Exploring CO2 Sensor Grid Configurations and the Implications for Demand-controlled Ventilation

Carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor grid configuration has implications on indoor air quality (IAQ) when used for demand-controlled ventilation (DCV). The non-homogeneity of occupancy across a floorplate can result in high localized concentrations of CO2 which may go unaddressed if unmonitored. This study identifies zone locations, occupancy-types, and occupancies that are more likely to result in high CO2 concentrations based on a simulated floor of an academic office building to help inform how CO2 monitoring on the floorplate should be prioritized for DCV and IAQ purposes. It was found that smaller multi-occupant zones disproportionately experienced high CO2 concentrations, while core zones and single-occupant offices with lower ventilation to seating capacity ratios also experienced elevated CO2 concentrations under a variety of occupancy scenarios. Future work will expand the simulated occupancy scenarios and simulate DCV with various CO2 sensor grid configurations to quantity the impact on IAQ and energy use.