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Facility management of commercial buildings now include Indoor Air Quality to performed at least annually. Green buildings and programs such as the WELL standard and Fitwell require air quality be measured and maintained while other facility managers offer the initiative for annual reporting to their tenants on their air quality. Through these metrics it may be demonstrated that the built environment is being maintained and meets the often-unspoken expectation that the environment being provided is beneficial to its occupants and their needs.
Within a commercial space there are often people who feel uncomfortable about their experience of thermal comfort. Sensors within the building may offer some information and by correcting one anomaly can inadvertently create another. Thermal comfort plays a big role in productivity, complaints and absenteeism. The fine balance may also cause HVAC in efficiencies.
For years Carbon Dioxide has been used as an indicator for sufficient air changes and air quality set at 1000ppm where studies suggest beginning the onset for drowsiness and related Sick Building Syndrome markers. Actionable concentrations of 5000ppm thresholds exist as this may indicate certain human health impacts or presence of other gasses or oxygen displacement.
Respirable particulate has been a widely known contributor to ill health from Coal particulate causing Black Lung, Asbestos to Asbestosis and Silica being more recognized of late with cases of Silicosis. These may be sampled for specially, where Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) or sometimes referred to as Respirable Dust is the real-time measurement of non-specific particulate of differing sizes.
Measurement of TSP can be used for evaluating containment of construction site dust in adjacent locations, general air cleanliness and indicative values to monitor the effectiveness of air scrubbing with HEPA filters in a contained environment. Within the category of total suspended particulate include ultra-fine particulate counters which are used to validate a Controlled Environment and Cleanrooms in Hospitals, Pharmaceutical manufacturing or in Electronic component facilities.
Total Volatile Organic Compounds or often referred to as VOC refer to the grouping of a wide range of organic chemical compounds to simplify reporting when these are present in water, ambient air or emissions.
The human nose is able to detect odors emitted by many VOCs as low as a part per billion with many exposure standards set in the parts per million range.
TVOC can be measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) of air, milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3), parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb). Specifically calibrated instruments may be able to detect individual suspected compounds if desired, alternatively a comprehensive suite of analytes may be assessed through laboratory methods.
Included in some assessments will be air sampling four fungi and bacteria. This offers insight to specific zones of an HVAC system or a general overview of a floor area and the impact the provided air may be having on occupancy health. It also may speak to the condition of the HVAC system however if this is the aim it is advantageous to include an HVAC Hygiene inspection too.
Often odours can be far below any stated levels of maximum exposure risk yet still cause a nuisance where even tenants will break lease to avoid it.
If this has become an issue, begin a record of:
When you have this information, you may be able to problem solve yourself, if further assistance is required Keystone may be able to assist.