Particle Loading, Air Quality, and Practical Application

What you can’t see can still impact you.

The air we breathe is as critical to our livelihood as the water we drink and the food we eat — after all, what goes in our body will undoubtedly affect it for better or worse.

And that’s where particle loading comes in. Particularly if you and/or your business are taking the time to refocus your attention on how indoor air quality affects your clients or employees, “particle loading” will be a new term you’ll want to add to your vocabulary.

What Is Particle Loading?

Particle loading is defined as “the mass of suspended particulate aerosols per mass or volume of air,” according to the American Meteorological Society (AMS).

In other words, particle loading refers to the overall density of particles and contaminants in a given space. The higher the particle load, the more likely it is that a building may contain a large volume of harmful airborne particulate matter, ranging from mold to dust, allergens, or other biological pollutants.

Why Is Particle Loading Important?

Particle loading may impact the overall health of both a building and its inhabitants, as higher loads may indicate stagnated airflow, the presence of mold growth, and/or higher rates of pollutant dispersion throughout a building.

Additionally, as we understand how particle loads function and form, we may further adapt air quality technology to mitigate and compensate for the presence of such contaminants.

“The rate at which airborne particulate matter deposits onto heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) components is important from both indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy perspectives,” one 2008 study explains. “This knowledge informs the development and comparison of control strategies to limit particle deposition.”

How Can I Address Particle Loading In A Property?

If high particle and biological loads are left unchecked and untouched, they may negatively impact one’s physical health over time as exposure is prolonged.

Thus, one would be wise to invest in a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) specifies that these filters aid airflow rate as defined in reference to particle loading and resistance.

That is, HEPA filters may reduce airborne particle loads at a higher, more efficient rate. Additionally, regular coil cleanings, as well as the installation of energy-efficient HVAC enhancements, may mitigate the likelihood that high particle loads will continue to grow.

In addition, not only can comparing the biological loads of two different spaces in one property serve to identify the source of contamination, but comparing the loads both before and after a cleaning or remediation service may determine the efficacy of said services.

And the InstaScope — a state-of-the-art air sampling tool that is capable of sampling the air

in a room an unlimited number of times — can help. Not only can the InstaScope measure the particle loading within a room, but it also does it in real-time and uploads the information to the cloud. This makes it easy to compare particle concentration levels between rooms and even different buildings. With this information, organizations or IAQ professionals can make informed decisions on the best ways to lower any high particle concentrations and keep using the InstaScope to know when HEPA filters are working or more needs to be done.

To learn more about how the InstaScope can help you verify and enhance your business’s capabilities, contact DetectionTek today by calling 720-410-7030 or emailing info@instascope.co.

See it to believe it

Our team will walk you through the sampling process and features of the app so you can see how InstaScope is changing the way service providers do business.

See it to believe it

Our team will walk you through the sampling process and features of the app so you can see how InstaScope is changing the way service providers do business.

Plans & Pricing

If you are a service provider or inspector interested in using InstaScope and would like to learn more about Pay-Per-Report and One-time Purchase pricing, please submit the form below and our sales team will get in touch with you.