INFOGRAPHY - How can you guarantee optimum IAQ in your premises?

The challenges of indoor air quality

The quality of air inside buildings, particularly in schools and offices, can have a significant impact on the health of occupants. Poor air quality, often laden with pollutants, can lead to a range of health problems, from skin irritations and respiratory illnesses to nausea and infections. Schools, where children spend a large part of their day, and offices, where employees work long hours, are particularly affected by these issues. Prolonged exposure to polluted air can affect their concentration, well-being and even productivity.

What's more, it's important to note that indoor air in schools and offices can contain concentrations of pollutants up to 5 to 7 times higher than outdoor air. This situation underlines the crucial importance of effective air quality management in enclosed environments, particularly in schools and offices, in order to limit exposure to pollutants and protect the health of pupils, educational staff and workers. Healthy air in the office also helps to reduce absenteeism and improve the general well-being of employees.

Sources of indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollutants can come from a number of sources in the home:

• The building itself: Building materials and furniture in the home can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Human activities: Processes such as cooking or the use of chemicals in the home can increase pollution levels.
• Air conditioning and ventilation: Poorly maintained systems in the home can accumulate dust and mould.

Signs of a faulty ventilation system in the home include, for example, unpleasant odours, as well as excessive humidity and condensation. Indeed, these indicators often suggest insufficient or faulty ventilation. In homes, it is essential to monitor these elements to ensure a healthy indoor environment and avoid the proliferation of pollutants.

Optimizing ventilation and air conditioning

To ensure healthy air, it is crucial to comply with the ventilation requirements laid down in the French Labour Code. Optimising ventilation and air conditioning systems is essential for controlling the concentration of pollutants and the level of humidity in indoor air. Poorly regulated humidity can encourage the growth of mould and other contaminants, impacting on the health of occupants.

This includes not only the correct installation of these systems, but also their regular maintenance to avoid excessive concentrations of harmful substances and inadequate humidity. A well-maintained ventilation system helps to reduce pollutant levels, limit their concentration, regulate humidity and maintain a healthy indoor environment. Controlled humidity also improves thermal comfort and avoids problems associated with air that is too dry or too humid, ensuring a more pleasant living and working environment.

Raising occupant awareness

Raising occupants' awareness of the importance of office air quality is a key step. By understanding how their behaviour can influence the quality of the air in their offices, occupants can take steps to reduce sources of pollution, such as avoiding the use of toxic products or favouring environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Raising awareness enables employees to become active players in improving the air quality in their offices, thereby contributing to a healthier and more pleasant working environment.

Nexelec solutions for optimum air quality

To monitor air quality in real time and ensure a healthy indoor environment, Nexelec offers a range of advanced sensors. These sensors measure a variety of parameters, including temperature, humidity, brightness, presence, noise, carbon dioxide (CO2), atmospheric pressure, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particles (PM), including formaldehyde (HCHO). By monitoring particulate matter in the air, our sensors provide accurate and continuous data, enabling early detection of problems associated with excessive concentrations of particulate matter.

By integrating Nexelec solutions, companies can not only ensure healthier air for their occupants by reducing exposure to harmful particles, but also optimise the energy performance of their buildings by adapting ventilation according to the levels of particles detected.