Smart Demand Controlled Ventilation (SDCV)

Whilst there is good knowledge about outdoor air quality and pollution, the reality is that we spend 90% of our time indoors, and a lot of that at work. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) can be 2 to 5 times worse than outside air quality, as outdoor ventilation from wind prevents pollutants from remaining  concentrated in a small space. 

Indoor airborne pollutants include Gases, including Volatile Organic Compounds and Nitrogen Dioxide as well as Particulate Matter (PM), which includes pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, smoke and pathogens (viruses and bacteria). Particulate Matter is measured in terms of micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).

The WHO has recently updated its guidelines on the permissible concentration of PM, stating that annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m3, while average exposures should not exceed 15 µg/m3 for a 24 hour mean. For PM10, these should not exceed 15 µg/m3 annual mean or 25 µg/m3 for a 24 hour mean. These levels are far stricter than European, UK, and US standards, but upcoming regulatory changes are likely to adopt WHO standards.

There are two ways to remove indoor pollutants:

Mechanical Ventilation brings outside air into a room, extracting existing indoor air to the outside. This not only removes gases and PM, but also introduces oxygen that ensures that there is no build up of CO₂ that can make occupants less attentive when it accumulates in high concentrations. It is estimated that mechanical ventilation consumes ~40% of a building’s energy. Note that  buildings themselves consume ~40% of world energy, so ventilation is responsible for huge global carbon emissions. It is worth bearing in mind that mechanical ventilation can actually worsen indoor air quality if dirty outside air is brought indoors, especially for buildings near major roads or industrial plants.      

Air Purification continuously filters indoor air. High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters effectively remove airborne PM, whilst active Carbon filters can remove dangerous gases. Utilising a fraction of the energy of mechanical ventilation, air purification units are cost effective and a proven technology, having been used in the healthcare sector for over 2 decades. The drawback of air purifiers is that they cannot reduce the build-up of CO₂, as they do not introduce oxygen from outside air. 

Health and building authorities recommend achieving a rate of 10 litres per second per person of ventilation and/or air purification. 

All companies and institutions have a mandate to provide a good indoor air quality and reduce carbon footprints. But higher ventilation rates require more energy consumption, which counters the net zero targets. Furthermore, office occupancy levels have reduced post pandemic – indeed occupancy rates can be very volatile from day to day.

Rensair has developed a solution for the energy and occupation issues called Smart Demand Controlled Ventilation (SDCV). By monitoring the indoor air quality and CO₂ levels and connecting to a Building Management System, Rensair can optimise the mix of mechanical ventilation and air purification that ensures a high IAQ whilst minimising energy consumption. This will ensure that ventilation rate matches the office occupancy and reduces wasteful mechanical ventilation when cheaper air purification can do the air cleaning job. This will bring significant reductions to energy consumption, reducing a building’s carbon footprint. 

If you would like to collaborate with us, email us at contact@rensair.com or click on the button below to book a free indoor air quality consultation-