AQ Guard: air quality and fine dust measurement in indoor air

AQ Guard is currently the most advanced compact aerosol spectrometer for determining pollution by particulates in indoor air. Using the same measurement system and sophisticated algorithms as the EN 16450 certified Fidas® 200 it analyses continuously, reliably, and precisely airborne fine dust particles in the range 180 nm – 18 µm. The "ambient" version (with heated aerosol inlet) achieves precision comparable to type approved analyzers, which makes AQ Guard stand out compared to similar devices.

Fig. 2: Comparison of data recorded by AQ Guard ambient and Fidas® 200 S

Besides the PM10 und PM2.5 fine dust fractions, relevant for regulatory immission control, AQ Guard simultaneously calculates and records PM1, PM4, the total dust load, the particle number concentration Cn as well as the particle size distribution. AQ Guard thus provides precise and comprehensive informationen about particulates as only a single particle counting and sizing device can.

AQ Guard is designed for unattended, continuous operation and features an extraordinarily durable sampling gas blower. Aerosol sampling as well as optical sensor system resist staining but can be cleaned, if necessary, by the user.

Exceptional long term stability of the measuring system is achieved by automatic calibration tracking and allows up to two years of operation without recalibration. Calibration status can be checked, using a test powder calibrated by Palas^®. This makes Palas^® aerosol spectrometers the only optical fine dust monitors which can be user calibrated with a traceable standard on site.

Fig. 3: AQ Guard screen view

Auxiliary sensors for CO₂ and volatile organic carbohydrates (VOC) built into AQ Guard provide data for calculating an indoor air quality index (AQI) according to the European model. AQ Guard also records air temperature, pressure and relative humidity.

Fig. 4: Web interface

AQ Guard features fast data interfaces and allows real time access over Ethernet, WiFi or cellular network. Since all results are calculated and recorded within the analyzer it requires no external data processing by, e.g., cloud computing. Users retain full control over their data and decide over information access. AQ Guard can provide numerical data, using various communication protocols, as well as visualize information on any type of device using a modern web interface.
Compact design and optional power supply on the Ethernet port (PoE) simplifies installation in buildings and integration in an existing infrastructure.