The ERS CO2 Monitor: The Perfect Solution for Schools without Building Management Systems

Re-Opening of Schools after COVID-19

It is almost the start of another school year. After a challenging COVID-19 year, schools have returned to on-site learning. School authorities have worked tirelessly with the state governments to provide a COVID-safe, comfortable, and productive environment for students. Every state is implementing a slightly different school re-opening strategy. For example, the NSW Department of Education has identified improving ventilation in classrooms as a key priority to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. From 8th November all schools in NSW were open for on-site learning. In its Term 4 Schools Roadmap, the NSW state government has recommended a combination of layered safety measures to keep students and staff COVID-19 safe. Some of those measures include:

• Mandate to stay home if unwell
• Practise physical distancing of 1.5m
• Vaccinations are mandatory for all adults
• Maximise ventilation by ensuring all indoor spaces are well-ventilated and as large as possible for the number of attendees.
• Masks are required for all staff and students in Year 7 and above
• And check ins are required when attending a school site or gathering by all staff and visitors.

Importance of CO₂ Monitors in Schools

Most of those measures are self-explanatory and a majority of those we have followed in a pre-vaccinated economy. However, for the first time in two years, we are making our return to schools and offices. We haven’t gathered in indoor spaces in large numbers for a long time. So how do we know if the space we are in is well-ventilated or not?

COVID-19 is an airborne contaminant. It is usually transmitted by talking, breathing or coughing. In a confined space the risk of COVID-19 transmission increases as there is insufficient air circulation and a build-up of gases (primarily carbon dioxide). Ventilation plays a large part in mitigating the risk against COVID-19. Natural or mechanical ventilation (such as HVAC systems) can cycle fresh air through the space and dilute the airborne contaminants.

We cannot see the build-up of gases in an enclosed space, but we can measure the level of CO₂ with a CO₂ Monitor. The higher the level of CO₂ concentration in a space, the larger the risk of transmission. With a CO₂ monitor, you can use quantitative data to make informed decisions to COVID-19 risk mitigation strategies in real-time.

The ERS CO₂ Monitor: The Perfect Solution for Schools

Indoor air quality should be an important discussion for schools as it is a metric that can be quantitatively measured and monitored. The ERS CO₂ monitor is the perfect solution for schools to implement quickly and easily. It is a fully monitored CO₂ solution with real-time data and room indication for CO₂, temperature, and humidity. The ERS CO₂ Monitor has many advantages including the primary advantage of the unit working independently of a building management system (BMS) or an HVAC system.

Many schools were built without a BMS and do not have the monetary funds to install expensive building management and ventilation systems. The ERS CO₂ Monitor is a cost-effective unit that can be easily implemented regardless of the existing building infrastructure.

Some of the unique features of the ERS CO₂ are:

• Fully monitored system – The ERS CO₂ Monitor is a fully monitored system with data accessible in the cloud which allows maintenance coordinators and other building users to understand CO_{2 l}evels in each room so they can take the appropriate action.
• Long battery life – A long battery life of 10 years enables the device to be maintenance-free.
• NFC enabled for easy configuration – Being NFC enabled, it can be configured with any Android device, so you view real-time CO₂ data, be notified of excess levels of CO₂ via email alerts and more.
• LoraWan Certified – The internal LoraWan Sensor can transmit low data rates of large distances to a local gateway. LoRAWan is a highly reliable technology which is not dependent on wireless networking technology such as W-Fi, so it is not affected by network issues such as dropouts, loss of data etc. This enables it to be installed anywhere in the building. It can also be installed in regional areas where there are more occurrences of Wi-Fi-dropouts.
• Traffic Light System - A traffic light system provides an indication to the teacher or classroom manager of the CO₂ levels in the classroom. A simple action such as opening a window will bring the CO₂ levels back to the desired range.

Download the ERS CO₂ Sensor Datasheet

Why Use a CO₂ Sensor Independent of a Building Management System?

• Future proof - CO₂ monitors is the need of the moment. By installing a CO₂ sensor independent of a BMS you are not limited to the type of HVAC or BMS system you choose to install in the future.
• Simple to install –The ERS CO₂ Monitor has an internal automatic baseline calibration which automatically calibrates the device. This way you can always be sure the data displayed is accurate.
• Cost-effective – There is no need to upgrade your BMS or HVAC system to make it compatible with a CO₂ monitoring device.
• Uses LoRaWan technology – LoraWan technology enables the device to communicate across large areas using low amounts of energy. The ERS CO₂ does not function on WI-FI or cellular network like most CO₂ monitors. Its uses LoraWan to transmit data over large distances using less power. This makes it unaffected by power cuts or drop of Wi-Fi signals. It is also not dependant on a school having a Wi-Fi system.

Learn More about LoraWan Technology

Are you looking for an easy to use and reliable CO₂ monitoring solution for your school or office? Contact your local Air-Met Scientific office for more information.