BSEE-DEC21-PG12.qxp_Layout 1 19/11/2021 10:45 Page 12
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Lee Page, sales director at S&P UK, argues air sensors should be immune from any ‘quickfix culture’ labels in our plight against COVID19 and indoor air quality (IAQ)
measures that are actually just sticky plaster solutions – or whether we can instead properly fund, plan and carry out long- term major investments. We’ve seen this debate play out with regards to ventilation during the pandemic. What can I do right now? Is opening a window good enough? What grants are available so I can really invest in the future of IAQ at my school, hospital, restaurant or office?
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One undeniable silver lining of COVID-19 has been the heightened awareness of IAQ, with a real concern for how we can assess levels of indoor air pollutants and properly ventilate buildings to cut airborne transmissions – to help mitigate this pandemic as COVID-19 becomes endemic and the world reopens, and to prepare, perhaps against our will, for future pandemics.
Ultimately, high costs and unwieldy redesigns are among the most common reasons for buildings not getting long-overdue upgrades to sophisticated mechanical ventilation systems. Entrenched attitudes, slow- moving legislation and low public awareness also play a part. However you frame it, for the foreseeable future, we will need short-term measures that are effective in both performance and cost to reduce COVID-19 rates and keep the biannual office cold at bay – and to keep the economy moving and the world’s fledgling rehabilitation going. They must not get tangled up with society’s fixation on our so-called quick-fix culture.
Sensing an air change
So, enter into the fray: air sensors. They are incredibly effective temporary low-cost measures that commercial and residential premises can and should employ right now. The Government said in recent COVID-19 guidance that CO2 monitors should be used in a range of sectors and settings to help identify poorly ventilated indoor areas, take action to maximise fresh air, and reduce the risk of airborne transmission of diseases.
AIR CONDITIONING, COOLING & VENTILATION The easy way to take action on indoor air quality
rom potholes to train lines, society has long been plagued over whether to react to serious problems with short-term, low-cost
CO2 is most commonly produced indoors by the air we exhale and can be of higher concentration where there is poor ventilation – therefore creating poor IAQ.
In response, we’ve launched our wireless AirSens range which monitors ambient indoor air quality and sends a signal to your building’s ventilation system to increase the airflow rate if a spike is detected in one of three parameters: carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compound (VOC) or relative humidity (RH). These sensors are specifically designed to help businesses, education and healthcare settings manage poor air quality levels and lower infection risks.
AirSens comes in three versions: AirSens CO2, AirSens VOC and AirSens RH. A traffic light LED system indicates the air quality level: green (good), orange (medium) and red (poor).
The entire range reduces components, simplifies installation and increases savings while providing a minimalist design which can be easily integrated in different ambientes. They all have a wireless version, meaning they can be retrofitted very easily and quickly. VOC products are designed for places with sporadic changes to the accumulation of substances derived from odours such as alcohols, ketones and organic acids.
Meanwhile, RH versions are most efficient in highly humid areas such as bathrooms.
Our CO2 monitor can be adapted to fit any space due to its wireless technology and is designed for indoor areas where occupancy rates can change frequently.
This is where intelligent wireless air sensors really showcase their formidable strengths. Usually CO2 monitors need to be wired back to the main air handling unit or fan – requiring additional wiring, time and effort, and costs. And who wants that? However, forward-thinking products have that rare intelligent ability to connect to a main sensor in the hub and wirelessly access the display within the desired space. This provides a simple, reassuring and cost-effective solution for many businesses and people. Most air sensors also come with Building Management System (BMS) capabilities, meaning the information provided by the sensor can be access from anywhere. A facilities company based off site can have access to the levels of air quality and take action to increase ventilation, whether it’s opening windows or reviewing the ventilation systems. Our range has a wireless version, meaning they can be retrofitted very easily and quickly. They also come with a low speed and high speed as standard as well as a BMS capability, making it easy to control ventilation.
How effective are air sensors?
In reality, nothing can truly beat long- term properly designed ventilation. In fact, our own scientific study carried out by our European R&D centre designed to help settle the debate between mechanical and natural ventilation (opening windows and doors) conclusively found that mechanical ventilation reduces by half the risk of spreading any airborne disease, such as COVID-19. The detailed research considered three scenarios: schools, offices and bars/restaurants, and proved that mechanical ventilation can significantly improve air quality and curb the risk of contracting airborne diseases.
12 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER DECEMBER 2021
With that being said, we know investing in a new mechanical ventilation system for your indoor setting can be inhibitive, and so air sensors such as CO2 monitors are an extremely effective way to identify which rooms and areas are likely to fall victim to overcrowding and/or have poor ventilation in the first place – and gives you the data in your hands to know where and when to take action.
The Health and Safety Executive has stated CO2 values in indoor areas should be at least 800ppm (parts per million) and not exceed 1500ppm. The AirSens CO2 monitor has a range of 450-2000ppm and has an in-built demand controlled ventilation.
Having this short-term solution to effectively identify the CO2 values in workspaces, schools and commercial settings will produce long-term results of identifying a poorly ventilated room and providing the ability to improve the air quality and ultimately protect the occupants.
In the end, the marriage of vision and investment will pave the way to a healthier indoor future – where we spend 80% of our time after all. It might just need to be triggered by legal and moral imperatives and incentives first.
About S&P UK
S&P UK Ventilation Systems is a specialist fan, air movement and ventilation products and systems provider, serving the Heating & Ventilation (H&V), Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM), and wholesale markets in the UK
The company supplies over 10,000 products supported by a comprehensive technical advice service
S&P UK is a subsidiary of leading global manufacturer S&P Group, headquartered in Spain The company operates from its modern warehouse facility based in Ipswich, Suffolk
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