On average, we spend about 90% of our lives indoors and breathe in around 12,000 litres of air every day. Proper air system performance in buildings can be challenging. Damaged, faulty or inadequate devices have a big impact on occupant safety, comfort and productivity

HVAC System operation is a critical requirement for maintaining adequate, safe indoor air quality (IAQ).

Belimo HVAC Sensor technology offers accuracy, superior reliability, easy installation and seamless integration with major building automation systems (BAS).

We offer a complete range of sensors to measure temperature, humidity (relative humidity, absolute humidity, enthalpy and dew point), pressure, CO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Multi-ethnic group of people chilling at the break room. Business colleagues relaxing on a coffee break. Business people are taking a break together to socialize.

The 7 Essentials of Healthy Indoor Air Quality:-

  1. Continuous and reliable measurement, display and monitoring

Ideally, air humidity, CO2 content or VOC concentration are measured by sensors for the monitoring of air quality. Both the measurement and display of these values should represent the minimum standard for indoor air quality measurement. It is important that relative humidity indoors is held between 40-60%. Many bacteria and viruses are considerably more contagious in dry air.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds that originate from many different sources, including perfume, paint, printers, carpeting and building materials.

It is essential to measure these variables (humidity, CO2, VOC) using suitable sensors so that appropriate measures can be implemented, for example, ventilation, air purification or humidification.

  1. Accurate amount of air to the zone and controlled removal of contaminated air

Central ventilation units usually supply air to several zones in a building. Each room must receive the exact amount of fresh air it needs. Zones and rooms must be supplied individually with variable air volume (VAV). If a room sensor detects excessively high CO2 content, the VAV units are opened and the room is flooded with additional fresh air.

  1. Well-designed air dilution and air-flow pattern

An important factor is the way in which the air introduced into a room flows through that room and then exits it again. Ideally, fresh air flows undiluted from the bottom up past a person and is then extracted directly from the room. Modern air-flow simulations enable typical flow patterns in a room to be studied in detail. The correct design of air outlets can help prevent major healthy air errors.

  1. Active pressurization of envelope and spaces

Air hygiene in a room is negatively affected by unwanted air currents entering a zone from outside (e.g. a busy road) or from other rooms (e.g. cafeteria). The use of VAV controllers in the supply air and extract air of rooms and the use of differential pressure sensors and controllers, between zones, can prevent such undesired air currents.

  1. Correct temperature and humidity conditioning

In a central ventilation system, the supply air can be conditioned relatively precisely to the desired temperature in the Air Handling Unit, by the heating or cooling coils. High-quality control components at the coils such as the Belimo Energy Valve™ ensure that this is not only done with high precision but also in an energy-efficient manner. In addition to temperature, humidity is also crucial for healthy indoor air. Proper humidification of the room air (40-60% relative humidity) is therefore an essential factor for safe indoor air.

  1. Effective filtration

To prevent contaminants from entering indoor spaces through supply air ducts, filters must be integrated into the air handling unit. In systems where part of the extract air is mixed back into the supply air, suitable filters must be used to prevent contamination from infectious microbes. To ensure that monitoring of these filters is effective, pressure sensors and dynamic air-flow measurement can be used. By simultaneously measuring the volumetric flow through the filter, a relatively accurate statement can be made as to whether and when the filter needs to be replaced.

  1. Correct amount of outside air

Today, many smaller and medium-sized non-residential buildings do not have an automated, mechanical fresh air supply. It is assumed that users ventilate, by opening a window. If not, the concentration of infectious aerosols can greatly increase. A ventilation system with central air conditioning is therefore part of the minimum standard equipment when planning a new building or renovation. Many countries have issued recommended or mandated standards on mechanical ventilation in commercial buildings and required minimum air-exchange rates, depending on type of building and number of occupants.

HVAC systems can be transformed into safe and reliable systems with Belimo actuators, valves and sensors. Our retrofit solutions offer quick and convenient replacements, compatible with all major control systems, maximizing system performance.

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