INDOOR AIR QUALITY CHECK
Why do we need Indoor Air quality Check?
Exposure to exhaust, smoke, harmful air pollutants and hazardous airborne dust is a health hazard and can result in sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, itchy or red eyes, headaches, fatigue, fever, cough, shortness of breath, dermatitis, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and cancer. In addition, a number of materials are explosible in dust form. Combustible dust is a serious safety risk to workers in industries such as agriculture, chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, furniture and textile manufacturing, fossil fuel power generation, recycling, metal working, additive manufacturing and 3D printing, among others. A particle counter can be used to monitor dust levels to ensure good housekeeping practices at the workplace.
The main reasons behind Indoor air quality checking are-
- Testing for air filter leaks
- Spot-checking real-time cleanliness during operation
- Root out contamination
- Testing for filter leaks and efficiency
- Creating standardized testing routine for long-term monitoring and data logging
How it is done?
A particle counter is used for monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ) in clean rooms and workplaces, as a particle counter measures the concentration of particles in the air. While a particle counter won’t identify specifically what kind of dusts or particulates are present in the air, a particle counter will identify how many airborne particles of a certain size are present in the environment. A conclusion is then drawn based on the known materials in the area and the corresponding airborne particle sizes of those materials.
Airborne particle counters play a crucial role in monitoring, classifying, and diagnosing the source and complexion of contaminants in cleanroom operations. Manufacturers of semiconductors, flat panel displays, and hard disk storage units have long recognized the relationship between improved air quality and the increase of final yields. Specifically, the control of air borne particles is essential in achieving ISO Class certification of clean rooms, zones, and spaces. Because work spaces change with production demands, access to localized monitoring equipment is essential for measuring and maintaining desired levels of cleanliness.
