Controlling the CO₂ limits

Fundamental for well-being in the home

We all know what it’s like to spend time in an ill-ventilated classroom, meeting room, conference hall or home. Just as we know well that feeling when we spend too long in such places: difficulty concentrating, declining performance and malaise. How come this happens?

The role of CO₂

Part of the blame is to be attributed to the temperature and humidity but there is another responsible factor and it is an odourless and colourless gas: carbon dioxide. As we know, each time we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. The air we breathe contains 21% oxygen and 0.035% CO₂, whilst the air we exhale contains 16% oxygen and 4% CO₂! It is easy to understand how in environments with no or poor air exchange, unhealthy concentrations of carbon dioxide can be quickly reached. Let’s look further into this.

Carbon dioxide is toxic to humans at a concentration of 2.5% but already at a concentration above 0.1% (1000 ppm), difficulties in concentration and slight dizziness can be felt. In indoor or crowded environments – such as classrooms, offices, meeting rooms – CO₂ concentrations of between 5000 and 6000 ppm can be quickly reached.

The importance of air exchange

It has been proven that good air quality must have a CO₂ concentration of less than 0.1% (1000 ppm). Above 0.2%, people feel uncomfortable and migraines and headaches may occur. But how do we know if the CO₂ level is critical within our home? This is where CO₂ detectors, such as Seitron's one, come to the rescue. A real guardian that, should carbon dioxide exceed the warning levels, alerts us and can activate the room’s ventilation system.

The advantages of the CO₂ detector

Relying a CO₂ detector for ventilation is useful both from a health and energy-saving perspective. Indeed, when we ventilate a room, we usually act according to our perceptions, which can lead us to ventilating too late, for too little time or for too long.

According to DIN 1946-6, in order not to exceed the limit of 1000 ppm of CO₂, an air flow from outside of 30 m₃ per hour per person is required. Although we do not have an automated ventilation system, a detector can help us to air out at the right time and minimise energy consumption, given that we can read on the display screen when the CO₂ level has fallen below the threshold.