The Brief
Orange Belgium needed an evaluation of indoor air quality conditions across their office building, an assessment of HVAC system performance, and an investigation into potential occupant exposure to air pollutants – with findings and recommendations delivered in a technical report.
What We Did
In the first phase, Airscan deployed diagnosis devices across multiple locations throughout the building, positioning them to capture conditions across different workspace types – open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and others. When the results indicated a consistent PM2.5 pattern in one wing, Airscan installed three additional devices across different floors in that section of the building to build a multi-level picture of how concentrations were behaving. Measurements ran continuously, capturing average concentrations across day and night periods alongside peak readings, which allowed the team to analyse not just the levels but the timing and consistency of the pattern. In parallel, Airscan completed a full HVAC inspection conducted in line with ASHRAE standards.
How It Works
Identifying the source of a particulate matter pattern in a multi-floor office building means ruling out causes methodically. Airscan worked through four hypotheses: localised dust disturbance near a device, minerals or biological particulates dispersed by a floor humidifier, infiltration of outdoor PM2.5 through open windows given the building’s proximity to a busy avenue, and a lack of maintenance on the ventilation grills supplying the affected wing. Each was tested against the data. The near-identical PM2.5 concentration curves observed across all three monitored floors – despite each level having different spatial arrangements – was the key diagnostic finding. Causes that would have produced localised or inconsistent patterns were eliminated. The consistency of the trend across the entire wing, including the day-night behaviour of the concentrations, pointed toward the ventilation system as the most plausible source. Average PM2.5 concentrations across the monitored floors ranged between approximately 8 and 11 µg/m³, with the data providing a clear enough picture to support targeted action rather than broad intervention.
Outcomes
Orange Belgium received a full air quality picture across their offices, a structured diagnosis identifying the most plausible source of the PM2.5 pattern, and specific recommendations for remediation – including ventilation maintenance and practical guidance on window management during peak traffic hours on the adjacent avenue. The HVAC inspection delivered an independent performance assessment against ASHRAE standards, giving the facilities team a reliable benchmark for their building’s mechanical systems.
