As measurement of indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters have gotten better, faster and cheaper we’ve taken advantage of this to instrument our offices.

Read more to see why everyone should care about IAQ.

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Carbon Dioxide (CO₂):

• Measured in parts per million (PPM)
• You can expect about 400-450 PPM outdoors
• Anything above 1000 PPM for extended periods may lead to drowsiness and loss of cognitive abilities (as in you get mentally slower)
• Higher levels of CO₂ may also indicate that other pollutants (harder to measure) are also present in higher concentrations
• See these links for more details :
  • https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-08/documents/base_3c2o2.pdf
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018312807
  • https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10943933/

Particulates:

• We are measuring PM2.5 which in our case is the weight (micrograms) of particles less than 2.5 microns per cubic meter
• These small particles (from diesel, smoke, etc) are particularly bad for us because they make their way into our lungs and are hard to expel
• Kitchen activity (frying, searing, burning fuel) are also big contributors to indoor particulates
• If you have low levels of particulates, you’re probably cleaning the air of aerosols. Aerosols are the primary vector for air borne viruses (think influenza, colds, covid) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8721651/
• How we fixed our particulate problems
  • MERV13 filters on all outside air coming into ERVs and HRVs
  • MERV13 filters on all air handlers
  • CR style filter boxes situated throughout the building
  • HEPA filtration units
  • Make sure that you have good kitchen exhaust to reduce particulates from cooking

What can you do ?

• We stock and sell many brands of ERVs, HRVs: https://hvacquick.com/products/residential/HRVs-and-ERVs
• CR boxes – a great and inexpensive filtration concept: https://hvacquick.com/products/residential/Indoor-Air-Quality/Inline-Filter-Boxes/HVACQuick-CRFB-Box
• We stock many brands, as well as manufacturing our own line of filter boxes https://hvacquick.com/products/residential/Air-Filters
• Exhausting kitchen produced particulates: https://hvacquick.com/products/residential/Kitchen-Exhaust
• Feel free to call us to discuss and let us share our experience at 541.646.9340

Footnote on ERVs and HRVs

• The smart way to fix CO₂ problems is to use Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) or Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs)
• You can also just open a window, but this will lead to loss of conditioned air
• ERVs and HRVs minimize loss of conditioned air by recovering the heat or cool, while still bringing in fresh and filtered air

Note on our measurements

We measure particulates and carbon dioxide levels (inside and outdoors). A thorough analysis of air would include volatile organics (VOC’s) and other pollutants, which is beyond the scope of our measurements. If you have good values for CO₂ and particulates, and you don’t live next to an airport or other concentrated pollution source, your other IAQ values will most likely be just fine.