What Does Airmonitor Plus Measure?

Modified on Wed, 8 Jul at 2:18 PM

Airmonitor Plus continuously monitors 8 key indoor air quality parameters, giving you a complete picture of the air you breathe inside your home, office or workplace.

Rather than focusing on a single pollutant, Airmonitor Plus measures airborne particles, gases and environmental conditions in real time. By monitoring these together, you can better understand what affects your indoor air quality and take action to create a healthier indoor environment.

The measurements displayed are:

PM1
PM2.5
PM10
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC)
Formaldehyde (HCHO)
Temperature
Relative Humidity

PM1

PM1 refers to airborne particles measuring 1 micron or smaller—approximately 70 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Because of their extremely small size, PM1 particles can travel deep into the lungs and may even enter the bloodstream.

Common sources include:

Vehicle emissions
Wildfire smoke
Cooking
Candles
Combustion appliances
Industrial pollution

Monitoring PM1 helps identify ultra-fine airborne particles that are often invisible to the naked eye.


PM1 (μg/m3)
From	To	Rating
0	15	Good
16	40	Moderate
41	65	Poor
66	999	Unhealthy

PM2.5

PM2.5 refers to airborne particles measuring 2.5 microns or smaller.

These fine particles are among the most important pollutants affecting indoor air quality because they can remain suspended in the air for long periods and penetrate deep into the respiratory system.

Common sources include:

Frying and grilling food
Burning candles or incense
Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves
Tobacco smoke
Wildfire smoke
Dust generated while cleaning or vacuuming

Monitoring PM2.5 helps you understand how everyday activities affect your indoor air and when it may be beneficial to increase ventilation or use an air purifier.

PM2.5 (μg/m3)
From	To	Rating
0	15	Good
16	40	Moderate
41	65	Poor
66	999	Unhealthy

PM10

PM10 measures larger airborne particles up to 10 microns in diameter.

These particles are commonly associated with:

Dust
Pollen
Pet dander
Construction dust
Road dust
Mould spores

Although larger than PM2.5, PM10 particles can still affect comfort and may trigger allergies or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals.

PM10 (μg/m3)
From	To	Rating
0	54	Good
55	154	Moderate
155	254	Poor
255	999	Unhealthy

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

Airmonitor Plus uses a high-precision NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) sensor to directly measure carbon dioxide.

Unlike some lower-cost monitors that estimate CO₂ (known as eCO₂) from VOC measurements, Airmonitor Plus measures actual CO₂ concentrations for greater accuracy and reliability.

Carbon dioxide is produced naturally whenever people breathe.

As CO₂ levels increase indoors, it usually indicates that fresh air isn't entering the room quickly enough.

Monitoring CO₂ can help you decide when to:

Open a window.
Increase mechanical ventilation.
Adjust your HVAC system.
Improve airflow in occupied rooms.

Bedrooms, meeting rooms, classrooms and home offices are places where CO₂ levels commonly rise.

Typical outdoor levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) are around 400 parts per million (ppm), and indoor levels below 600ppm are considered good. Above this, it can affect cognitive ability and comfort with symptoms including drowsiness, headaches, loss of concentration, increased heart rate and nausea.

CO2 (ppm)
From	To	Rating
400	599	Good
600	999	Moderate
1000	1599	Poor
1600	5000	Unhealthy

Covid-19

CO2 is exhaled by humans with other aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2 by those infected with Covid-19 and can be used as a proxy of SARS-CoV-2 concentrations indoors. So by monitoring CO2 levels, we have a measure of indoor aerosol transmission risk for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC)

These are gases released from many everyday household products and building materials.

Common sources include:

Cleaning products
Air fresheners
Paints and varnishes
Adhesives
New furniture
Carpets
Solvents
Cosmetics and perfumes

TVOC levels often rise while cleaning, decorating or introducing new furniture into a room before gradually returning to normal.

Monitoring TVOCs helps identify chemical pollutants that may affect indoor air quality.


TVOC (mg/m3)
From	To	Rating
0	0.3	Good
0.31	0.5	Moderate
0.51	1	Poor
1.01	9.99	Unhealthy

Formaldehyde (HCHO)

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a colourless gas commonly found indoors.

It may be released from:

Composite wood furniture
Flooring
Paints
Adhesives
Insulation materials
Fabrics
Building materials

New homes, recently renovated rooms and newly furnished spaces often have higher formaldehyde levels because many materials slowly release small amounts over time.

Monitoring formaldehyde can help identify elevated levels and determine when additional ventilation may be beneficial.


HCHO (mg/m3)
From	To	Rating
0.00	0.10	Good
0.11	0.12	Moderate
0.13	0.15	Poor
0.16	1.99	Unhealthy

Temperature

Airmonitor Plus continuously measures indoor temperature.

Temperature is important because it affects both comfort and indoor air quality.

Higher temperatures can increase the release of VOCs from household products and building materials, while lower temperatures combined with high humidity may increase the likelihood of condensation.

Monitoring temperature alongside humidity provides a more complete understanding of your indoor environment.

Relative Humidity

Relative humidity measures the amount of moisture present in the air.

Maintaining a comfortable humidity level can help reduce:

Condensation
Mould growth
Dry skin
Dry eyes
Static electricity

For most homes, a relative humidity between 40% and 60% is considered comfortable.

Monitoring humidity can also help you determine whether a humidifier or dehumidifier may improve indoor comfort.

Why Measure All Eight Parameters?

Indoor air quality is influenced by many different pollutants and environmental conditions.

For example:

Cooking may increase PM2.5, TVOC and temperature.
A crowded room may increase CO₂ and humidity.
New furniture may increase TVOC and formaldehyde.
Opening a window may reduce CO₂ while increasing PM2.5 if outdoor air quality is poor.

By measuring all eight parameters together, Airmonitor Plus provides a much more complete understanding of your indoor environment than a single-purpose monitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Airmonitor Plus measure carbon monoxide (CO)?

No. Airmonitor Plus does not measure carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that requires a dedicated, certified carbon monoxide alarm. Airmonitor Plus is designed to monitor indoor air quality, not life-safety gases.

Does Airmonitor Plus calculate an Air Quality Index (AQI)?

No.

Instead of displaying a single air quality score, Airmonitor Plus shows the individual measurements for each pollutant. This allows you to identify exactly which aspect of your indoor air quality has changed.

How often are the readings updated?

Airmonitor Plus continuously monitors your indoor environment and updates the display in real time. When connected to Wi-Fi, readings are also synchronised with the Breathe Tech app for historical graphs, alerts and cloud storage.

Can I view historical data?

Yes.

When connected to Wi-Fi, the Breathe Tech app securely stores up to 90 days of historical data, allowing you to view trends over time and export your readings as a CSV file.

Why is monitoring multiple pollutants important?

No single measurement can tell you everything about your indoor air quality.

By monitoring particles, gases, temperature and humidity together, Airmonitor Plus helps you understand how everyday activities affect your indoor environment and gives you the information you need to improve it.