When the old normal replaces the new normal, classrooms, restaurants, and offices slowly start to fill up again. In a recently published paper, scientists have created a new model for predicting the risk of infection concerning the Coronavirus. The silver lining of the story; CO2 (carbon dioxide) measurement can play a significant role in making indoor area’s safe again when CO2 measurement against the Coronavirus is being applied.

What is CO2 (carbon dioxide)

Carbon Dioxide has the chemical formula of CO2. Carbon Dioxide is an odour- and colourless gas with a density of about 60% higher than that of dry air. Meaning that CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) is lighter than air, so it will always be some distance above floor level. CO2 is the gross formula of an inorganic connection between oxygen and carbon. Although Carbon Dioxide mostly comes in a gas formation, it also has a liquid and a solid form. It can only be liquid if the temperature is below -78 Celsius degrees. Liquid Carbon Dioxide mainly occurs when Carbon Dioxide is dissolved in water. CO2 is also referred to as the source of all life on earth. It makes it ironic that of all gas forms, CO2 plays the most prominent part in preventing the Coronavirus.

How is CO2 produced

Carbon dioxide occurs during the decay processes of organic materials and the fermentation of sugars in bread, beer, and winemaking. CO2 is also released during a Savanna, forest fire, digestion of the rainforest and volcanic eruptions. But maybe most known is that every living creature produces CO2 when breathing.

Why is CO2 measurement essential during COVID?

Minuscule drops, when exhaled, can spread the Coronavirus. Every human produces these drops, and when somebody is infected with corona, these tiny little drops can carry the virus and infect other humans when inhaled. In closed area’s where ventilation is limited, these drops (aerosols) are tended to last longer, which automatically increases the risk of getting infected.

While applications of the infection models so far have demonstrated that most workers in well ventilated open-plan offices are unlikely to infect each other via airborne drops, the risk becomes more significant if the space is poorly ventilated or if the workers are involved in activities that require more speaking. Therefore, CO2 measurement against the Coronavirus is s acritical step in getting back to the old standards. When CO2 is measured and monitored, ventilation rules can be appropriately applied, and a safe indoor environment can be created.

How to perform a CO2 measurement

A CO2 measurement or CO2 test is best performed with a therefore intended CO2 meter. A CO2 meter indicates the level of Carbon Dioxide in the room expressed in ppm (parts per million). The norm for which ppm is optimal variates per location.

A CO2 meter measures carbon dioxide in the air in parts per million (ppm). The standards for which ppm is the best variate. For instance, in Belgium, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) within a room must be below 900 ppm. Everything above the 900-ppm mark must be seen as immediate advice for ventilation. If your ppm level is above 1200 ppm, then your ventilation is inferior, and the chances of corona infections are significantly higher.

Dangerous CO2 levels

When are CO2 levels too high, and what are the risks with high carbon dioxide levels?

• 400 ppm is the average outside air
• 400 to 900 ppm is acceptable
• 1.000 to 1.200 ppm is advised to ventilate
• 1.200 ppm or above is poorly ventilated. Advice is to directly ventilate and leave the room