Air quality monitoring has become a must-have on construction sites, amid the rise in health and safety regulations and the need to monitor environmental disruption caused by dust and other emissions. But with sites growing and construction work more efficient than ever, the demand is shifting away from large devices and towards, smaller and more versatile units that can be activated and used on-the-go.
A handheld air quality monitoring device delivers all of the insight required but in a portable device. The device, which in most cases is a similar size to a remote control is battery-operated.
Why do sites need air quality monitoring devices on hand?
- There are two main considerations at play when considering air quality on construction and other sites – both inside and out.
- The first is the health implications of the site and exposure to various dusts and debris for site workers and surrounding residents.
- The second is the environmental impact of the site work, spanning the rise in pollution and the particulate matter in the air around us.
- Air quality monitoring enables site workers to track and therefore manage the release of pollutants and the exposure of workers to dust and other contaminants. It is virtually impossible to manage something that you don’t monitor, which is why consistent monitoring of air quality has become such an integral part of effective site management.
The key features of a handheld air quality monitoring
Now that we know a little about why air quality monitoring is important, let’s look at the features of a handheld and portable device – specifically the Series 500 device with its monitor base and interchangeable sensors.
With a unique sensor which can measure up to 30 different pollutants using a series of different head filters, this device can be taken out and activated as required – delivering an immediate reading complete with location tags so that you can see exactly where each reading was taken.
This is read via an LCD digital display, and transferred over to an in-built datalogger which allows the user to compare and contrast data from different locations at different times. If a pollutant starts to edge upwards, or you notice the air quality starting to shift, you can easily spot it and make changes to rectify the issue.
Selecting the best air quality device for your site
So, how do you know which device is right for your site? Do you need a handheld or a more permanent device to measure your air quality and pollutants?
Typically, we recommend the presence of a standing air unit and an extra handheld unit for on-the-go monitoring. The former acts as the standardizing unit for your site, while the handheld unit can be used by site managers to ensure that each area across the site is compliant with regulations.
For more advice on the products that are designed to help facilitate safe site management, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local supplier.
