SENSORWORKS

DEVICEWORX xTAG VENTILATION SENSOR | BLE CONNECT

CO₂-sensing to indicate ventilation effectiveness and reduce COVID spread

Overview

The new xTAG BLE Ventilation Sensor has been deployed within a trial. CO₂ was measured within a Canadian school every 5 min, and sensor data was collected using our xTAG Explorer App on a Tablet with BLE support. The trial effectively tracked the concentration of CO₂ over several weeks. A typical day’s data is shown below.

Note that ambient CO₂ (when nobody is around and breathing to increase it) is commonly 400 ppm. Samples taken before the school day begins show consistent CO₂ levels close to this expected ambient value. As the school day progresses, the CO₂ levels increase. Ventilation can reduce concentration throughout the day as well as interruptions like lunch and recess (when children leave the classroom). The chart provides evidence that ventilation can be increased when needed to reduce peak CO₂ levels.

Deviceworx also supports the real-time collection of CO₂ data using both USB (xTAG USB Ventilation Sensor) and Wi-Fi HaLow (xTAG HaLow Ventilation Sensor). A BLE-connected xTAG supports 2 Mbit/sec Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0 connectivity to xGATEWAYs, facilitating the simplest possible xTAG installs where xTAGs can be up to 300 meters from xGATEWAYs and won’t require local power. A USB-connected xTAG supports indefinite operations without the need to replace sensor batteries. A Wi-Fi HaLow-connected xTAG supports the connection of all sensors within a school or building to a single xGATEWAY device (distances up to 1 km) for wireless real-time data acquisition and reporting with minimal infrastructure costs.

Contact sales for more information on deploying our xTAG Ventilation Sensors within schools or other public spaces, and how they can indicate the current effectiveness of ventilation, support increasing ventilation at targeted times of the day, and reduce the opportunity for COVID spread—all while reducing ventilation energy costs.