Evaluation of sensor-based low-cost devices for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) measurement

In order to assess the indoor Air Quality (IAQ) without complex and expensive measurement technology, so-called Indoor Air Quality Monitors (IAQ-Ms) can be used. In these devices, combinations of different sensors measure temperature, relative humidity, total concentration of volatile organic compounds (TVOC), fine dust concentration (PM) and CO2 concentration. In this study the accuracy of temperature, relative humidity and TVOC concentration measurements of four commercially available IAQ-Ms below 300 (sic) (Acer Air Monitor, IQAir AirVisual Pro, Foobot and uHoo) were evaluated. Ethanol (alcohol), acetone (ketone) and toluene (aromatic hydrocarbon) were selected to represent different VOCs. While the measured values for the temperature and the relative humidity of the instruments largely corresponded well with those of the reference instruments, very different results were obtained for the VOCs.