What is indoor air quality?
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the condition of the air inside buildings and its impact on the health and well-being of the people inside. Indoor air quality is affected by chemical and biological pollutants, as well as by temperature and humidity.
First, let's face some facts:
- People spend up to 90% of their time indoors
- One single person inhales about 10 000 to 15 000 liters of air each day
- Pollutants can be up to 5 times more concentrated indoors than outdoors
- Over 3 million deaths per year can be attributed to household air pollution
Monitoring and maintaining indoor air quality is therefore crucial!
What is the importance of indoor air quality?
The current energy crisis and the challenges posed by global warming have made buildings more thermally insulated. While sealing buildings helps retain heat, it can also create higher humidity levels, especially when activities such as drying clothes indoors are common. Increased humidity contributes to condensation and mould growth, which can negatively affect health. In addition, airtight buildings can trap volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from materials such as paints, adhesives, carpets, printers, and furnishings.
Good ventilation helps bring in fresh air and reduce pollutants, which supports a healthy indoor environment. As buildings become more energy-efficient, the role of intelligent ventilation systems becomes increasingly important, ensuring optimal IAQ while minimizing energy loss.
Maintaining good IAQ supports the following objectives:
1) Spend time indoors safely
Many people spend nearly the entire day indoors in offices, schools, or care facilities. Although these places seem safe, occupants can develop "Sick Building Syndrome", experiencing various nonspecific symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat, and fatigue. These symptoms seem to be linked directly to the time spent inside and no specific cause or illness can be identified. The symptoms usually resolve soon after leaving the building, but can also lead to more serious conditions including respiratory infections, allergies, and other long-term illnesses. Children, elderly people, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases are particularly vulnerable to poor indoor air quality.
2) Prevent unnecessary expenses
Poor IAQ does not only affect comfort and health; it can also lead to reduced concentration, lower productivity, and higher absenteeism, creating significant costs for businesses and educational institutions. In schools, insufficient air quality impacts learning and cognitive performance. Inefficient ventilation systems waste energy and increase operational costs. Modern systems equipped with sensors for parameters such as CO2 and VOCs optimize energy usage while maintaining a healthy and comfortable indoor environment.
3) Lower the risk of viral infections
Viral infections are another concern in poorly ventilated spaces. Viruses spread through droplets and aerosols, which can remain airborne for extended periods, especially in crowded environments. Proper ventilation reduces airborne contaminants by replacing stale indoor air with fresh air or filtering it, thereby lowering the risk of disease transmission indoors.
4) Comply with applicable legislation
The importance of IAQ has also been reinforced by legislation and guidelines. The COVID-19 pandemic increased awareness of IAQ. Organisations such as the World Health Organization and the European Commission have established standards and legal thresholds for indoor pollutants. EU directives promote improved ventilation and building materials, while Belgian legislation requires CO2 monitoring and risk assessments in public spaces. By 2027, even stricter monitoring and action plans will be mandatory to ensure compliance with these regulations.
Sentera’s mission
At Sentera, our mission is to improve comfort and indoor air quality while contributing positively to health. Our HVAC sensors constantly measure IAQ and act as the “eyes” of smart ventilation systems. These measurements allow the system to adjust fan speed and ventilation automatically, ensuring optimal conditions, cleaner air, and energy savings.
Enhancing indoor air quality goes beyond comfort; it protects health, promotes overall well-being, boosts productivity, increases energy efficiency, and reduces exposure to airborne contaminants.
So, what’s in it for you?
Some short-term benefits of a good indoor air quality include:
- Lower energy costs
- Less allergens
- Less odours
- Better sleep
- Better concentration
- Better health
- Better life!