Indoor Air Contamination Detection

Decontamination Remediation Testing Protocol

Testing is the key to sustainably achieving clear indoor air while in the process not materially increasing energy and HVAC maintenance and supply costs. Testing can determine the contamination culprits and the required best-in-class remediation solutions. MORE

In large-scale, complex projects on-site testing is often indicated. Accordingly, we often engage a certified air quality systems engineer to work with us to script a testing protocol appropriate for the conditions and that meets the requirements of ASHRAE and various regulatory bodies that might be involved.

Test Configuration

  • Select the appropriate Indoor Air Quality Monitor/s to be deployed (more below) and the model and number of air purifier/disinfection devices to be tested.

  • Choose the indoor spaces where the tests will be conducted (office, cafeteria, meeting rooms, etc.)

  • Gauge the number of people who will occupy the space and the time duration  

  • Log the presence and location of mechanical (HVAC and other filtration devices if any) and natural (windows/doors) ventilation in the test spaces

  • Script the goals for the test. This is a crucial step. Considerations are:

    • Desired ACH

    • CFM calibration

    • CADR assessment of filter efficiency claims and airflow for each selected standalone remediation unit

    • NADR assessment criteria to assure compliance.

  • Determine the time duration of the test

Indoor Air Quality Monitors

There are many different monitors available, and we’ll share knowledge regarding the appropriate ones for the test. Monitors chosen will have an online dashboard capability to monitor indoor air quality measures 24/7 that depict the degree of contamination and contaminant characteristics so as to guide subsequent remediation recommendations.

Standard IAQ monitor sensor options include:

  • T/RH: temperature/relative humidity

  • CO2: carbon dioxide

  • VOC: VOCs

  • CO: carbon monoxide

  • PM: particulate matter, 0.3 - 1.0, 2.5, 10 

Additional sensors available as needed: 

  • Ozone

  • Formaldehyde

  • Ion levels

  • Mold

  • Energy levels, i.e., energy consumption related to MERV13 v HEPA filtration 

A customer interested in our remediation technology wanted additional sensors as they heard an unintended consequence of earlier generation PCO technology was the formation of Ozone (from free radicals interacting with O2) and Formaldehyde (from incomplete decomposing of long-chain VOCs). Another customer had installed Bipolar Ionization technology in many buildings and was concerned about the unwanted generation of Ozone and Formaldehyde as possible byproducts of ionization. Ozone, Formaldehyde, and Ion detection sensors were deployed to address these concerns. For more information, CONTACT US.

Remediation 

Using the above IAQ testing results as guidelines, configure the Remediation Program to include:

  1. Adjust ventilation recommendations based on ventilation shortfalls if any were found during testing.

  2. Adjust/change/add filtration devices as indicated by the test results.

  3. Change/add air decontamination equipment as indicated by the test results.

  4. Implement the remediation toolbox on a test basis with IAQ monitors re-activated, with and without, activation of the remediation equipment. Results are then tested against pre-established hypotheses:

    • Measure the degree of indoor air quality improvement when the remediation equipment is running vs not running including measuring adjustments to ventilation and other filtration devices.

    • Determine if multiple smaller remediation units provide better  IAQ results than one larger unit (this often turns out to be the case as “dead ventilation zones” are better accommodated). 

    • If the hypotheses are proven, a toolbox is rolled out and a Building Management System approach can be implemented as appropriate.

For more information to expand on the overview above regarding Indoor Air Contamination Detection and Decontamination Remediation Testing Protocol specifics, Contact Us.

The ROI Speaks for Itself

It’s worth noting the significant ROI impact of having sustainably clean indoor air:

  1. EPA
    The EPA issued its Second Prospective Report which looked at the results of the Clean Air Act from 1990 to 2020. According to this study, the benefits exceeded costs by a factor of 30 to 1. MORE

  2. Carnegie Mellon
    Best practices such as monitoring indoor air quality, good ventilation/air filtration and decontamination are modest investments when compared to the long-term economic benefits that can be achieved. A study by Carnegie Mellon estimates possible ROI for good indoor air quality at an average of 120%.

    Additionally, Carnegie Mellon found using a combination of natural and mechanical ventilation for indoor spaces could result in energy savings of 47%-79% for HVAC systems.

  3. Others
    Cognitive ability increases by up to ~60% in environments with healthy indoor air quality.

    While the exact numbers and outcomes differ between a plethora of studies, all studies confirm that the ROI of improved indoor air quality is significant. Employees will be healthier with ~ a 58% sick day reduction with increased productivity due to an increase in cognitive thinking and creativity.

    Polluted indoor air can lead to respiratory conditions, heart problems, and cancer. The result is a lot of money spent on healthcare. The average US household spends ~ $14,000 per year.  Improving indoor air quality can improve one’s health, resulting in savings due to fewer visits to the hospital, fewer medical consultations, and fewer medications. 

    Even savings on energy bills is possible when indoor air is improved. A 2% improvement in energy efficiency results in an annual savings of $0.06 per square foot, according to JLL Research.