Indoor air quality: current regulations and solutions

A direct impact on health

The  indoor air quality (IAQ) of a building is essential for health and well-being. In a building, pollutants present in enclosed spaces come from multiple sources. Carbon dioxide often indicates a lack of ventilation and aeration. Volatile organic compounds, as well as benzene and formaldehyde, both classified as carcinogens, can circulate in indoor air. Fine particles from combustion or outside air can accumulate if ventilation is inadequate.

Without effective ventilation and standard-compliant measuring equipment, indoor air pollutants can damage your health. Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches and reduced concentration are common in poorly ventilated buildings. The absence of proper ventilation and IAQ monitoring increases the risk of illness. Children, who are particularly vulnerable to fine particles, require an efficient ventilation system and a regulatory action plan. This obligation applies to all establishments open to the public (ERP) and workplaces, in order to reduce indoor pollution and improve  indoor air quality (IAQ) over the long term.

A constantly evolving regulatory framework

Faced with these risks, the French Environment Code sets out, through precise regulations, obligations as well as the means required to guarantee indoor air quality (IAQ) in establishments open to the public (ERP). Since the 2012 decree, IAQ monitoring has been mandatory in ERP. This obligation includes assessing ventilation systems, measuring pollutants and checking their concentration every four years. The decrees of December 27, 2022 have strengthened these requirements by imposing direct measurement of carbon dioxide, detailing monitoring procedures, reporting, implementation of action plans and means of control.

In the new-build sector, the RE2020 environmental regulation requires the installation of high-performance, airtight ventilation systems, often double-flow, to ensure optimal air renewal. Environmental certifications such as BREEAM go a step further, incorporating criteria for the choice of materials, the design of ventilation networks, the limitation of pollutants and continuous monitoring of facilities. Finally, the tertiary sector decree and the BACS decree require buildings of over 1,000 m², including establishments open to the public (ERP), to reduce their energy consumption and install systems capable of controlling ventilation, indoor air quality (IAQ) measurement, aeration and other parameters in real time.

Integrating air quality into every stage of a project

Ensuring healthy air requires a precise regulatory approach. Right from the diagnosis stage, the environment must be assessed, outdoor pollution analyzed and the characteristics of the premises studied. This stage follows official standards and guide values in an action plan. The design must integrate indoor air quality (IAQ), with optimal sizing of ventilation systems, choice of low-emission materials and products, and control of pollutants such as fine particles and carbon dioxide. The plan must guarantee efficient ventilation, regular aeration and a healthy indoor environment.

Indoor air quality (IAQ)
criteria must be integrated into the specifications of contractors, in line with regulations and strictly controlled. During the construction phase, protection of ventilation systems, control of particle and pollutant emissions, and compliance with regulatory protocols are essential. During the operating phase, regular building maintenance, occupant training and ongoing monitoring guarantee regulatory compliance. These actions optimize IAQ and reduce indoor pollution.

Technology for monitoring

Connected sensors are high-performance solutions for reliable, continuous indoor air quality (IAQ) measurements. Nexelec sensors measure carbon dioxide, fine particles, volatile organic compounds, temperature and humidity in real time. These monitoring devices trigger immediate alerts when regulatory values are exceeded, helping to protect the health of occupants and ensure that buildings comply with IAQ standards.

Thanks to these solutions, it is possible to optimize ventilation, limit indoor pollution and protect the health of occupants. Conforming to IAQ regulatory requirements, these sensors are easy to install and suitable for offices, collective housing, schools and medical-social structures. Beyond compliance, they are a strategic device for maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ), reducing product-related pollutant emissions, guaranteeing health safety, protecting children and improving the environmental and regulatory performance of buildings.

Optimization and indoor air quality

Optimizing  indoor air quality (IAQ) in a building or a facility open to the public (ERP) is based on regulatory standards and the needs of occupants. Strong optimization reduces pollutants, improves ventilation, applies measures to control carbon dioxide and fine particles, and reinforces monitoring with regular measurements. Normal optimization applies IAQ guide values with ventilation system management and appropriate measures. Under-optimization lets indoor pollution degrade health and the indoor environment through lack of effective measures. Over-optimization mobilizes costly means and measures with no real benefit for environmental performance.

Regulations and Cerema guides require every facility to regularly measure carbon dioxide, monitor fine particles, implement an action plan and monitor ventilation systems to ensure regulatory compliance. These solutions, applied in public buildings and their premises, are integrated right from the construction or renovation phase to guarantee healthy, controlled premises. They help protect health, reduce indoor pollution and ensure that buildings comply with current standards, while optimizing indoor air quality (IAQ) and the environmental performance of premises.