According to the WHO, air pollution kills almost 50,000 people in France every year. And contrary to popular belief, the air inside a home or industrial building can be up to 10 times more polluted than the air outside!
In the workplace, analyzing indoor air quality is therefore a major challenge for employee health.
What are the sources of indoor pollution? Is indoor air quality monitoring mandatory? How is a building’s air quality measured? Discover our tips for a healthy, legally compliant working environment.
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What are the sources of indoor air pollution?
Analysis of indoor air quality in enclosed spaces (housing, industrial buildings, public buildings) is based on the detection of pollutants and the measurement of physical quantities (temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.).
Particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Building materials, maintenance products and lack of ventilation in buildings are all sources of pollution in the workplace. Indoor air quality (IAQ) diagnostics are based on the evaluation of the concentration of two types of pollutants:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs ): odors, vapors from chemicals such as formaldehyde;
- solid or liquid particles: dust, aerosols and biological compounds (microbes, mold, etc.).
Indoor air pollution is a threat to employee health and the environment. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen, and VOCs contribute to the greenhouse effect.
Excessive temperature and humidity values
Indoor air quality analysis also requires temperature and relative humidity measurements. Excessive heat or humidity encourages the development of biological pollutants (mold, bacteria) that damage materials and finished products. In addition, excessive temperature and humidity accentuate the harmful effect of VOCs and contribute to the deterioration of the working environment.
What does the law say about monitoring indoor air quality?
Indoor air quality analysis is a legal obligation for employers, through compliance with Occupational Exposure Limit Values (OELs) and the implementation of an Indoor Air Quality Diagnosis (IAQD). and the implementation of indoor air quality diagnostics .
Occupational exposure limit values
The French Labor Code sets Occupational Exposure Limit Values (OELVs), which correspond to the maximum levels of pollutants or particles to which an operator can be exposed without any effect on his health. If TLVs are exceeded, the workstation is suspended until the employee has taken steps to reduce his or her exposure.
Indoor air quality diagnostics
Under France’s “Grenelle 2” law on the national commitment to the environment, indoor air quality (IAQ) diagnostics are compulsory for buildings used by children (nursery and elementary schools, leisure centers and secondary schools). From January 2023, IAQ diagnostics will be extended to all establishments open to the public (ERP), i.e. those open to visitors other than staff.
How to carry out an indoor air quality analysis?
Indoor air quality monitoring is carried out using specific measuring equipment on the advice of a professional.
Air pollution measuring devices
Indoor air quality analysis requires specially designed equipment to detect pollutants and measure their concentration in every room of a building. As an expert in industrial air treatment, OBERA offers a range of particle counters and air analyzers. This type of device provides continuous monitoring of air quality inside your facility:
- detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide (CO2);
- quantitative and qualitative analysis of dust and particles (PM 0.3 to PM 10);
- measures temperature and relative humidity values.
Real-time data analysis enables rapid implementation of corrective actions (aeration, ventilation, air treatment) to comply with Occupational Exposure Limit Values.
Our tips for effective IAQ analyses
Establishments open to the public (ERP) covered by the Grenelle 2 law must have their IAQ diagnosis carried out by a sworn professional. In all cases, it is advisable to consult an air quality specialist. We can also measure indoor air quality and help you set up an industrial air treatment system.
Contact us to discuss your needs and get advice onanalyzing your building’sindoor air quality.
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