MSR data logger for determining the cause of indoor problems
Despite modern ventilation systems in open-plan offices, employees often complain about the indoor climate. In addition to the different perceptions and comfort requirements of users, technical problems can also be the cause of such complaints.
Carbotech AG, based in Binningen near Basel, has been advising and supporting companies, the public sector and other organizations on environmental issues for over 25 years. Carbotech's services focus on the two core areas of "environmental consulting" and "pollutants". Carbotech has a wide range of measuring and sampling equipment - including MSR data loggers - to deal with chemical and physical indoor problems.
On the trail of the indoor climate
Well-being, health and performance depend to a large extent on a good indoor climate. As the following example shows, measurements with a data logger can help to provide clarity about the climatic condition of rooms:
In an open-plan office, users complained about unpleasantly cold and changing temperatures in the lower body and leg areas. The company's technical service was unable to find an explanation. The installed temperature probes showed no deviations that could be linked to the complaints.
The procedure
Carbotech conducted interviews with the people concerned and positioned MSR255 data loggers with temperature and humiditysensors in the places where the users expressed complaints - particularly close to the supply air at the floor outlet and at work table height. The measured values were stored as a minute average. This time, the short integration time paid off - the cause of the problem was quickly identified from the large amount of data:
The temperature of the supply air in the area of the floor openings showed large fluctuations. The temperature oscillated from around 19°C to 24°C and back down again to 19°C - all within 40 minutes.
It was not surprising that the phenomenon could not be detected with half-hourly averages or with the temperature sensors suspended from the ceilings. The usual half-hourly averages led to stable temperature values at the observed frequency. Between the air inlet on the floor and the sensor on the ceiling, office equipment and employees as well as the buffering effect of the remaining materials prevented the high temperature fluctuations from being detected.
The conclusion
The users' legs had felt correctly - this was shown by the evaluations of the measurements with the MSR loggers. The air heating control of the air conditioning system was defective and was subsequently replaced - the problem was successfully solved!
The MSR255 data loggers used for this air conditioning monitoring system have an LCD display that shows the current values of all measurement channels as well as the battery status and other device information. Due to the low power consumption of the entire sensor and memory electronics, data can be recorded for over a year.
The full version of the MSR255 contains four highly sensitive sensors, which are available internally in the housing or externally on a cable as required: for temperature, relative humidity, air pressure and light. There is also a sensitive sensor for measuring acceleration in all three axes with a fast-peak function. There are also four analog inputs that can be wired as required and a configurable alarm output.