The IAQ Solution View helps you to better understand the quality of the air in your estate, the causes of any poor air quality readings and the relationship between occupancy and indoor air quality.

Just like the other solution views, you can select different buildings and spaces at the top as your data source, and then choose the timeframe to view data for. At the top, view live data for the selected sensors providing an overall overview of live air quality readings.

There are four visualizations in this solution:

You can download the data from each table or chart by simply clicking on the 'Export' button next to each.

This visualization shows a ranking of buildings, floors or spaces based on the percentage of time that their indoor air quality readings were ‘poor’ within the selected time period -ranked from most to least. Note that the overall air quality reading will be qualified as poor if one or more of the metrics gives a reading of poor during that hour or day.

Filter your view using the dropdown to look at buildings, floors or spaces to see their overall air quality readings - or choose to explore a specific air quality metric.

Looking at all the ‘poor’ IAQ readings recorded during the time period selected, this visualization shows the percentage attributed to each metric.

Select from the dropdown to view all space types at once or choose a specific type. The information can also be viewed as a table.

This visualization shows the percentage of time (per hour or day) that the locations selected spent registering good, fair or poor indoor air quality. The space types and metrics can be filtered to show the air quality rating in a specific space type, or per singular metric. Space usage can also be overlaid on top of the air quality to reveal any correlation between the two.

This shows the specific readings for each metric, and up to two can be plotted at once in the visualization for comparison. Hourly and daily readings are an average (mean) of all the readings within the selected locations. You can overlay cleaning events and space usage on the chart and table too; this helps you identify any patterns between air quality, occupancy and cleaning of the same space.

We can track up to ten different metrics of air quality, depending on the sensors you have installed; together these metrics have an impact on the health, comfort and wellbeing of building occupants. Each metric is also combined to indicate an overall rating of Indoor Air Quality across your estate.

Temperature (°C/F)

The temperature inside your buildings is measured in degrees Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F) - set your preference in your profile settings. Note that high temperatures can increase humidity, cause discomfort and facilitate the spread of diseases.

Humidity (% RH)

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air – shown as % RH (relative humidity). High indoor humidity can naturally help to heat a room, but too high leads to an uncomfortable workplace. Low humidity can dry out the eyes, nose and throat, and require the body to work harder to remove germs that lead to illness.

CO₂ (ppm)

Measured in parts per million (ppm), high levels can have negative effects on the efficiency, productivity and health of building occupants. We recommend maintaining CO₂ below 800 ppm to minimize feelings of drowsiness and lower the risk of airborne transmission of viruses. To reduce CO₂ in the air, increase ventilation and reduce overcrowding of occupants in the space.

TVOC (ppb)

Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) are measured in parts per billion (ppb). They can affect the wellbeing and comfort of building occupants and can be harmful to people depending on the level and duration of exposure, although children and elderly people are more vulnerable to their effects. TVOCs can be found in cleaners and disinfectants, air fresheners, paints and solvents, glue, new furniture and carpets, construction materials and electronic devices. TVOC levels can be reduced by improving ventilation and air filtration in your building, as well as choosing low- or no-VOC products.

Virus Risk (1-10)

This is a metric calculated automatically by Airthings sensors. It evaluates CO2, temperature and humidity to create a virus risk score from 1-10. The most common routes of transmission for viruses are via microscopic airborne droplets, larger droplets through sneezing or coughing, and surface contact. Distancing and cleaning habits can help mitigate larger droplets, but microscopic ones can stay in the air for long periods of time and travel through a building.

Radon (Bq/m³)

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas which may be in high concentrations indoors, and is measured in Bequerels (Bq) per m3. Radon is produced from the natural decay of uranium, which is found in all rocks and soils, and can also be found in water. As we breathe, Radon particles are deposited on the cells lining the airways, where they can damage DNA and potentially cause lung cancer. Some common ways of reducing radon levels in existing buildings include: increasing under-floor ventilation; installing a radon sump system in the basement or under a solid floor; avoiding the passage of radon from the basement into living spaces; sealing floors and walls and improving the ventilation of the building.

PM1 / PM2.5 (µg/m³)

PM1 and PM 2.5 are different types of particulate matter, measuring 1 or 2.5 microns in diameter. They are particles of dust, dirt, and liquids suspended in the air; some of these are large enough to see, like smoke or soot, but smaller, invisible particles are more dangerous. Ways to reduce particulate matter include: using air purifiers; vacuuming regularly; servicing machinery frequently and regular cleaning.

Light (%)

The amount of light in a workspace influences the productivity and health of building occupants. The ideal light level varies depending on a person’s vision, age and other qualitative factors.

Pressure (mBar)

Calculated relative to outdoor air pressure, pressure is measured in millibars (mBar). Air pressure is directly related to ventilation; air naturally flows from areas of high pressure to low pressure. As such, the best way to ensure good airflow is to ensure a low air pressure, so that air from outside (typically higher pressure) flows into your building naturally.

Noise (dBA)

Noise is measured using adjusted decibels (dBA) which reflect noise levels relative to the human auditory system. Generally, workplaces should have lower noise levels in order to facilitate comfort and productivity of occupants.

Assigning these ratings to each metric gives us a universal way to talk about the air quality metrics and arrive at an overall rating for the Indoor Air Quality. The thresholds for Good, Fair and Poor ratings are currently defined by Infogrid and based on recognised standards from bodies including the WHO and US EPA.

Overall Air Quality

This is an average of the metric readings (each rated good, fair or poor, and weighted equally) to give a general air quality reading. Note that - as with any averaged value - this reading may obscure peaks and troughs seen in specific metrics within the time period selected.

Setting custom Indoor Air Quality thresholds

We do not currently offer users the ability to set custom thresholds. If you need to set custom thresholds for Indoor Air Quality metrics, please speak to us so we can understand more and look at adding it to our roadmap.