Wireless way to manage IAQ
September 1st 2010 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a significant issue in ensuring the
health, safety and well-being of employees and the public.
Gareth Evans from PPM Technology, discusses how a
wireless system for monitoring the indoor environment
enables a controlled approach to the management of IAQ
Measurement and monitoring of
hazardous gases is a critical issue in
industrial and workplace safety;
conventionally worker safety has been
concerned with acute levels
of airborne pollutants, today
there is also mounting
concern about the effect of
long-term exposure to low
levels of pollutants.
Indoor Air Quality and
conditions such as Sick
Building Syndrome (SBS) are
a major concern to
businesses, building managers, tenants
and employees because they can impact the
health, comfort, well being and productivity
of the building occupants.
A typical indoor air quality investigation
and examination consists of taking single
point measurements of pollutant levels. This
monitoring method can be unreliable, as the
pollutant level is subject to hourly, daily and
indeed seasonal fluctuations. However
advances in technology have made it possible
for a wireless system to continuously
monitor the indoor environment.
A wireless system enables simple
continuous detection and
measurement of many of
the factors that contribute
to a building's Indoor Air
Environment; such as
temperature, humidity
and a number of toxic
gases and compounds including
carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
sulphur dioxide, ozone,
ammonia, formaldehyde and
total volatile organic compound's.
Controlling IAQ parameters can improve
the comfort and work efficiency of the
occupants as well as their immediate and
long-term health.
PPM Technology's Wireless IAQ Profile
PPMonitor enables simple, effective and
flexible management of Indoor Air Quality.
It is able to collect a complete and accurate
record of IAQ, presenting facility managers
and health and safety officers with the data
they need for the effective management of
air quality within the building.
The system can initiate immediate audible
and/or visible warning of the presence of
harmful gases in the air, protecting employees
and the public; buildings can be immediately
evacuated reducing exposure to occupants.
The alarm can be used to give a warning
that gas concentration level has reached a
non-critical but concerning level. It can then
trigger the air conditioning system in
response before the gas concentration
reaches a critical level. A further alarm can
give a more severe warning when the gas
concentration reaches a critical level.
The PPMonitor wireless system can
integrate with building automation systems;
dedicated software allows an entire wireless
system to be managed and controlled from a
single PC; it can set parameters for
temperature, humidity and concentrations of
hazardous gases which can then activate and
control the air conditioning and ventilation
systems. It can also turn on/off heating and
as a last resort trigger building alarms.
A wireless IAQ sensor network has the
ability for detailed monitoring in inaccessible
locations where a wired infrastructure is not
viable or possible. A building wide network
of monitoring units can be achieved; this
means a detailed representation of indoor air
quality. The network can be extended by
adding dedicated repeater nodes or additional
wireless units, each unit with unique sensor
specifications if necessary.
Continuous monitoring of IAQ enables a
profile of the indoor air environment to be
created; analysis of the recorded data through
dedicated software allows for more efficient
management of resources and energy. The
software can be used as an analytical tool;
trends can be identified and problem areas
rectified; this should lead to better indoor air
environment and safer, more comfortable
working conditions.
If a building services engineer has the
correct data relating to dayto-
day operation of the air
conditioning system,
improvements to the design
and management of the
ventilation system can be
made. An effective airconditioning
or ventilating
system has a positive
impact on the
environment, boosting
comfort, energy
conservation, cost
effectiveness and the
health and well-being of
those inside the building. More articles from PPM Technology Ltd: | 
