Air

We can survive for weeks without food.

We can survive for days without water.
We can only survive a few minutes without air.

Health begins with Air.

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Table of Contents

2.1.1 What is RESET™ Air?

2.1.2 How does RESET™ Air work?
2.1.3 Dangers of PM2.5
2.1.4 How Much PM2.5 Do We Breath In?
2.1.5 Effects of CO2
2.1.6 Impact of CO2 on the Office Productivity
2.1.7 TVOC Off-gassing
2.1.8 TVOC Issues
2.1.9 Dangers of CO
2.1.10 Why RESET™ Air?
2.1.11 RESET™ Air Certification Project Types
2.1.12 Appendix

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2.1.1 What is RESET™ Air?
RESET™ targets the environmental health of occupants, starting with people and indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality changes continuously as buildings are pressurized and depressurized by mechanical systems, as
ventilation, heating, and cooling power up and down and as occupant activity impacts CO2, CO, Particulate Matter
and VOCs (chemical gases). The building industry is entering a new era in which buildings are becoming
responsive to these changes and performance is tracked in real-time.

RESET™ Air is the world’s first sensor-based and performance-driven, indoor air quality building standard and
certification program. It requires continuous monitoring so that data can be communicated to project occupants
through mobile devices, or other visual displays.

The quality of sensors, their installation, calibration and reporting methodology are of critical importance.
RESET™ Air sets standards for monitor performance, density and location of installation, calibration, reporting
methodology and overall project performance.

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2.1.2 How does RESET™ Air work?
RESET™ Air rethinks and simplifies IAQ project certification by
setting standards for documenting, communicating and certifying Air Quality
indoor air quality using continuous monitoring.
PM2.5 Particulate Matter
Indoor / Outdoor
There are no mandatory mechanical design submittals. There are no
required air exchange rates. There are no checklists, prescribed paths, TVOC Chemical Off-gassing
exceptions, or alternative paths.
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
There are simply air quality targets across critical parameters which
must be continuously monitored during hours of occupancy.
Currently, parameters include: PM2.5, TVOC, CO2, CO, Temperature, CO Carbon Monoxide
and Humidity.*
T Temperature
Project design can follow any path, provided that it leads to the
requisite results. This approach maximizes the opportunity for
adaptation for place-based solutions and innovative design. It also
RH Relative Humidity
allows professionals and experts flexibility of design that can *RESET™ continuously tests sensors that detect
potentially help reduce overall project and certification costs. other parameters of interest such as formaldehyde,
Ozone and NO2. New parameters are added as
sensors are proven to meet the RESET™ Standard.

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2.1.3 Dangers of PM2.5
PM2.5 can get down into the deepest (alveolar) portions
of the lungs where gas exchange occurs between the air
and your blood stream.

The alveolar portion of the lungs has no efficient means

of removing PM2.5. When particulates are water soluble,
they can pass directly into the blood stream, while non
water soluble particulates remain in the alveolar portion
of the lungs.

Particulates within the lungs may cause lung disease,

emphysema, and/or lung cancer [1].

[1] Yu-Fei Xing-Yue-Hua Xu-Min-Hua Shi-Yi-Xin Lian. The impact of PM2.5 on the human respiratory system. [Journal].

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2.1.4 How Much PM2.5 Do We Breath In?
At rest, we inhale 500 mL of air per breath, at a rate of
approximately10 times per minute[1], totaling 7200 L (or
1902.04 gallons) per day. During exercise our rate
increases to 2.5 L of air per breath, up to a maximum of
60 breaths per minute[2], totaling 9000 L (or 2377.55
gallons) of air inhaled per hour.

When average PM2.5 levels reach 75 µg/m3, people with

a respiratory rate of 8 L per minute inhale 314.8 mg of
particulates in a year. Over the course of 40 years this
equates to approximately12.592 grams of particulates,
equivalent to the mass of two RMB coins (each RMB
coin weights 6.1g[3]) or slightly more than two US
quarters (5.67g)!

[1] The Respiratory System. [Website]. n.d.

[2] Tan, M. Bad to worse: Ranking 74 Chinese Cities by Air Pollution. [Website]. February 19, 2014.
[3] 1 Yuan: Features. [Website].

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2.1.5 Effects of CO2
CO2 can significantly impact productivity and decision Impact of Better Air Quality on Productivity
making capabilities. CO2 is a concern in indoor spaces, Increases in Analytical Tasks
especially within air tight spaces.

To equate ventilation rates with CO2 concentration:

On average, ventilation rates of 20 cubic feet per

minute/person, equates to indoor CO2
concentrations of approximately 945 ppm.

On average, ventilation rates of 40 cubic feet per

minute/person, equates to indoor CO2
concentrations of approximately 550 ppm.
minute per person
It is not uncommon to find indoor spaces that minute per person
average over 1,400 ppm[1] of CO2 concentration. Source: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health
and the Global Environment

[1] Allen, J.G. et al. Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure
Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments. June 2016.

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2.1.6 Impact of CO2 on Office Productivity
Occupants feel most comfortable and
perform best within CO2 levels of 600 ppm
or less[1].

When CO2 levels reach 1,000 ppm,

occupants may start to experience light
headaches, slight fatigue, and difficulty to
concentrate[2], therefore negatively affecting
performance[1].

When indoor CO2 levels reach 2,500 ppm,

occupants begin displaying unsatisfactory
performance[1], with significant impairment
of cognitive functions across specific tasks,
especially when exposed for 2.5 hours or
more[2].

[1] Satish, U. et al. Is CO2 an Indoor Pollutant? Direct Effects of Low-to-Moderate CO2 Concentrations on Human Decision-Making Performance. [Website]. December 2012.
[2] Bierwirth, P.N. Carbon dioxide toxicity and climate change: a serious unapprehended risk for human health. [Website]. December 23, 2016.

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2.1.7 VOC Off-gassing
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs are a class of organic chemicals which include formaldehyde,
toluene, and benzene. They are extremely common in building materials: particle board, glues, paints, and carpet
backing. VOCs can cause headaches, rashes, nausea, vomiting, nose bleeding, or eye, nose, and throat irritation.

Many VOCs cannot be detected by smell. They are often a prominent source of indoor air pollution affecting
occupant health and comfort.

The term, TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds), is used to measure and communicate the total off-gassing
of VOCs emitting into a space,

It is important to note that while certain VOCs can negatively affect health, productivity, or both, others are
benign. Therefore TVOC is not primarily a health metric but rather a chemical hygiene metric. High TVOC levels in
a space indicates that there may be a problem with a specific VOC of concern and that further investigation is
required.

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2.1.8 TVOC Issues
TVOCs are typically strongest after new construction. As a result, flush-out phases are often prescribed prior to
occupants moving in to new spaces. Unfortunately, flush-out phases do not always solve TVOC issues.

With continuous monitoring, RESET™ Air provides an alternative to standard industry practice in which spaces
are flushed out, tested, certified, and unknowingly left to climb back up to hazardous levels.

Hazardous: Beyond measurable level

FLUSH-OUT
PHASE
CONSTRUCTION (PASS) OCCUPANCY
PHASE PHASE

Healthy level

0 Time

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2.1.9 Dangers of CO
Carbon monoxide (CO), is an odorless, colorless, and toxic gas that can be lethal when inhaled in large
amounts[1]. CO is the byproduct of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. The greatest culprits contributing
to CO in outdoor air come from cars, trucks, and other vehicles or machinery that burn fossil fuels for energy.

Indoors, CO is generated from a variety of common sources such as unvented kerosene and gas space heaters,
leaking chimneys and furnaces, improperly exhausted gas stoves, or fumes from idling cars that enter through
building vents, doors, or windows.

Because CO is impossible to see, taste, or smell, it is particularly dangerous and potentially lethal to occupants
unable to detect rising levels.

Breathing air with a high concentration of CO reduces the amount of oxygen that can be transported in to the
blood stream to critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, which are possible indoors or in other
enclosed environments, CO can cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness, and death.[2]

[1] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. National Ambient Air Quality Standards. 40 CFR Part 50. [Link] Revised October 2011.
Updated December 14, 2012. Accessed September 16, 2014.
[2] Carbon Monoxide and the Nervous System. Raub, J. A., and V. A. Benignus. Carbon Monoxide and the Nervous System. Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews 26(8):925-940, (2002).

RESET™ Air v2.0 Copyright © 2018 RESET™

2.1.10 Why RESET™ Air ?
RESET™ Air is a fundamental building block for all healthy buildings. It is a certification program that focuses on
indoor air quality, providing a standard for continuous monitoring of the air being breathed by occupants.

Indoor air quality is nuanced, constantly changing, and not obviously detectable by human senses. Continuous
monitoring makes indoor air quality results actionable and helps protect the health of occupants.

RESET™ Air provides a tangible return on investment for offices and property owners. For offices, RESET™ Air
not only enables healthier spaces, but also more productive spaces. For property owners, RESET™ Air empowers
the communication of healthier, more productive buildings to prospective tenants.

The RESET™ Air Certification is designed to be scalable and affordable, while delivering actionable results.

RESET™ Air v2.0 Copyright © 2018 RESET™

2.1.11 RESET™ Air Certification Project Types
RESET™ Air Certification can be applied to the following project types:
Commercial Interiors and/or Core & Shell.

COMMERCIAL
CORE & SHELL
INTERIOR

RESET™ Air v2.0 Copyright © 2018 RESET™

2.1.12 Appendix: References
Allen, J.G. et al. Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in
Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments. [Website]. June 2016. Retrieved from
[Link]

Bierwirth, P.N. Carbon dioxide toxicity and climate change: a serious unapprehended risk for human health. [Website]. December 23, 2016.
Retrieved from [Link]

Satish, U. et al. Is CO2 an Indoor Pollutant? Direct Effects of Low-to-Moderate CO2 Concentrations on Human Decision-Making
Performance. [Website]. December 2012. Retrieved from [Link]

Tan, M. Bad to worse: Ranking 74 Chinese Cities by Air Pollution. [Website]. February 19, 2014. Retrieved from [Link]
eastasia/news/blog/bad-to-worse-ranking-74-chinese-cities-by-air/blog/48181/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. National Ambient Air Quality Standards. 40 CFR Part 50. [Link]
naaqs-table. Revised October 2011. Updated December 14, 2012. Accessed September 16, 2014.

Yu-Fei Xing-Yue-Hua Xu-Min-Hua Shi-Yi-Xin Lian. The impact of PM2.5 on the human respiratory system. [Journal]. Retrieved from https://
[Link]/pmc/articles/PMC4740125/

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End of RESET™ Air Introduction

RESET™ Air v2.0 Copyright © 2018 RESET™