Back in 2021, the UK Government announced that they will be investing £25M into Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitoring solutions, in order to enhance the safety of both schools and pupils.

Using products like the 'Honeywell Transmission Risk Air Monitor', has given teachers a better understanding of the benefits of well balanced CO2 within the classroom, guiding them with the steps they need to take, in order to improve pupils cognitive abilities while protecting them from increased risk of airborne virus transmission.

Since this big announcement, there has been a large push on carbon dioxide monitors being installed, not only in schools, but in other industries such as restaurants and gyms.

Why is measuring CO2 Levels important?

The start of the pandemic, as well as being advised to sing 'Happy Birthday' whilst washing our hands, also brought a large discussion surrounding air ventilation. Understanding that being exposed to too much CO2 and poor airflow can lead to not only the spread of airborne viruses, like Covid-19, but it can also result in other problems including headaches, drowsiness, and reduced productivity.

A study from CU Boulder, found that rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes urban and indoor levels of the gas to also increase, which could reduce our basic decision-making ability and complex strategic thinking.

The study also found that by the end of the century, there’s the potential of people being exposed to indoor CO2 Levels up to 1400 parts per million, that’s more than 3x today’s outdoor levels!

In order to avoid these issues, measuring the levels of CO2 allows us to act and take simple steps, such as opening a window or door.

From the study, Kris Karnauskas, suggests that these problems can affect everyone, “from little kids packed into classrooms to scientists, business people and decision makers, to regular folks in their houses and apartments”.

The Effect on Pupils’ Education

According to recent research, an extreme rise of CO2 could affect our ability to think, reduce memory, and impair concentration, leading to a reduction in pupils' cognitive abilities, which could have the potential of lowering test scores.

There have been many studies that suggest how poor ventilation affects performances, with one study in China finding that there was a significant reduction in language and mathematics test scores from pupils that had been exposed to polluted air.

With the introduction of air flow monitors within classrooms, it is possible to monitor and optimise the environment; it is suggested that in classrooms the level of CO2 should be below 800ppm. If it were to rise, the user would be alerted to take action such as opening a window.

To help with this process, the Honeywell Transmission Risk Air Monitor has become a widely used device for not only schools, but also office spaces and restaurants.

The Help of the Honeywell Transmission Risk Air Monitor

This cost-effective portable device measures the carbon dioxide within not only the classroom, but also within other industries such as restaurants, gyms and office spaces, allowing users to improve their indoor ventilation by alerting them when it detects extremities of CO2 within the room.

The alert on the user-friendly device enables the user to make the physical changes in order to improve ventilation, by opening a door/window or switching on a fan. By reducing the air pollution in the room, this will lead to better team performance and better cognitive abilities.

Want to Find Out More?

If you wish to find out more about the Honeywell Transmission Risk Air Monitor, please feel free to give us a call on 01704 330315.