Development and application of an indoor carbon dioxide metric

Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have been considered for decades in evaluating indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation, and more recently in discussions of the risk of airborne infectious disease transmission. However, many of these applications reflect a lack of understanding of the connection between indoor CO2 levels, ventilation, and IAQ. For example, a single indoor concentration such as 1000 ppm(v) is often used as a metric of IAQ and ventilation without an understanding of the significance of this or any other value. CO2 concentrations are of limited value as IAQ metrics, and a single concentration will not serve as a ventilation indicator for spaces with different occupancies and ventilation requirements. An approach has been developed to estimate a space-specific CO2 level that can serve as a metric of outdoor ventilation rates. The concept is to estimate the CO2 concentration that would be expected in a specific space given its intended or expected ventilation rate, the number of occupants, the rate at which they generate CO2, and the time that has transpired since the space was occupied. This paper describes the approach and presents example calculations for several commercial, institutional, and residential occupancies.

Automated summary

Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have long been used to evaluate indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation, as well as to discuss the risk of airborne infectious disease transmission. However, the significance of indoor CO2 levels, ventilation, and IAQ is often misunderstood. This paper presents an approach to estimate space-specific CO2 levels that can serve as a metric for outdoor ventilation rates.