3 Ways Building Sensors Improve IAQ and Reopen Facilities

With much of the country in various reopening stages, building managers and technicians are faced with the unique challenge of ensuring that the facilities under their care are ready to receive people again after sitting more-or-less dormant for several long months. Thankfully, with smart building sensors, you can make sure your building has the proper indoor air quality (IAQ) and is fully prepared to accommodate its occupants again.

Use Building Sensors to Prepare Your Building for Reopening

If your facility has been mostly empty over these last few months, you probably made some changes to how your HVAC and air quality control systems interact with their designated areas. After all, why would you want to spend money cooling or heating a floor that nobody is using?

But now that people are moving back to the office, those same air quality control systems are going to need to up their game. With remote building management, you can use your existing building sensors to assess your building’s air filtration systems and determine whether it’s ready to welcome everyone back safely.

Remotely Monitor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Before you fully reopen, you’re going to want to check on your building’s indoor air quality (IAQ). Key items monitored for IAQ include the levels of CO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air. Suppose your building was only accommodating a handful of people during these last few months, for example. In that case, the IAQ in the unused areas may be lacking. 

With some strategically placed air quality sensors, you can remotely monitor the IAQ and decide what areas need extra attention. Here are a few actions you can take as part of your air quality management efforts:

• Adjust fan and ventilation schedules so that they run 2-3 hours before people arrive and switch off an hour after everyone has left
• Avoid unneeded recirculation of internal air 
• Use natural ventilation whenever possible
• Install air purification systems in high-traffic areas

Manage Humidity Levels

The CDC recommends that indoor humidity should be as low as possible and never exceed 50%. This is why it’s so important that you have humidity sensors throughout your building. These sensors will give full visibility into how humid an environment is and then program your HVAC systems to address any discrepancies before your occupants return.

Not any humidity sensor will do, though. If you want clarity on your building’s humidity levels and overall indoor air quality (IAQ), you’ll want one of the HW2 humidity sensors that Veris offers. These sensors come with fully interchangeable elements with 1%-2% accuracy. No calibration is required, the thin-film capacitive sensor can be easily replaced, and they come in both LCD and non-display options.

Use Occupancy Sensors to Identify the Most Important Areas

Your indoor air quality management plan shouldn’t end when the doors open. Once people are returning to the office, you’ll want to install some workplace occupancy sensors to track where people are spending most of their time. The data these and other smart building sensors gather will be essential as you continue to maintain the appropriate IAQ, humidity, and filtration to facilitate a healthy and safe working environment.

If you have any questions about how building sensors can help your building reopen with the proper health standards and indoor air quality management efforts, don’t hesitate to contact one of our experts!