Indoor air quality is a major health and environmental issue. At home or in the office, indoor pollution is 5 to 10 times higher than outdoors! The cause: excessive humidity, pollutants released by cleaning products and building materials, inadequate ventilation, etc.
Mandatory for all establishments open to the public, the indoor air quality (IAQ) diagnosis provides an inventory of the current situation, enabling us to draw up an appropriate action plan. What pollutants does the IAQ diagnostic look for? Why and how to set up indoor air quality monitoring in an industrial building?
Follow our guide to IAQ diagnostics.
Sommaire
What is indoor air quality diagnosis?
Indoor air quality (IAQ) diagnostics involve measuring pollution levels in enclosed spaces (homes, business premises, public buildings, etc.). This assessment identifies the concentration and source of pollutants present inside the building.
What pollutants are measured during an IAQ diagnosis?
Indoor air quality diagnostics are based on various measurements:
- analysis of gaseous pollutants: carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde;
- search for particles: dust, asbestos fibres, etc. ;
- measurement of physical values: temperature and relative humidity.
These products present risks to human health and the environment. Some of them can cause cancer. These include formaldehyde and asbestos. Air pollution kills almost 50,000 people a year in France.
What are the sources of air pollution in industrial buildings?
Industrial premises are home to many sources of pollution:
- The chemicals and materials used in manufacturing processes release pollutants into the air.
- Transporting materials and finished products generates dust, particles, hydrocarbon vapors, etc.
- Pollutants from the outside environment can be trapped inside buildings.
Lack of ventilation concentrates pollutants, and also affects temperature and humidity levels inside the facility.
Why measure indoor air quality?
Assessing indoor air quality is a legal obligation for employers. It also helpsimprove plant productivity.
Is indoor air quality diagnosis mandatory?
In France, Decree no. 2015-1000 requires indoor air quality diagnostics in places where children are present (nursery and elementary schools, leisure centers and secondary education establishments). From 2023, IAQ diagnostics will be mandatory for all establishments open to the public (ERP), i.e. premises open to outsiders (other than employees).
Whether your company is an ERP or not, you must comply with the Occupational Exposure Limit Values (VLEP) imposed by the French Labor Code. The IAQ diagnosis enables you to check whether pollutant concentrations are well below the values set by law, and to envisage corrective action where necessary.
What are the advantages of healthy air in an industrial building?
In addition to the regulatory aspect, maintaining good indoor air quality has a number of benefits for your plant’s productivity:
- Improved employee health: a healthy workforce helps reduce absenteeism and sick leave;
- lower maintenance costs: premises stay cleaner longer and machines break down less often;
- improved quality of finished products: monitoring of pollutants, temperature and humidity levels ensures optimum preservation of materials.
How to carry out an indoor air quality diagnosis?
IAQ diagnostics require specific measuring instruments and should be carried out by an air quality professional.
How can I measure indoor air quality?
As a specialist in industrial air treatment, OBERA offers a range of particle counters and air analyzers. This type of device continuously measures indoor air quality parameters thanks to several sensors:
- a VOC (volatile organic compounds) sensor;
- a CO2 sensor;
- adust and particle sensor (PM 0.3 to PM 10)
- a temperature sensor;
- a humidity sensor.
Real-time analysis ensures rapid action in the event of measurements exceeding Occupational Exposure Limits.
Who should you call for an IAQ diagnosis of your facility?
For ERP buildings covered by decree no. 2015-1000, the indoor air quality diagnosis must be carried out by a state-accredited professional. OBERA offers you diagnostics including :
- identifying sources of air pollution within your facility;
- study of pollutant concentrations (formaldehyde, CO2, etc.);
- temperature and relative humidity measurement.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for a quotation or to discuss the implementation of industrial air treatment solutions.
Further information: The complete guide to industrial air treatment.
