Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) became a hot issue within our built environment during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained a key consideration in building design and maintenance. In preparing to provide IAQ testing for one of our clients, Brandon Pieczynski, a Commissioning & Energy Engineer at Baumann took advantage of access to the testing equipment.

Brandon and his wife were expecting a new addition to their family and had renovated one of their bedrooms to allow for this happy change in their life. A key aspect of this was ensuring that the paint that was used was certified low/zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).

To prove the impact of using low/zero VOC paint in preparation for the arrival of their baby, Brandon used Baumann’s handheld IAQ meter which measures Total VOC in the air. Acceptable levels of TVOCs are between 300-500 µg/m3 and Brandon found the levels post-renovation to be ~200 µg/m3 well below the acceptable threshold!

Whether it is for a commercial space or a nursery, by prioritizing indoor air quality, we can create spaces that promote comfort and health for everyone.