Indoor air quality testing in Port Elizabeth: what it measures and why it matters

Written By Ashvin Manga

We spend around 90% of our time indoors, yet most of us never think about the air inside our homes and workplaces. Research shows that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside. Because you can’t see or smell most of the problems, the only way to know what you’re breathing is to measure it.

What an indoor air quality test measures

When I test a home, office or classroom, I use calibrated sensors to record the things that most affect how people feel and how healthy a space is:

  • Carbon dioxide (CO2), a good sign of whether a room is getting enough fresh air

  • Fine and coarse particles (PM2.5 and PM10), from dust, cooking, smoke and traffic

  • Temperature and relative humidity, which affect comfort, mould and dust mites

  • TVOCs, the chemical fumes given off by paints, cleaning products and new furniture

  • Formaldehyde, often released by pressed-wood products and some finishes

  • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), mostly from gas appliances and nearby traffic

Why it matters

Stale air can leave you tired, give you headaches, disturb your sleep and make allergies and asthma worse. In an office or classroom, rising CO2 makes it harder to concentrate as the day goes on. Air that is too damp encourages mould, while air that is too dry can irritate your eyes, skin and throat.

How testing works

I monitor the space over a normal period of use, so the results show what really happens rather than a one-off snapshot. You then get a clear, plain-English report that compares your readings with trusted guidance, such as that of the World Health Organization, explains why any problems are happening, and sets out which fixes should come first. Often the solutions are simple and inexpensive, such as better ventilation at the right times or dealing with a source of damp.

Independent advice, based on your own measurements

I’m Dr Ashvin Manga, a building performance researcher and South Africa’s first Certified Passive House Designer. Building Performance Solutions is my independent consultancy, so I’m not selling equipment, just giving honest advice based on your building’s data.

I’m based in Port Elizabeth and work with homeowners and commercial building owners across South Africa. If you’d like to know what the air in your home or business is really like, get in touch.

Ashvin Manga