The world’s first automated, real-time, air monitoring system provider, Poppy, has released BreatheScore Certify, the first commercially available digital air tracer particle system for buildings.
BreatheScore Certify’s instant air tracer technology and cost-effective certification program enables workplaces, property owners and operators to rapidly comply with ASHRAE Standard 241, the newly published standard for buildings to reduce the spread of airborne diseases including influenza and COVID.
Poppy’s BreatheScore Certify can measure and verify the delivery of clean air per occupant.
By mimicking human breath, Poppy’s particle and sensor system measures the effectiveness of all natural and mechanical ventilation, purifiers, and filters at professional-grade accuracy with a 20 minute test.
The actionable data available in the BreatheScore Certify app reveals target occupancy levels, ventilation blindspots, and areas for HVAC energy optimization.
Poppy’s co-CEO, Sam Molyneux, is a member of the ASHRAE Standard 241 committee subgroup responsible for building commissioning and maintenance.
Published on 7 July, this pioneering standard, written in code-enforceable language, was developed to reduce the risk of transmission of airborne diseases in buildings.
“At Poppy, we’ve created a highly accurate and reliable solution that’s accessible to all buildings, budgets and environments,” Molyneux said.
“Within a day, we can assess a large building, with no interruptions to daily work, productivity or building operations. Historically this level of insight required high degrees of manual labor, time and financial resources.
“Our sensor and air tracer technology is the only system on the market that provides this level of precision and speed to results.”
Standard 241, which is expected to be incorporated into building codes starting later this year, sets requirements for the amount of clean, pathogen-free air that must be provided per occupant when called upon by public health authorities, reducing the risk of transmission of airborne viruses in workplaces, schools, hospitals, stores, restaurants, factories, warehouses, and residential buildings.
BreatheScore Certify includes regular spot checks throughout the year to help facilities maintain safe and cost-efficient operations regardless of the season and occupancy rates.
Poppy co-founder and co-CEO, Elizabeth Caley, said over 70 per cent of Class A buildings are largely over-ventilated, and yet they are often ridden with undetected, under-ventilated hotspots that can lead to pathogen spread.
“Even prior to COVID, 42 per cent of all illnesses annually were upper respiratory diseases, largely caused by transmission indoors where we spend 90 per cent of our time. Poppy reveals the invisible, so facility teams can make data-driven decisions that benefit everyone’s wellbeing,” Caley said.
Poppy’s new product offering is available in Australia.