Air Quality

Indoor air contains a mixture of gases and particles. Some are harmless at normal concentrations. Others accumulate quickly in poorly ventilated spaces and affect your health before you notice.

Particulate matter

Particles suspended in the air, classified by size. PM2.5 — particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres — are the most concerning. They bypass your nose and throat, travel deep into the lungs, and can enter the bloodstream directly. Sources include dust, smoke, combustion, and many common workshop processes.

PM1.0, PM4.0, and PM10 describe different size ranges. All matter. PM2.5 is the one most strongly linked to health outcomes.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

A natural byproduct of breathing. In a well-ventilated room, CO₂ sits around 400–600 ppm. In a sealed space with one person working, it climbs. Above 1000 ppm, cognitive performance measurably declines. Above 1500 ppm, most people notice fatigue and difficulty concentrating. The fix is usually simple — ventilation — but you need to know when to act.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Chemicals that evaporate at room temperature. Found in paints, varnishes, adhesives, cleaning products, and new furniture. Some are relatively benign. Others — benzene, formaldehyde, toluene — are serious health hazards at sustained exposure. VOC index measures how elevated levels are relative to your normal baseline.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Produced by combustion. Gas hobs, gas kilns, diesel generators, and outdoor traffic fumes that enter through gaps in the building. NOx contributes to respiratory irritation and is a marker for combustion-related pollution.

Temperature and humidity

Not pollutants, but directly relevant to air quality and comfort. High humidity promotes mould growth. Low humidity dries airways and causes static. The comfortable working range for most people is 18–24°C and 40–60% relative humidity.

Outdoor pollution disperses. Wind dilutes it. Rain washes particles out of the atmosphere.

Indoors, pollutants accumulate. A small room with poor ventilation traps what's generated inside it. Add the activities of a creative workspace — sanding, soldering, painting, printing — and concentrations build quickly.

The EPA estimates indoor air can be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoor air. In active workshops and studios, it can be higher.

Ventilate. Cross-ventilation — two openings on opposite sides of the space — clears air far faster than a single open window. Ten focused minutes beats leaving one window cracked all day.

Choose lower-emission materials. Water-based paints and finishes release fewer VOCs than solvent-based. The performance gap has largely closed.

Store chemicals properly. Open containers off-gas continuously. Seal them. Store them separately from your working area.

Clean without spreading. Dry sweeping resuspends settled particles. Damp mopping keeps them out of your breathing zone.

Measure. You can't improve what you can't see. Real-time monitoring tells you when levels are rising, whether your actions are working, and what your normal baseline actually is.

PM1.0 · PM2.5 · PM4.0 · PM10 · CO₂ · VOC index · NOx index · Temperature · Humidity

Swiss-made sensors. Real-time readings. Historical data so you can see patterns, not just moments.