Smart air quality monitoring creates healthier and safer workplaces

Vikas Saxena, Chief Executive Officer and Director at Caleedo, discusses how real-time air quality monitoring, IoT technology, and data-driven strategies can help organisations ensure healthier indoor environments, reduce energy use, and meet wellness and sustainability goals.

How can real-time air quality monitoring help in identifying pollution sources and implementing targeted mitigation measures in indoor and outdoor environments?

Indoor air pollutants can originate from various sources, including building materials, HVAC systems, cleaning agents, office equipment, and human occupancy. The sources of outdoor airborne pollutants include vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, and construction activities.

Mitigation strategies revolve around continuous monitoring—because you cannot mitigate what you do not measure. At the core of any effective air quality strategy is real-time monitoring, which enables data-driven decisions. Once pollutants are detected and quantified, targeted actions can be implemented to improve ventilation, control pollution sources, schedule regular HVAC maintenance, and activate air purifiers equipped with HEPA or activated carbon filters.

What types of pollutants and environmental factors can Caleedo’s monitoring systems analyse and detect?

Unlike other monitoring systems, Caleedo’s Smart IAQ monitoring system can track a total of 11 air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10), CO₂, CO, NO₂, O₃, TVOCs (Total Volatile Organic Compounds), HCHO (Formaldehyde), Temperature and Relative Humidity.

Caleedo’s ambient air quality monitoring systems track PM 2.5, PM 10, and other AQI parameters, including CO₂, CO, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, TVOCs, temperature, and humidity, providing a comprehensive view of indoor versus outdoor air quality for proactive actions by facility management (FM) teams.

What is the significance of real-time air quality monitoring in identifying pollution hotspots and ensuring compliance with emission norms?

Real-time monitoring immediately identifies air quality anomalies and potential hotspots, enabling swift remediation before occupant health is impacted.

It supports regulatory compliance, ensures alignment with workplace health and wellness standards – WELL and LEED certifications, and provides actionable insights through data analytics and alert-based dashboards to FM teams.

What is your approach to ambient air quality monitoring, and how does it integrate with workplace wellness initiatives?

Caleedo adopts a proactive, IoT-enabled approach to ambient air quality monitoring, empowering facility managers with a bird’s-eye view of environmental conditions for their premises. By deploying ambient air quality sensors strategically on or around the campus, facility teams can accurately track outdoor pollutants and compare them with indoor air quality to evaluate the performance of HVAC and purification systems. Since ambient pollution levels vary significantly based on surrounding traffic, industrial zones, and local activities, hence on-site monitoring is essential for context-specific insights and precise decision-making.

From a workplace wellness perspective, ambient air can carry toxic pollutants such as NO2, SO2, O2, CO, and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), which are known to have long-term adverse effects on respiratory health, cardiovascular function, and cognitive function. Monitoring these pollutants at the building perimeter enables timely interventions—such as modifying HVAC settings, increasing filtration efficiency, or restricting air intake during peak pollution hours. This data-driven control strategy helps organisations reduce employee exposure, create healthier indoor environments, and align with wellness frameworks like WELL, LEED, and ESG objectives.

How does the HEAAL algorithm categorise air quality levels?

The H.E.A.A.L. (Health Optimised, Excellent, Action, Alert, Limit) algorithm is a scientifically grounded framework developed by 9 Foundations to transform complex indoor air quality (IAQ) data into actionable insights that promote health, comfort, and productivity.

H.E.A.A.L. defines indoor air quality (IAQ) across five distinct thresholds to help assess and respond to environmental conditions. At the top tier, Health Optimized signifies ideal indoor conditions that fully support occupant health and well-being. Excellent reflects high-quality air that supports comfort and productivity. As IAQ begins to decline, the Action stage signals that certain parameters are approaching suboptimal levels, prompting pre-emptive measures.

If conditions worsen, the Alert level is triggered. It denotes specific IAQ metrics have surpassed recommended thresholds, requiring immediate attention. The most critical stage, Limit, marks critical levels where environmental conditions may pose health risks, necessitating urgent remediation.

The algorithm operates by collecting raw environmental sensor data within a building, aggregating this data into rolling averages during occupied hours, and comparing these averages against predefined, parameter-specific thresholds.

Please discuss filtration systems and IoT technology to optimise indoor environments and minimise energy consumption.

Organisations should consider adopting a sustainable IAQ approach that integrates high-efficiency filtration with IoT-based IAQ monitoring. This enables real-time HVAC optimisation based on pollutant levels, balancing air quality with energy efficiency.

For example, a University of Miami case study reported a 30% reduction in HVAC peak load after implementing real-time IAQ management (monitoring, remediation, & HVAC control) —highlighting both health and operational benefits for the building occupants and business, respectively.

How do you ensure the accuracy of air quality data, particularly in terms of sensor calibration and data validation?

Accurate air quality data relies on the use of NABL-certified instruments and CE-certified sensors that meet international quality and safety standards. These devices undergo routine factory and field calibration to ensure consistent performance over time.

Validation protocols typically include cross-referencing with reference-grade monitors and applying real-time correction algorithms to ensure accuracy. Together, these measures ensure that the data is reliable, actionable, and aligned with global air quality benchmarks.

What are the recommended sensor densities for ambient air quality monitoring in large commercial spaces?

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) does not specify a fixed sensor density for AQI monitoring. 

Instead, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) collaborate to determine sensor placement based on factors like population density, industrial activity, and air quality trends. 

Sensor density and location are determined by various factors, including Population density as Higher population areas generally require more monitoring stations to capture a broader range of air quality conditions. Further, areas with high industrial activity, such as factories or power plants, require increased monitoring to track pollutant emissions. Additionally, monitoring stations are often installed near construction and demolition sites to track air quality trends and identify areas where air quality is deteriorating significantly. 

How can organisations develop response plans based on the data provided by their air quality monitoring systems?

Organisations can develop effective air quality response plans by leveraging real-time data from monitoring systems. The key parameters, including PM2.5, CO₂, and TVOCs, can be tracked to establish baselines and set thresholds aligned with health and safety standards.

Automated alerts can trigger actions such as adjusting HVAC systems, activating purifiers, or increasing ventilation. A tiered response protocol should be used to define actions based on air quality levels, with clearly assigned roles & responsibilities for facilities and admin teams.

Further, a root cause analysis can help identify recurring issues. Effective communication protocols and efficient staff training can further enhance awareness and facilitate a prompt response to IAQ anomalies within a building or facility.