How to Monitor Oxygen & CO2 Levels in the Air

Because breathing is a natural process, something you almost never have to remember to do, you probably rarely consider the content of the air you are breathing. However, as more and more factories and vehicles alter the makeup of your environment, you may want to consider monitoring the air around you, whether it is outdoors in your backyard or inside your office building. Monitors that analyze single air components rather than multiple gases tend to be more accurate.

Instructions

Oxygen Monitor

• 1

  Mount the instrument in close proximity to the area you want to test. This may require a basic set of tools and screws depending on the manufacturer and model of your equipment.

• 2

  Power the instrument with the appropriate electrical source. If mounting the instrument outdoors, you may need to run an extension cord to an outlet inside a building. If the instrument is operated by battery, make sure you insert a battery with the appropriate voltage.

• 3

  Allow the instrument to warm up for a few minutes before reading the display. Some models are built to respond more rapidly to the environment for more immediate results. Others may require a few minutes of acclimation to the environment.

• 4

  Read the results on the display. The standard level of oxygen in the air is 21 percent. If your display reads lower than 19.5 percent, this is considered to be hazardous. Many instruments will set off an alarm if an oxygen-deficient environment is detected. Increased oxygen levels are less of a concern, as medical treatments sometimes employ the use of pure oxygen.

Carbon Dioxide Monitor

• 5

  Mount the device in a dry area that receives an even air mixture, meaning away from drafts, other CO2 producing devices, heaters and drafts.

• 6

  Allow the instrument to warm up for a few minutes before attempting to get an accurate reading.

• 7

  Read the results on the display. The measurement for carbon dioxide levels in the air is displayed in ppm (parts per million) rather than percentage. An acceptable level of carbon dioxide created by human breathing is around 1,000 ppm, according to the Illinois Health Department. OSHA standards are different with weighted averages applying to different time periods from 15 minutes to 8 hours.