Room Air Monitor

People spend around 90 percent of their lives indoors today. It is therefore not surprising that the quality of indoor air is becoming increasingly important.

Because pollutants in indoor air can lead to health problems. The increasingly dense construction of modern buildings does the rest for indoor pollution: It not only keeps the heat in the house, but also any existing pollutants. Ventilation is therefore essential. But when, how often and for how long does ventilation have to be carried out in order to keep the level of pollutants in the air as low as possible?

Red light: time to ventilate

A USB stick only a few centimeters in size could serve as an aid. LEDs in the traffic light colors red, yellow and green indicate when it is time to ventilate. Red light signals to the room user that the room should be ventilated urgently, if the stick glows green, the room air is good. However, these statements have to be put into perspective. On the one hand, the stick only measures VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), i.e. volatile organic compounds (carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, organic acids, acetates and aromatic compounds). These can come from furniture, floors, wall paints and varnishes, but also from candles, tobacco smoke, cleaning agents and detergents, as well as from vehicle exhaust gases from the outside air. However, the device does not measure pollutants such as CO2, radon or mold spores,which can also severely affect the air in the room. On the other hand, the device does not measure the VOC content absolutely, but relatively. That means: The device only perceives a deterioration of the indoor air. It would therefore be possible for the stick to show red light in a room which, measured in absolute terms, has better air quality than a room in which green light signals "good" air. Therefore, the stick should be exposed to the fresh air for a few minutes at regular intervals (e.g. once a week), but at the latest when it shows red or yellow light.that the stick shows red light in a room that, measured in absolute terms, has better air quality than a room in which green light signals "good" air. Therefore, the stick should be exposed to the fresh air for a few minutes at regular intervals (e.g. once a week), but at the latest when it shows red or yellow light.that the stick shows red light in a room that, measured in absolute terms, has better air quality than a room in which green light signals "good" air. Therefore, the stick should be exposed to the fresh air for a few minutes at regular intervals (e.g. once a week), but at the latest when it shows red or yellow light.

The stick can be operated on a USB port of a computer (which must be switched on for operation) or a USB plug-in power supply. Anyone who chooses the computer variant can also use a software that the manufacturer offers to read off a curve when the VOC content in the air rises.

Even if the small device cannot guarantee pollutant-free air, it is still a useful tool for improving the indoor air, which can be easily interpreted by every room user.

Photo: Baumit

Susanne Sachsenmaier-Wahl

Source: Malerblatt 09/2012