Accurate CO₂ monitoring is at the heart of Airmonitor Plus. Many low-cost air quality monitors rely on Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) or Electrochemical sensors, which are prone to drift and can be influenced by other gases. Airmonitor Plus is different, it uses a high-precision Non-Dispersive Infra-Red (NDIR) sensor, the gold standard for reliable CO₂ measurement.
Why NDIR matters
- Accuracy: NDIR measures CO₂ directly, not indirectly via proxies like VOCs.
- Stability: Long-term calibration holds better, with less drift.
- Reliability: Less sensitive to humidity and temperature swings compared to MOS sensors.
How it works
- An infra-red light beam at a wavelength near 4.26 microns is directed through a small tube containing the sampled air.
- CO₂ molecules absorb light at that exact wavelength while letting other wavelengths pass.
- An optical filter ensures only the CO₂-absorbed band reaches the detector.
- The detector measures the difference between emitted and received light.
- This absorption value is converted into a precise parts per million (ppm) reading.
In simple terms: the more CO₂ in the air, the more light gets absorbed, resulting in a higher ppm reading.
Why this matters for health
- COVID-19 and indoor safety: CO₂ levels reflect how much exhaled air has accumulated indoors. Higher levels can mean higher concentrations of exhaled aerosols, including potential viruses. Everyday wellbeing: Elevated CO₂ (typically above 1,000 ppm) is linked to drowsiness, headaches, reduced focus, increased heart rate, and nausea.
- Better awareness: With precise CO₂ readings, you can ventilate at the right times and improve comfort, health, and productivity.
Sep 19, 2025