A smart office involves seeking increased wellbeing for each and every individual. Startups, corporations and SMEs are shifting focus to connectivity for progression and retention. However, data capturing is limited from sector to sector. Here at Workero we offer office CO2 monitoring and sensor technology to great effect. We are grateful to share our business insights, advice, tips and tricks to help you get the most out of this new technology. Our prediction is this technology is sure to become commonplace in the future office.
How can CO2 monitors can be used to spot inadequate ventilation?
Finding sections of your workplace that are often frequented and inadequately ventilated should be the top focus for your risk assessment.
CO2 is exhaled by people. If you spot Increased CO2 levels, then this may be your first sign that your ventilation needs to be improved. Businesses can analyse the danger from CO2 as a hazardous material. Using Workero’s sensor technology gives real time reporting but displays your results in an easy-to-understand format.
Where should I place CO2 monitors in my office?
Within an indoor environment, CO2 levels change. One essential element of office CO2 monitoring is the placement of the monitor themselves. Ideally, CO2 monitors in your office will be placed at head height. Keep them away from entry points, exit points and sources of fresh air also gives the most accurate results.
Positioning your office CO2 monitors at least 50 cm away is also a rule of thumb to ensure accurate CO2 readings. If too far from people, the monitor will not pick up the CO2. If your monitor is too close, it may give a misleadingly high readings.
Trial and error is your friend throughout this process, so try several locations before committing to a fixed position. In larger spaces, you may want to try two or more sensors, but more on that later.
Why is ventilation so important to employee wellbeing and retention?
At Workero, we realized how interconnected air quality is to employee wellbeing. For those suffering from Asthma or any respiratory conditions, this can make the difference between productivity, efficiency and office participation or unproductivity, dissatisfaction and even lower retention rates. No one wants to come into a stuffy office with less air than an airplane. So for HR managers, facility managers and CEOs, office CO2 monitoring is surely becoming a must-have for a well functioning office space.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies breaks down ideal CO2 monitoring for office spaces by size and outlines what each setup would require. We also have a handy quick guide below.
Is 1500ppm CO2 safe to breathe?
Parts per million are used to determine the level of CO2 currently in the air. 500ppm is equal to about 5 litres per second, per person. This is actually ideal ventilation. As ppm reaches 900-1000ppm, employees will struggle to concentrate. If CO2 levels reach 1400 – 2000ppm, employers would need to take action. This level of concentrated CO2 leads to dizziness, headaches and even breathing difficulty.
Ideal office CO2 monitoring setup for Small spaces (up to 50 square metres)
Small offices and conference rooms are ideal. When the same number of people occupy a space for more than an hour, monitors can be employed.
Where the total number of individuals fluctuates over short periods of time, such as in changing rooms and tiny retail establishments, they are unlikely to provide accurate measurements.
Ideal office CO2 monitoring setup for Midsized spaces (50-320 square metres)
When a significant number of people regularly occupy a space for more than an hour, such as in larger offices and meeting rooms, monitors can be employed. They can be employed in areas where the total population fluctuates over brief periods of time. Results should be treated with caution as these modifications may have an impact on office CO2 monitoring levels.
Ideal CO2 monitoring setup for large open spaces (over 320 square metres)
When a steady stream of people use an area for an extended period of time, office CO2 monitors can be used. Indoor conference spaces, large meeting facilities, and large reception areas are great examples of these spaces.
As previously mentioned, to obtain the most useful and accurate measurements, you might need more than one office CO2 monitor.
They are unlikely to provide accurate measurements in places where the total number of people fluctuates quickly. Train stations and shopping malls are a great example of this. This is what makes our monitors so ideal for the workplace. Be that coworking spaces, conventional cubicle style offices or open planned office areas where numbers tend to be steady week to week.
Workero’s Integrated Workplace Management Software offers you the possibility to visualize this important data on the dashboards. If you aren’t leveraging this data, give us a call to get started.
We’d be thrilled to help you get started with office CO2 monitoring. If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you achieve your goals, be that from an innovation perspective or an employee wellbeing standpoint, then we are here to help.
