just the design and construction of the building for sustainability. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), “Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.”

Rather than a particular technique, green building is an approach towards building design, indoor environmental quality, and occupant well-being. There are many ways of going about the process. Nonetheless, for the sake of finding common ground and outlining best practices, organisations around the world have developed green building certifications. What began in the 1990s with the BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certification in the United Kingdom and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in the United States has grown to involve many other countries.

Depending on their own environmental, economic and cultural circumstances, countries have developed their own green building schemes or applied relevant schemes from other countries. There is the Green Star system in Australia, the Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE) in Japan, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB) system in Germany. Additionally, although they are not directly a part of green building schemes, standards such as WELL have been designed to promote indoor air quality in green buildings as well as traditional buildings.

To comprehensively assess building sustainability, green building schemes usually have categories or rating systems. For instance, the LEED v4 scheme for building design and construction includes location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and regional priority. The BREEAM scheme for new construction includes categories for management, health and well-being, energy, transport, water, materials, waste, land use and ecology, pollution, and innovation. Similarly, other green building schemes include other categories to assess design, construction, indoor air quality and indoor environmental quality,­ and other factors contributing to sustainability.

The categories comprising different green building schemes may vary, but they are all designed to assess and improve the health, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness of buildings. Indoor environmental quality is a crucial part of this, with indoor air quality in green buildings being our priority, as it is a major determinant of human health and well-being.

Indoor air quality in green buildings: A subset of indoor environmental quality

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) defines the conditions within a building viz. indoor air quality, visual comfort or lighting, thermal comfort, and acoustic comfort. Sometimes, ergonomic comfort is also considered a part of IEQ. Overall, IEQ comprises the environmental factors that affect the health and lives of building occupants. IEQ can be enhanced with a wide range of improvements like using natural light, ergonomic furniture, occupant control over lighting, temperature and ventilation, and acoustic design. Improving indoor environmental quality, especially indoor air quality in green buildings, can not only enhance occupant well-being but also reduce liabilities for building owners and increase the resale value of the building.

Indoor air quality (IAQ), as its name suggests, represents the presence and concentration of pollutants like particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), etc. which can have negative effects on people’s well-being. Poor IAQ can cause Sick Building Syndrome, respiratory infections, poor concentration, and other physical and cognitive effects.

Indoor air quality is an important part of indoor environmental quality, which is an important part of green building certifications. A review of indoor air quality requirements in green building certifications found that all green building schemes currently in use include IAQ. However, in the 55 schemes reviewed, IAQ made an average contribution of only about 7.5%. VOCs, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide were the pollutants most commonly considered when assessing indoor air quality in green buildings. It is important to note that IAQ is included under different categories in different schemes. For instance, it is in the health and well-being category in BREEAM, the IEQ category in Green Star and LEED, and the socio-cultural and functional quality category in the DGNB.

The connections between energy efficiency and indoor air quality in green buildings

Resource efficiency or energy efficiency is an important part of different definitions of green building. These definitions do not explicitly mention indoor air quality. Nonetheless, IAQ is a vital part of green building, with inextricable connections (both positive and negative) with energy efficiency.

In a bid to minimise the dissipation and wastage of energy, buildings today are insulated against the outside world. With this tightening of building envelopes, however, comes the problem of indoor air quality. Ventilation, or the dilution of indoor air with outdoor air, is an important way to clean the air in enclosed environments. Buildings insulated for energy efficiency restrict ventilation, which is why to enhance indoor air quality in green buildings, they must have manual interventions like windows or other appropriate design features.

On the positive side, energy-efficient buildings which use renewable energy, green construction materials, and sustainable technologies may emit fewer harmful gases, both indoors and outdoors. If they avoid fossil fuel use, they reduce their contribution to outdoor pollution. This has a knock-on effect on indoor air quality in green buildings because the ingress of outdoor pollutants can be a major contributor to poor IAQ.

Finally, since building site is an aspect of consideration in green building schemes, many sustainable projects are located close to city centres or public transport systems to earn credits related to transport and location. However, when buildings are located in densely populated areas with busy transportation routes nearby, they are likely to be more exposed to ambient pollution, with even ventilation providing no respite. In situations such as this, energy efficiency can be conversely related to indoor air quality in green buildings.

Given IAQ’s relatively low contribution of 7.5% to green building schemes, it is possible for a building to achieve the highest level of green certification without any credits for IAQ. Given the complex interlinkages between energy efficiency and indoor air quality in green buildings, research has also pointed out that gaining credits in some aspects of green building schemes may be detrimental to IAQ.

Essentially, green building certifications may not adequately promote IAQ; sometimes, they may even undermine it. Considering these complexities and the substantial health impacts of poor IAQ, it is even more important to take a targeted approach towards enhancing indoor air quality in green buildings.

Enhancing indoor air quality in green buildings

A review of indoor air quality in green building schemes found that the schemes largely outline three methods to improve IAQ: ventilation, source control, and indoor air quality measurement. 

All the certifications in the review specified ventilation as a pathway to better indoor air quality in green buildings. 77% included emission source control, with a particular focus on building material emissions. Meanwhile, 65% included indoor air measurement as a way to manage IAQ. These pathways may not be comprehensive or appropriate in all situations, but they certainly offer a framework to approach the improvement of indoor air quality in green buildings.

Ventilation.

As mentioned above, buildings today – especially green buildings designed to be energy efficient – are fairly insulated or airtight. This means that adequate fresh air is not circulated in indoor environments. This makes ventilation a necessity to improve indoor air quality in green buildings. 100% of green building certification schemes grant credits for ventilation.

Ventilation may not be an appropriate intervention in areas with very high levels of outdoor pollution or during events like wildfires or dust storms. In such situations, top-quality HVAC systems may be necessary to filter incoming air and protect building occupants’ health and well-being.

Source control.

Traditional buildings may use high levels of synthetic materials and chemicals in their construction, furnishing, and décor. Additionally, regardless of the method of construction, building occupants may use air fresheners, cleaning agents, and personal care products. Then there are also activities like smoking, cooking, etc. which people may carry out indoors. All of these products and activities release harmful gases into the air.

Emission source control is a key method to improve indoor air quality in green buildings. This can include controlling or eliminating a vast range of activities and substances – mould in damp building materials; people smoking inside the building or close to building entrances; the use of VOC-emitting paints, sealants, adhesives, furniture, and building materials; combustion in stoves, fireplaces, and HVAC equipment; radon or methane off-gassing from the soil under the building, etc.

IAQ measurement.

You cannot improve what you cannot measure. Measuring indoor air quality in green buildings can help you improve occupant health and achieve higher levels of certification. For instance, you can receive credits under 65% of green building certification schemes if you measure and target the levels of specific pollutants like VOCs, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide. You can also gain credits under some schemes if you measure and control levels of asbestos, microbes, environmental tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, radon, nitrogen oxides, ozone, ammonia, and particulate matter.

The way ahead: Improving indoor air quality in green buildings in the long term

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the onus of improving indoor air quality in green buildings falls not only on building owners, managers and occupants but also on policymakers, builders, engineers, and architects. As such, there are gaps and improvements in building standards and design practices that can be addressed going forward.

–          Air pollutants like ozone, semi-volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter have extremely negative health effects, but they are not included in all green building certifications. Remedying this can increase the standards of indoor air quality in green building certifications, ultimately enhancing occupant health.

–          Green building design and construction should employ indoor air quality monitoring systems, sophisticated HVAC systems, and renewable energy sources to monitor and control IAQ.

–          Natural ventilation and green roofs and walls can reduce the urban heat island effect and make architecture more eco-friendly. Additionally, using recycled but safe materials, low-VOC paints and adhesives, and sustainably sourced wood can also minimise the building’s environmental impact and improve indoor air quality in green buildings.

–          Since ventilation is not always the answer, green building schemes should also grant credits for reducing pollutant exposure in different ways.

–          Organisations can institute policies restricting the use of pollutant-emitting personal care products. For instance, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) prohibits the use of scented or fragranced personal care products like perfumes, colognes, and essential oils in its spaces. Since such fragrances have been associated with migraines, asthma attacks, and other adverse health effects, other organisations may also improve indoor air quality in green buildings by instituting such policies.

–          While certification schemes recognise pollutant control, they are often optional elements. Developing enforceable standards for indoor air quality in green buildings could be an important step to safeguard human health.

–          Mandating emissions testing of all building materials, equipment and furnishing before, during and after their use can help enforce a threshold for indoor air quality in green buildings. Continuous IAQ monitoring is an effective way of implementing such requirements as it can help with life cycle measurements and reiterate the need for recertification procedures.

For any individual, community or organisation wishing to exist sustainably, there is no way around green building. To build and maintain a truly green building, there is no way around improving indoor environmental quality, with a special focus on indoor air quality in green buildings. Indoor air quality requirements may not be enforceable today, but in our rapidly changing world – affected by climate change, increasing pollution levels, and a growing population – we must do what is right if we are to build a safe and healthy world in which future generations can thrive.

The post Enhancing indoor air quality in green buildings: A strategic approach to sustainable living first appeared on Dew Point.

Kaiterra’s air quality monitors stand out from the crowd. They make the invisible visible. They make your experience of your indoor environment measurable. Most importantly, they help you take your and your community’s health into your own hands. But first, what can you hope to achieve with your air quality monitoring device? And what are the objective markers of a quality IAQ monitor?

Why you need a good indoor air quality monitor

Your decision to invest in an IAQ monitor ultimately comes down to three factors:

–          Awareness. Air pollutants within and outside your house can have mild to serious impacts on your health, right from poor cognition to cancer. However, if you’re not aware that it’s the air around you that’s been giving you that cough or making you feel dizzy, how will you remedy the problem? Knowledge is power, and the first step towards clean air and better health is an awareness that your air is, in fact, polluted.

–          Differentiation. Simply knowing that the air quality in your workplace or home is bad is not enough. To take targeted action, you need to know specifically which pollutants you’re dealing with. PM2.5 and PM10 may affect you differently than volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Their sources may differ, as will the mechanism to eliminate them from your environment. Such granular data forms the foundation of a good air quality management plan.

–          Finally, action. Knowing the specifics of how your indoor environment is polluted is one thing; doing something about it is a different thing altogether. A good IAQ monitor provides timely alerts and actionable information which can help you make changes to your environment when and where they are necessary.

The defining features of the best indoor air quality monitors

Whether they are Kaiterra’s air quality monitors or those of other air quality monitoring companies, the best ones usually boast of the following features:

–          High-quality sensors. High-quality sensors of many types will give you a holistic picture of the indoor air quality. Indoor air pollutants range from VOCs, particulate matter and CO2 to asbestos and moisture-induced mould. Good sensors will have sensors to monitor some combination of these pollutants. Most will keep track of PM2.5 levels. Ideally, you should invest in a monitor with sensors for at least PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, and CO2.

–          Accuracy. No news is better than fake news. If you’re investing in an IAQ monitor for your home or office, ensure its readings are within acceptable accuracy brackets.

–          Real-time, continuous monitoring. Every minor activity within an enclosed space can affect the quality of air. The use of printers, excessive moisture, someone opening a window, or that new chair your co-worker is using. If some such activity has made the air around you extremely hazardous, you need to know immediately so that you can do something about it. That’s why real-time, continuous monitoring is critical.

–          Connectivity and data management. In today’s day and age, what’s not connected to the internet? Your device needs to have robust pathways for connectivity and data storage so that collected data can be transferred and stored securely. This data will help you observe trends and communicate transparently with all stakeholders about the safety of your building.

–          Sensor calibration. Sensor calibration is easily one of the most tedious aspects of maintaining your air quality monitor. But there is no way around it. Some products offer auto-calibration, while others use more traditional manual calibration techniques. The best IAQ monitors make this process as painless as possible.

–          User-friendly design. Efficient design, in terms of ease of installation, display screens, etc., can transform the user experience of an IAQ monitor. The best IAQ monitors make your life easier, not more complicated.

Kaiterra Sensedge and Sensedge Mini: What’s special about Kaiterra’s air quality monitors

Kaiterra’s Sensedge and Sensedge Mini offer all of the above product features, but that’s not why you should invest in them. You should invest in them because of the possibilities that they offer – in terms of building health, green building certification, and healthy, happy people.

The devices. Kaiterra’s Sensedge and Sensedge Mini track key parameters of indoor environmental quality. The Sensedge monitors levels of PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, CO2, temperature, and relative humidity, while the Sensedge Mini tracks all of these with the addition of ozone.

The Kaiterra Sensedge is distinguished by its 7” touchscreen, 8 GB onboard memory (that’s 100 years of data!), and built-in battery with an 8-hour life – features that make it well worth the Kaiterra air quality monitor price. Both, the Kaiterra Sensedge and Sensedge Mini, have robust connectivity via Wi-Fi, ethernet, and more. They both help you transfer and store data on the cloud – it’s worth noting that Kaiterra’s platform architecture meets the most stringent security standards, with regular third-party penetration tests ensuring that there are no lapses.

Kaiterra’s air quality monitors promise a healthy home and workplace. Both Sensedge devices are certified by the green building standard RESET. The sensor-based and performance-driven certificate helps Kaiterra’s customers rest assured that they can take a breath of fresh air and that their health is in good hands. Additional compliances with WELL, LEED, Fitwel, UL Verified Healthy Buildings, and Living Building Challenge are cherries on the cake.

The dashboard. As the only indoor air quality data platform that actively improves your air, access to the dashboard alone justifies the Kaiterra air quality monitor price. The Kaiterra Dashboard gives you a bird’s eye view of the air in your space, allowing you to sort your devices’ data by their location, building, or performance. The in-depth data it presents helps you to monitor historical trends. The real-time alerts it offers keep you and other building inhabitants safe. Weekly reports and compliance checkers not only help you maintain building health but they also boost confidence in all stakeholders that you care – about people, their health, and their productivity.

Getting started. Well begun is half done – isn’t that what they say? With Kaiterra’s air quality monitors, getting started is as easy as ABC. With Kaiterra’s Sensedge Mini, even installation is super simple. With a no-drill backplate, you can simply peel and stick the device in your building to install it. Integration of the monitoring devices with the Kaiterra Dashboard is as easy as cake. And if you want your colleagues, building managers, or other stakeholders to access the dashboard, you can invite them easily and give them only as many permissions as you like. One-on-one onboarding and air quality analysis sessions with our team will set you on a journey towards clean air in no time at all!

At Dew Point, we’re big fans of Kaiterra’s air quality monitors! We believe that they’re the best solution for residential buildings, workplaces, and any other enclosed space that cares about the people occupying it. You can reach out to us if you want to know the Kaiterra air quality monitor price in India, how the Kaiterra Sensedge and Sensedge Mini can solve your IAQ problems, and how you can hop onboard the Kaiterra train.

At Dew Point, we care about building breathable spaces. At Dew Point, we demand healthy air.

The post Exploring why Kaiterra’s air quality monitors rank among the best first appeared on Dew Point.

The Covid-19 pandemic changed many things. People’s focus on indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of them. Since people spend most of their time in enclosed environments, the threat of disease transmission brought indoor air quality monitoring methods to the forefront of the air quality conversation.

Outdoor air quality monitoring focuses primarily on outdoor pollutants like particulate matter (PM). When it comes to indoor air quality monitoring systems, however, things are a little bit different.

For starters, the onus of ambient air quality management is on the public health authorities. On the other hand, households, building owners, and employers must take indoor air quality management into their own hands. This imperative is highlighted further by the absence of explicit indoor air quality standards in India, though some industry standards and guidelines exist. The pollutants to be monitored, sampling methods, and appropriate technologies also vary for indoor air quality management as opposed to outdoor air.

What is IAQ monitoring?

Indoor air quality monitoring methods are focused on gathering continuous data on the concentrations of gases, chemicals, and particles within indoor environments. They help building owners, managers, and occupants to identify problem areas, detect trends, and make necessary adjustments to improve indoor air quality. Such improvements can reduce the risk of airborne disease, prevent the growth of mould and other harmful organisms, and provide comfort to building occupants. The primary focus of improving IAQ is to safeguard the health and well-being of the building occupants.

Indoor air quality monitoring methods may yield an air quality index (AQI), which is an indicator of the overall health of your indoor air. It cumulates the concentration and effects of multiple common indoor air pollutants to give you a single number at any point in time. IAQ may also be expressed in terms of the concentrations of each individual pollutant, like PM2.5, PM10, carbon dioxide, ozone, or total volatile organic compounds (tVOCs). Temperature and humidity data that pertain to thermal comfort are also important aspects of indoor air quality monitoring systems.

The goals of IAQ monitoring

If you’re looking to set up an indoor air quality monitoring system, you probably have a particular objective in mind. 

Indoor air quality monitoring methods are typically employed to determine indoor air pollutant levels before and after a new clean air solution is installed—this helps users assess whether their intervention was useful.

They are also employed when there is a problem that needs fixing viz. building occupants experiencing Sick Building Syndrome, bad odour, or a feeling of stuffiness. Monitoring IAQ can help identify the source of such problems so that remedial measures can be employed. 

Indoor air quality monitoring systems are also installed to optimise building ventilation based on building occupancy and pollution-causing activities. This not only improves IAQ but can also help optimise energy costs.

The most proactive people in using indoor air quality monitoring methods for their homes or offices are the ones doing it right, because if you aren’t measuring, you are only guessing.

If you wait for a serious problem to emerge before you start taking an interest in your indoor air, you’re already too late.

Categorising indoor air quality monitoring methods

Every indoor air quality monitoring system uses a particular sampling method and tracks some specific parameters. We can categorise IAQ monitors based on these two factors.

Sampling method.
Spot testing involves a periodic assessment that provides a snapshot of your IAQ at any one point in time. It is usually implemented using expensive portable equipment and may require a professional to do it right.

On the other hand, continuous indoor air quality monitoring (also called real-time IAQ monitoring) involves deploying sensors on a permanent basis to collect air quality data continuously, 24×7. Such a sampling method gives you minute-by-minute air quality readings. The data you get when you use this technique can help you identify trends throughout the day, month, and year. It can also alert you to dramatic increases in the concentration of any pollutant.

Parameters.

Indoor air quality monitoring methods can also be classified based on which pollutant or environmental condition they are designed to track. Based on the sensors they are fitted with, they may measure a combination of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, VOCs, temperature, and/or humidity.

Indoor air quality monitoring methods

Before you can measure the quality of indoor air, you need to take care of three things: hardware (like strategically placed sensors, detectors, and monitors), software (to manage current and historical IAQ data), and services (to analyse that data and develop actionable solutions).

Hardware:

For monitoring in commercial spaces, deployment of good quality commercial grade monitors is required. The range of various pollutants and their accuracy should conform with the requisite building certification.

Installation and deployment:

Devices should typically be wall mounted in the vicinity of the occupants in the breathing zone. Breathing zone could mean a location on the wall that is at a minimum of 3 ft from the ground, but not exceeding 6-7 ft. The number of devices in a given space, will depend on the specification of the certifying agency. Typically, guidelines as defined in the WELL certification are a good indicator. Separate enclosed occupant rooms will require a separate monitor, but large office spaces with common seating areas could do with a single monitor.

Placement of monitors is best avoided in close proximity of exit doors & window openings.

Connectivity:

Monitors must have the option of being connected over the Wi-Fi network or via the Building Management System. They should facilitate uploading of data to the cloud so as to be able to see the data on the manufacturer’s dashboard or on a dashboard created by the BMS vendor. This is an important tool to understand the trends of various pollutants as well as the health of the building.

Maintenance:

Upkeep and calibration of all monitors is an important part of the selection of monitors. Sensors tend to drift over a period and hence require calibration (replacement) on a periodic basis to ensure reliability of the data. Calibration should be easy, convenient and involve minimum downtime.

Bridging the gap between IAQ monitoring and indoor air quality management

Collecting continuous, real-time data is one thing. Deriving value from it via actionable insights is another thing altogether. Transforming your indoor air quality monitoring system into an indoor air quality management system involves building a robust data set, analysing trends, and identifying problem areas. This is where you can begin to make proactive, long-term decisions that can help you not only remedy IAQ problems but also prevent them in the first place.

The post The definitive guide to indoor air quality monitoring methods first appeared on Dew Point.

As a business owner, homeowner, real estate developer, or building manager, it’s up to you to make the right choices. You must decide how many and which type of IAQ monitors you need. You also need to choose the best data platforms to maintain and analyse trends in your IAQ data. This is key to making appropriate decisions for building occupants’ health, safety, and comfort.

What makes the best indoor air quality monitoring system?

This guide explores the defining features of the best indoor air quality monitoring systems. Not every top-quality IAQ device will tick all these boxes, but the best indoor air quality monitor will get awfully close. So, without further ado, here’s what constitutes the gold standard in indoor air quality monitoring systems:

The number of monitors. You have a large space to maintain – let’s say, a home with multiple rooms, an entire building including its common spaces, or even a corporate campus with multiple buildings. Surely, even if it’s the very best indoor air quality monitor, one device can’t do the whole job. The size and the layout of the space will determine how many monitors you will need. The best indoor air quality monitoring system will capture a holistic picture of air quality throughout the house, building, or campus. 

Placement of IAQ sensors. Even if you’ve got an adequate number of IAQ monitors installed in the space, where they’re placed makes a big difference. The best indoor air quality monitoring system will measure representative samples of the area it’s meant to cover. This means that monitors will ideally be placed in all the places people might occupy. They will also be placed away from outlets that release air from the building to the outdoors. Additionally, locations like kitchens, bathrooms, and rooms with fireplaces should have well-placed sensors, as the air quality in such rooms can change drastically in very short periods of time.

The number and types of sensors. Every indoor air quality monitoring system comprises one or more sensors designed to track certain pollutants and environmental parameters. These could be sensors for PM2.5, PM10, CO2, VOCs, temperature, and/or relative humidity. The best indoor air quality monitoring system will have sensors for as many such parameters as possible. This will help you keep track of multiple threats to indoor environmental quality and people’s health.

Accuracy. Accuracy is easily the primary factor to consider when investing in an air quality monitoring system. Determining the accuracy of the sensors in your IAQ monitor may require some additional research. IAQ monitoring device companies may offer accuracy data when selling you their product. If they don’t, you can always look up third-party tests assessing how on-point a particular monitor is. If there is no data available about the monitor as a whole, you can research accuracy test data for the particular sensors used in the device.

Ease and speed of sensor calibration. With use, the sensors of all air quality monitors begin to deteriorate and drift from accurate readings. This is an unavoidable reality of owning and managing an IAQ device. When your device’s readings become inaccurate, it means it’s time for you to recalibrate its sensors. Traditionally, such recalibration is done manually, requiring you to employ the services of a technician or other HVAC professional. Nowadays, you also have the option of modular cartridge type sensors that can be replaced by the user.

This is the best option because it eliminates many of the logistical challenges involved in manual recalibration. Additionally, since replaceable sensors can be removed and swapped out in seconds, you don’t lose air quality data for the time spent in recalibration. Most crucially, replaceable sensors offer the advantage of flexibility: the ease of adding sensors allows you to future-proof your investment by adding new parameters as and when needed.

Connectivity, data management, and security. The best indoor air quality monitoring systems assess the quality of your air, but what do they do with the information that they gather? IAQ monitors need to either store air quality data or transfer the data to a location that can store it. This data should be available for you to observe, assess, and identify trends. It’s also critical that this data is managed securely.

What does all of this mean? It means that the best indoor air quality monitoring system will have connectivity via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or some other mechanism. It will be accompanied by a data platform or dashboard that will help you manage and display your space’s IAQ data. And all of these systems and connections should be secure, complying with stringent data security standards and regularly passing third-party penetration tests.

Reliable power source. If an IAQ solution is to be reliable, it needs a reliable power supply. This can be achieved via either a built-in battery (with a sufficiently long life of at least 8 hours), direct wiring, power over ethernet, or a combination of these approaches. If your indoor air quality monitoring system relies on direct wiring alone, ensure that you have a backup plan in case of power failures.

Certifications. As you hunt for the best indoor air quality monitoring system, your primary concern is likely the health of the building occupants. In addition to this, however, good quality and user-friendly IAQ monitors fulfil another requirement: transparency and certification.

When you have the right indoor air quality monitoring system in place, you can display the building’s IAQ levels in common spaces to give building occupants confidence that their indoor environment is clean and safe. Accurately understanding your building’s air quality can also help you achieve green building certifications. Certifications like RESET, WELL, LEED, Fitwel, UL Verified Healthy Buildings, and Living Building Challenge increase the perception and market value of your building, helping you establish yourself as a conscientious employer or building manager.

A parting word

When you invest in an air quality monitoring system, you are not investing in only pieces of hardware. You are investing in the sensors that they comprise, in the data platforms that they are compatible with, and in a relationship with the company selling you the system. In short, you are investing in systems, processes, and people that will ideally stand the test of time. You must choose wisely.

The post The gold standard: Qualities that define a top-tier indoor air quality monitoring system first appeared on Dew Point.

These words by the CEO of IQAir ring true in many ways, especially when it comes to air quality in India.

Last month, the Swiss tech company released its 6th Annual World Air Quality Report, pulling back the curtain on the abysmal state of India’s air. The report was prepared using real-time air quality data gathered from regulatory air quality monitoring stations and low-cost air quality sensors deployed by government bodies, research institutes, universities, and other civil society stakeholders. Over the course of 2023, data was collected from over 30,000 PM2.5 monitors/sensors located across 7,812 cities in 134 countries, regions, and territories.

The world over, clean air is a rarity – only 7 countries met the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline. In South Asia, clean air is even harder to come by – of the top 10 most polluted countries, 4 were in South Asia. In India, clean air is akin to a blue moon. The country ranked the third most polluted globally, outdone only by its neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan. Of the 50 most polluted cities globally, 42 were in India. In the top 100, 83 were Indian.

Increased air pollution awareness in India, combined with decisive action, could not come sooner. Regions like Africa still have inadequate access to air quality data, but India does not face the same challenges, as is evident by India’s overrepresentation in the IQAir report. Rather, in India, it is more important to plug gaps in air quality monitoring so that governments, organisations, and even households can take targeted action to clean up the air. Since air quality can vary dramatically between different microenvironments, this involves monitoring both ambient and indoor air quality in every possible microenvironment. Contextual knowledge about the major air pollutants in India can also help people take appropriate action to protect vulnerable groups of the population.

Air quality in India

The revelations made by IQAir’s report aren’t entirely surprising. Even in 2019, a report by the Health Effects Institute revealed that the rate of deaths due to particulate matter (PM) pollution was the highest in India. This is a problem of poor air both outdoors and indoors. In 2017, air pollution caused more than 1.1 million premature deaths; of these, 56% were caused by outdoor PM2.5 pollution, while the rest were linked to household air pollution.

Pushing air pollution limits in India: Key enablers and mitigation strategies

Over the past few decades, industries in India have expanded, cities have become more densely populated, and the number of automobiles on our roads has skyrocketed. Population increases have also driven up energy consumption. Naturally, these anthropogenic activities have increased the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other polluting gases and particles. Largely, the emission of major air pollutants in India can be attributed to 7 sectors: transportation, industries, agriculture, thermal power generation, waste management including biomass burning, domestic activities, and construction and demolition waste. The pollutants released include particulate matter, oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, methane, and non-methane volatile organic compounds.

It would be unfair to say that nothing has been done to enforce air pollution standards in India. Air pollution awareness in India has led to the development of standards and policy measures designed to meet those standards. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 with the aim to reduce PM10 concentrations by up to 40% by 2025-26. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) cooperates with the respective state pollution control boards (SPCBs) to monitor and regulate ambient air quality standards in different parts of India. Accordingly, sector-wise measures have been introduced in India’s cities.

In the transport sector, compressed natural gas (CNG), biodiesel, and bioethanol consumption have been promoted in varying degrees as an alternative to fossil fuel-based petrol and diesel. Odd-even traffic measures to limit vehicular pollution, the promotion of electric vehicles, and improvements in fuel and vehicle quality have also contributed to improving air quality in India. In the industrial sector, Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) monitor discharges from factories. To reduce household pollution from dirty cooking fuels, the use of LPG has been promoted. Such measures have helped improve air quality in India. Nonetheless, challenges remain in the form of infrastructure, financing, industrial relocation away from urban centres, and behavioural patterns.

Research has shown that improving air quality in India, as is the case elsewhere, necessitates four steps: problem identification, policy formulation, implementation, and control strategies. As such, meeting air pollution standards in India calls for air quality modelling, emission inventories, monitoring pollutant concentrations, and addressing pollutant sources. These tools require large amounts of data, which are best obtained through real-time monitoring across diverse microenvironments.

Air pollution standards in India

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has developed outdoor air pollution standards in India. These standards are referred to as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and differ for ecologically sensitive areas compared to industrial, residential, rural, and other areas.

The annual average of specific pollutant concentrations in ambient air is mentioned below:

[Pollutant: annual avg. concentration in industrial, residential, rural and other areas; in ecologically sensitive areas]

Sulphur dioxide (μg/m3): 50; 20

Oxides of nitrogen (μg/m3): 40; 30

PM10 (μg/m3): 60; 60

PM2.5 (μg/m3): 40; 40

Ozone (μg/m3): 100; 100

When it comes to indoor air quality standards in India, ISHRAE, or the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, has set thresholds for different parameters. Specifically, ISHRAE has instituted standards for indoor environmental quality (IEQ), of which indoor air quality is one component. These standards are also classified into Classes A, B, and C to represent aspirational values, acceptable values, and minimum acceptable values, respectively.

Here are ISHRAE’s threshold values for indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters:

[IAQ parameter: Class A; Class B; Class C]

CO2 (ppm): ambient + 350; ambient + 500; ambient + 700

PM2.5 (µg/m3): <15; <25; <25

CO (ppm): <2; <9: <9

TVOC (µg/m3): <200; <500; <500

PM10 (µg/m3): <50; <100; <100

CH2O (µg/m3): <30; <100; –

SO2 (µg/m3): <40; <80; –

NO2 (µg/m3): <40; <80; –

O3 (µg/m3): <50; <100; –

Knowledge is power

The onus and power to control outdoor air pollution in India is largely in the hands of the government and industry. This is reflected in the explicit ambient air quality standards set by central authorities like the CPBC and the implementation of policies at the central, state, and municipal levels.

Indoor air quality, however, is not regulated by national standards. Industry bodies like ISHRAE have outlined acceptable thresholds, while builders, building owners, building managers, and inhabitants bear the responsibility to ensure that indoor environmental quality does not harm human health. Most people spend a large majority of their time indoors, and with the responsibility to monitor indoor air dispersed the way it is, it becomes extremely important to install air quality monitoring devices in as many enclosed spaces as possible. After all, only when air quality is monitored and quantified can it be improved.

The IQAir report paints a bleak picture of air quality in India, but it doesn’t have to be this way. While citizens must demand clean air from authorities, some of the power also rests in their own hands to control the air quality in the enclosed environments that they inhabit.

The post Monitoring air quality in India: The first step to clean air first appeared on Dew Point.

In various other posts on our blog, we’ve highlighted the importance of monitoring and improving indoor air quality (IAQ). But against what standard do you benchmark recorded IAQ levels? And to what gold standard do you aspire when cleaning the air up?

Indoor air quality standards form the bedrock upon which all our air quality management activities must be built. But while there are several guidelines and recommendations to measure and clean up indoor air, there aren’t very many standards. This isn’t necessarily a matter of apathy about clean air; there are standards for what constitutes healthy air outdoors. But be it for outdoor air or indoor air, forming a uniform standard for large regions is undoubtedly tricky. This is because pollutants, technological feasibility, infrastructure, and culture vary from region to region, city to city, and sometimes even home to home.

In the next few blog posts, we will examine the ABCs of IAQ guidelines. We’ll examine how national governments can adapt these guidelines to establish indoor air quality standards for office buildings and residential buildings. And we’ll explore existing frameworks and indoor air quality standards in India, especially as compared to the USA.

What are air quality standards?

Air quality standards are distinct from air quality guidelines.

Air quality standards define the acceptable level of air pollution in indoor, outdoor, or both environments in a particular country or region. They usually define the level of specific pollutants over a particular averaging time. For instance, they set the maximum permissible concentration of particulate matter (PM) in a region over a 24-hour period. Such standards are outlined and adopted by regulatory authorities or industry bodies. While they specify acceptable air quality levels, they may or may not be legally binding.

Guidelines, on the other hand, are mere suggestions. While they educate home and business owners about the IAQ levels they should maintain, their enforcement is not monitored or regulated. Further, they lack certain elements or details that make standards precisely measurable and, hence, enforceable.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ambient and indoor air quality standards will usually specify the averaging time, the measurement technique and strategy, data handling procedures, and the statistics used for measurement and comparison. Additionally, a standard may permit a specified number of times that it can be broken up to a certain limit in a given period.

As we mentioned earlier, it isn’t easy to set standards for air quality, especially indoors. This is because of the sheer range of variables involved in not only air pollution but also air quality management. The WHO notes that air quality standards could be based only on scientific evidence and public health considerations. Or they may also take into consideration enforcement potential, the cost-benefit ratio of air cleaning, the technological feasibility of achieving the defined standards, or the existing infrastructural, social, cultural, and economic circumstances that might influence their adoption.

Phew. That’s a lot of things to consider, and that list isn’t even exhaustive. Given the complexity of the matter, authorities may set multiple standards to achieve different short- and long-term goals. Additionally, these standards need not be set in stone over the long term. Ideally, they should be reviewed periodically to evolve with newly emerging risk factors and/or scientific evidence.

Going from guidelines to standards

Indoor air quality standards are largely implicit. They are based on guidelines created by the WHO, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the USA’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), and/or other public, occupational, and environmental health bodies.

Let’s take the WHO, for example. As the United Nations’ designated global health agency, the WHO has published global air quality guidelines for PM, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The agency has also published indoor air quality guidelines focusing on pollutants like benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, radon, and naphthalene in enclosed environments.

The purpose of publishing these guidelines? To identify the optimal level of air quality and provide a uniform, scientifically-informed basis to protect public health from the impacts of air pollution in different contexts. Essentially, they offer a pathway for countries to transform recommended air quality levels into legally enforceable standards.

Naturally, even as countries use the WHO’s air quality guidelines as a starting point, their air quality standards must fit within their own legal frameworks. They must consider emission sources specific to their country. And they must take into account features of the population and the environment.

In general, a comprehensive and targeted air quality standard must consider:

• Which pollutants should be regulated – this also includes numerical values for specific pollutant concentrations and appropriate detection and monitoring techniques
  
• The air pollution-linked health effects which need to be addressed – this includes consideration of the demographic groups most at risk from air pollutants
  
• Permissible risk levels – this covers the potential economic and health costs that are acceptable to the population
  
• The feasibility of compliance – this includes assessing the costs of compliance vs the benefits earned
  
• And the feasibility of enforcement – while more detailed than guidelines, standards may or may not be legally binding. If they are legally binding, national governments must identify authorities who will oversee their enforcement.
  
  

The microenvironmental model

From homes, public transit, streets, and parks to workplaces, schools and beyond, individuals move through several environments in a day. How can air quality guidelines and standards assess people’s exposure to and risk from air pollutants? As people encounter different environments, they are exposed to different pollutants, with exposure being either acute or chronic. How, then, can risk be effectively assessed and addressed?

Enter the microenvironmental model. A microenvironment is a place where people spend time and which has a specific pollutant profile for the time duration that people occupy it. The microenvironmental model is a comprehensive construct to assess exposure to inhaled pollutants and their associated risks. Every place from the inside of a motor vehicle, a kitchen, the printing room in your office to a crowded street at peak traffic time constitutes a microenvironment.

When estimating personal exposure and setting indoor air quality standards, this microenvironmental model is particularly important. For instance, even if you spend only 15 minutes cooking in the kitchen per day, if the space is not well-ventilated, you risk acute exposure to air pollutants, the nature of which will be determined by the type of cooking fuel you use.

Since we spend large amounts of time indoors – at work and at home – it is vital to set indoor air quality standards for office buildings and residences. Assessing exposure in such microenvironments should account for not only pollutants with indoor sources but also the indoor penetration of outdoor air pollutants.

As you can see, the microenvironmental model is highly relevant to our concern of indoor air quality standards. Indoor microenvironments must be monitored for air quality for several reasons. One, to prevent airborne disease transmission (as the Covid pandemic made evident). Two, to promote building efficiency, which is, to a large extent, a function of HVAC system efficiency. And three, to enhance occupant health and well-being – clean air not only improves comfort and cognition but also minimises exposure to allergens and other substances that can cause respiratory distress and other health issues.

Going ahead, we’re going to take a look at specific indoor air quality standards in India and in the USA, for residential and commercial spaces. Whether you’re an HVAC specialist, a public health professional, or involved in the design, construction, or use of buildings in any way, the following articles will definitely offer some useful information for you.

The post The Professional’s Guide to Indoor Air Quality Standards first appeared on Dew Point.