Fewer sick days with the help of CO2 sensors

Less carbon dioxide indoors not only helps for better concentration. In fact, CO2 is a good indicator of lack of ventilation and thus a simple measure against COVID-19.

CO2 monitoring with the help of sensors can reduce the risk of corona infections. At the same time, working conditions are improved by fresh air.

Reducing the risk of infection with CO2 monitoring

Aerosols are small airborne particles that are released into the air through exhalation and can be contaminated with viruses. If different people are in the same room, there is a risk of infection, for example from the flu or COVID-19. Shock ventilation allows fresh air to enter the room. This will enable a safer learning and working environment. But when and how often should it be ventilated? Does constant ventilation, especially during the heating season, make sense? Especially during work, this is often forgotten.

The CO2 (carbon dioxide) that each person exhales is a direct indicator of lack of ventilation. If the CO2 content increases, the concentration of aerosols also increases. For this reason, the German Federal Environment Agency is convinced that sensors can significantly reduce the risk of infection (TAZ 2020). Of course, such a measurement can only be an indication. Sneezing, for example, can suddenly spread a large number of droplets in the room. These are not displayed in the CO2 measurement. Only the aerosols that people exhale correlate with the concentration of carbon dioxide.

Concentration problems due to excessive CO2 content

Depending on the number of people and their activities, the CO2 content increases at different rates. However, from a proportion of more than 1,000 ppm (parts per million) at the latest, an air change becomes necessary, otherwise in addition to an increase in the risk of infection, concentration problems, fatigue or headaches can also be consequences. Often, just 5 minutes of ventilation or optimized control of the ventilation systems are enough to achieve pleasant indoor air again. If the CO2 value is measured in real time, these measures can be taken promptly. Modern solutions such as the all-in-one platform from LineMetrics offer the possibility to receive alerts on the smartphone. As a result, users of premises are immediately informed and can act independently.

Is room quality a trend factor?

In addition to monitoring CO2 for health reasons, the quality of indoor air may soon also play a role in the selection of real estate. Gareth Lewis, Director – Real Estate M&A at PwC, writes in his article Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2021 that indoor air can influence rental prices and the value of office space. Depending on the possibilities of influencing the indoor air, demand and price could also rise or fall.

As described in our blog post How to Easily Monitor CO2 Levels , LineMetrics offers simple ways to control carbon dioxide concentrations. Further information can be found in our use case Measuring CO2 and increasing productivity or find out more from our employees.