Indoor Environmental Quality: Getting Sensor Placement Right in the Workplace

A recent study titled "Examining Different Placement Strategies for Indoor Environmental Quality Sensors in Office Environments" (published in Building and Environment, April 2025) explores how the placement of sensors affects the accuracy of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) measurements in office settings.

Researchers installed IEQ sensors at five locations around typical workstations—including above monitors, beside desks, and on chair backs—to track temperature, humidity, CO₂, particulate matter, light, and sound over a two-week period. Their goal was to determine which positions best reflect the real environmental conditions people experience, especially in their breathing zones.

Key Insights

The study found that placing sensors above computer monitors and facing the occupant delivered the most accurate representation of the conditions people are actually exposed to. This insight is crucial for anyone relying on IEQ data to drive decisions around HVAC control, energy use, and occupant comfort.

By deploying sensors in optimal locations:
•    You capture more accurate data aligned with what occupants truly experience.
•    You enable smarter HVAC adjustments, enhancing comfort and avoiding energy waste.
•    You make data-driven decisions that support health, productivity, and sustainability.

For facility managers and EHS professionals, this research underscores the importance of not just what you monitor—but where you monitor it.

Read the full study