Measuring air quality: 10 KPIs to improve workplace air quality
- Advanced Analytics, Industry 4.0
- IoT, Monitoring, Sensor
- Reading time: nine minutes
Daniel Pellegrini
The COVID 19 pandemic took businesses by surprise and presented them with major challenges. The economy is still struggling with the consequences of the pandemic and the associated loss of sales at home and abroad. In particular, the planning uncertainty that many companies are still facing today raises great concerns about further turnover losses. After many employees lost their jobs due to the pandemic, it is now even more important to protect them. For the return to work, it is therefore necessary to derive the right strategy from the experience and to ensure the protection of the employees.
This article discusses what strategy we can derive from the experience of the pandemic to create a healthier, more efficient working environment and what options there are for doing so from an environmental and surroundings engineering perspective. In addition to the existing legal requirements for occupational health and safety (e.g. EN 13779), there are regulations on minimum distance, quarantine and traceability of infection chains. Air quality in particular is a crucial indicator for compliance with regulations and the protection of employees.
We demonstrate a solution approach for improving the working environment by constantly improving air quality while complying with European specifications. This approach offers the advantage of saving energy and personnel costs through intelligent use of premises equipped with sensors. Our prototype makes it possible to display the air quality as well as the relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) in a processed form. With the right KPIs, this can be used to develop the optimal return-to-work strategy and future workplace equipment - a win-win situation for companies and their employees.
Table of contents
Air quality - a necessity in pandemic times
Many factors have an influence on the quality of the air. It is the responsibility of various bodies, such as the WHO or the Federal Environment Agency, to evaluate and classify them.
What determines good air quality?
According to the WHO, polluted air is one of the main causes of disease. Air quality is determined by the impurities contained in the air.
The following questions arise:
- How can air quality be fundamentally improved?
- What solutions are already available?
- How can you benefit from high air quality?
- How do you get high quality air?
In the environment of digital transformation, monitoring has become a valuable tool for better use of KPIs. Accurate and reliable KPIs are indispensable, especially for controlling and management. Among other things, the KPIs show the financial success of the company, they help to identify trends and uncertainties at an early stage and to react promptly. KPIs can also be an important controlling instrument for improving air quality in the workplace and thus contribute to the company's success.
Is there an interface of air quality with business success?
The Covid 19 pandemic (2020-2021) had a huge impact on the economic performance of many countries and their companies. The uncertain future regarding the pandemic and unpredictable consumer behaviour did the rest (see Figure 1).
There is much to suggest that there may be a link between the quality of air and the success of companies. The ability to literally optimise the working atmosphere can have a positive impact on company key figures.
According to the online database Statista (see Figure 1), the absence of employees due to the pandemic was one of the main reasons for falling or stagnating company figures at 24%. According to bitkom, around a quarter of employees were working from home at the time. Thanks to modern technology, the majority were well able to do so. But as the infection figures flattened out, as well as improved handling of the pandemic, employees are gradually returning to work. To ensure a healthy working environment and avoid the risk of infection for their employees, it is therefore advisable for companies to prepare their workplaces optimally, also with regard to the increased demands on air quality.
According to a report by Oxford University Press, there is much to suggest that there may be a link between the quality of air and the success of companies. According to the report, 790,000 people across Europe die prematurely each year as a result of poor air quality, particularly from heart or lung disease. The opportunity to literally optimise the working environment and promote health in the workplace can have a positive impact on company key figures.
Industry 4.0, sensors and actuators - tools for improving air quality
The fourth industrial revolution(Industry 4.0) offers different approaches to linking interfaces between humans and machines. Digitalisation provides the basis for links with the help of electronic systems that can transmit precise data via communication interfaces. Semi-autonomous systems can be created with electronic components such as sensors and actuators. The data for improving air quality is measured and recorded with the help of sensors.
Relevant values for air quality are:
- Temperature [°C]
- Humidity [%]
- Air pressure [kPa]
- CO₂ load [ppm]
- Air composition [%]
- Air circulation [h]
- NO2 pollution [µg/m³]
- Pm5 [t]
- Pm10 [t]
Most of these values can be read out with the aid of sensors and then forwarded to a system for evaluation. Other values, such as air circulation, can be derived or calculated via sensors. The further processing of this data is done with the help of interconnected microcontrollers, microcomputers or cloud systems.
The systems can pursue different functionalities: On the one hand, the systems can be used for monitoring. This results in trend analyses as well as planning and forecast models. Furthermore, the systems can control actuators that help to comply with target/limit values automatically. An additional possibility to extend a sensor system is the connection to an actuator for autonomous or semi-autonomous target value achievement. An actuator can be, for example, a motor that opens a window in the event of a high CO₂ load or activates the air-conditioning compressor if the temperature is too high.
KPIs for improving air quality
By using KPIs, not only can target values be set for the sensor-actuator connection, they can also be used for monitoring. In particular, KPIs have the possibility to establish a direct connection of air quality to the company's success. In the following, various KPIs are presented that support a company in improving air quality:
KPI | Unit | Description | Target values |
CO₂ air pollution | % | Percentage CO₂ load in ambient/room air | < 0,1 |
CO₂-Personnel load | ppm | CO₂ load of a room in ppm (parts per million) | 1,500 (indoor) |
Humidity | % | Relative humidity measured by the humidity in the room air | 40 - 60 |
Temperature | °C | Room air temperature | 19 - 21 |
Air pressure | hPA | Indoor air pressure (e.g. for laboratories, clean rooms, etc.) | ~ 1013 |
Humidity/Temp. | %/°C | Relation of humidity to temperature | 2,5 |
Air quality index(I/A) | * * * | Traffic light quality index for indication of indoor/outdoor air quality | * |
Air circulation | 1/h | Room air circulation interval per hour | > 0,5 |
CO2/room volume | g/m3 | Relation of CO₂ mass in ambient air per room volume | *** |
Air quality indicator | %/day | Value for percentage indication of high air quality per day | > 90 |
Table 1: 10 KPIs as indicators for air quality
*** varies depending on room conditions - relevant for uneven CO₂ distribution in the room.
The solution: The s-peers AG Air Quality Dashboard
For this application, s-peers AG has created a test environment that makes it possible to provide real-time air quality data from offices in different locations in a decentralized manner. Thus, workplaces can be regulated in their air quality by the employee reacting to internal influences. A report on the current actual state of a work environment can be converted into a predictive scenario by means of targeted algorithms. The data can be integrated into the company's standard reporting, as in the prototype (Figure 2), or made available separately, e.g. on the intranet.
In addition to company key figures (sales, costs, margins, etc.), management reporting provides information on the environmental data (ambience data, headcount). An IBCS-compliant display visualises the data according to the application. The dashboard elements are interactive and show the detailed key figures as well as the locations of the sensors by pressing the elements (see figure 3).
Selecting a location displays a real-time air quality report for the location, as in Figure 4. In this example, all rooms are equipped with aCO2, temperature and humidity sensor. The dashboard shows the current status of the air quality in the form of a traffic light system (red, yellow, green). Individual limit values are already stored and the air quality can thus be constantly monitored.
The stored data can also be accessed via the dashboard. In addition, a time history of the environmental data can be displayed in the dashboard, which provides a trend of the future course (see figure 5).
The creation of such a sensor-monitored environment can already be realized with the help of a small amount of auxiliary equipment. First, an environment and target or limit values for the various KPIs are defined. Depending on the application, a financial savings potential can also be stored - e.g. in the form of aCO2 certificate. The limit or target values can be color-coded and thus provide information about the current status of the monitored environment in the individual rooms (see Figure 5). Sensors, such as the Nubo Air from Sensirion AG, are then systematically placed and connected to a network. Via an interface, the sensor can communicate with various cloud or computer systems and transmit data in real time.
Good air quality has been shown to affect the performance and productivity of employees; ideally, there should be a low level ofCO2 in the indoor air and a moderately humid environment at a constant temperature (see Table 1).
On average, a person emits about 1 kg ofCO2 per hour. Twenty people in a meeting room can thus generate about 80 kg ofCO2 in the ambient air by lunchtime. A study by the German Federal Environmental Agency states that an average classroom thus exceeds a value of 1000 ppmCO2 for up to 89% of the school hour and a value of 2000 ppmCO2 for up to 32% of the school hour. According to EN13779, indoor air quality is considered inadequate at CO₂ concentrations above 1400 ppm. Added to this are impurities in the external ambient air, such as those caused by road traffic or construction work. TheCO2 level in the room rises rapidly, which can lead to a loss of concentration and fatigue among employees. This in turn increases the risk of illness and poses a risk to the employee and thus also to the company. A pandemic-optimized workplace for employees is therefore necessary.
The four-stage model
For this purpose, s-peers recommends a simple four-step procedure, which can be extended as needed.
- Stage 1 - Sensor connection: With the help of sensors for the environmental parameters, temperature,CO2 and humidity are recorded. The temperature initially serves as the main indicator for the indoor climate. A humidity value below 60 % also ensures a more pleasant perception of the temperature, as warm air retains considerably more moisture. In the next step, theCO2 content is measured as the main indicator of air quality in the room air. This indicates that if the limit is exceeded, the room is either overcrowded or has not been sufficiently ventilated.
- Stage 2 - Reporting integration: The integration of the measuredCO2, temperature and humidity values into the company's reporting landscape facilitates the control of the air quality in the individual rooms. Meetings with too many people can thus be avoided, for example; employees can follow live in the system whether a room should be ventilated. The air quality data can be made available company-wide; a traffic light system with the stored limit values provides a clear visual representation.
- Stage 3 - Data analysis: Graphical representations are generated for the stored limit values of the KPIs. The system prompts the employee to open the windows, for example. Targeted calculations and future scenarios can be used to anticipate rush hours. Employees with health restrictions can thus be instructed to better join a meeting online instead of attending in person. Phase-related sick days (e.g., flu epidemic, Covid-19) can be evaluated and may recommend reducing the number of employees in the office to minimize the likelihood of infection. Furthermore, the predictive model can recommend set ventilation times, taking into account the registered room occupancy. The sensors indicate when the air quality is good again and the windows can be closed.
- Stage 4 - Automation: In the future, all sensor links are to be expanded by actuators. A connected system enables the autonomous opening of windows as soon as the humidity rises. In the event of high outdoor humidity, the air conditioning will be switched on. In case of increasedCO2 levels- inside or outside - air filters can be activated automatically until the air quality is back in the optimal range. Both weather and current traffic data can support the company in efficient energy conversion.
Conclusion
A comprehensive air quality control system can be created with a small investment using the recommended ten KPIs. The benefits of a monitored air environment using KPIs can be observed after a short time. Employees benefit from a clean environment and remain productive throughout the working day.
In the medium term, energy can be saved by measuring air quality. Efficient ventilation processes and the demand-oriented activation of devices for humidity orCO2 regulation can be brought into use, taking into account the scheduling of employees. A monitoredCO2 environment reduces the number of sick days, asCO2 is an indicator of room overcrowding or increased air pollution.
In the long term, the use of a digitized sensor landscape can be a quick and inexpensive entry into the I4.0 environment. Other systems can be connected to the system landscape and new contexts can be integrated (e.g., filter systems on machines, exhaust systems, machine idle times, etc.).
Periods of increased sickness can be avoided by strategically staffing office space during the annual flu season. All in all, it can be seen that environmental influences in a controlled environment can contribute significantly to improving work performance (e.g., productivity). In addition, the fact that energy costs can be reduced in both office and production areas has a positive effect. It is worthwhile to take a look at one's own approach to indoor air quality.
s-peers AG is staying tuned to this important and exciting topic. We look forward to an exchange about implementing a step-by-step plan to improve the "atmosphere" in your company. Until then, stay healthy!
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