As companies across the UK prepare to return to the workplace Jeff Smith, Envirotech Director, gives an insight into how technological advancements can ensure peace of mind when it comes to staff well-being.

“It is now accepted that poorly performing buildings can not only reduce the productivity of those who occupy them, but also negatively affect human health. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic death of Ella Kissi-Debrah related to airborne pollution, the issue of environmental monitoring has become even more prominent.

“Good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is essential to ensure the health and comfort of occupants and can be defined as air with no known contaminants at harmful concentrations. Common contaminants or pollutants include gaseous pollutants, such as carbon dioxide produced by occupants and from combustion appliances, volatile organic compounds released by carpet glues and other materials, odours, and particulates.

“The existing means for monitoring IAQ and reacting to findings have historically been both extremely expensive and inflexible. However, Envirotech’s new wellSPACE live monitoring solution utilises sensors to measure indoor air quality and provides evidence to adopt ventilation strategies to allow maximum fresh air brought into the building, along with the removal of the recycling of potentially damaging air.

“The system is connected through the Internet of Things and utilises nodes and sensors to collect data that is directly transmitted to the cloud via a gateway. These nodes and sensors can either be in one device or separated into individual devices, all of which can be retrofitted to assets and infrastructure in minutes at minimal cost.

“Our sensors boast a range of up to two kilometres while the system doesn’t rely on a strong wi-fi signal or require much in in the way of power. The benefit of this is that not only is the system very flexible and low-cost, but several of the sensors run off batteries that last for several years due to their low power consumption.

“The system couldn’t be simpler to install and all it requires is to plug-in, connect to a router and that’s it! The signal can travel through concrete and up to 10 storeys high, before linking into our system through the cloud and being visible on the screens of our teams to monitor the live situation within the workplace.

“But what good is monitoring without knowledge-based analysis? That is why the Envirotech Group utilises our in-house, time served building engineers to provide real practical solutions to improve the indoor conditions for return occupancy.

“In addition to IAQ, the risks posed by uncirculated water systems in occupied buildings cannot be overlooked. Buildings are designed to have people using them and if the water does not move around in terms of flushing toilets, showers and taps being run, then this is a breeding ground for bacteria.

“If there is nobody in a building then who is going to ensure that the temperature of the water in the storage tank remains below the required 20°c? wellSPACE provides a flexible and affordable live, remote, monitored, CWDS tank temperature system that alarms if the water rises above the 20°c threshold, enabling the helpdesk to react accordingly 365/24/7.

“The Internet of Things is a key focus for Envirotech as we support our clients in the modern working environment. It has extremely broad capability, is inexpensive and flexible and links into existing operational systems meaning that we can live connect to assets such as chillers and boilers, enabling us to retain records relating to performance.

“At Envirotech we view The Internet of Things very much as a jigsaw puzzle, with all the component parts coming together to deliver a holistic situation and with wellSPACE we are looking at just one piece of that puzzle.”


Please contact jeff.smith@envirotechfm.com if you wish to discuss the system wider capabilities.

Links to further reading:

https://data.london.gov.uk/air-quality/

https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/equipment-and-machinery/air-conditioning-and-ventilation.htm

Building engineers ‘need more scientific data to improve protection from viruses’ | Facilitate Magazine