Higher energy efficiency and enhanced room comfort thanks to air quality sensors - Siemens launches revised Symaro family

The Symaro air quality sensors marketed by Siemens' Building Technologies Division are designed for installation in rooms or air ducts and – depending on the model – measure the air's carbon dioxide (CO₂) content, volatile organic compounds (VOC), temperature (T) or humidity (H), either as individual variables or in combination. As a novelty, the revised product line includes sensors that acquire exclusively the VOC level in the room or air duct. In addition, new multisensors with active CO₂ parameter and passive temperature measurement are introduced, enabling customers to fit the required sensing element, thus ensuring full flexibility with regard to application. What's more, the new Symaro generation allows customers to choose between output signals of DC 0â?¦10 V and DC 0â?¦5 V for all measurement parameters.

The Symaro family includes models with an easy-to-read LCD. The CO₂ reading is in ppm (parts per million). With the CO₂/T and CO₂/T/H multisensors, the measured values are displayed alternately. The CO₂/VOC sensors also show the maximum measured values in the form of a bar chart. All models are also available without display.

The Symaro air quality sensors from Siemens are used to provide demand-controlled ventilation depending on the level of indoor air quality. In contrast to conventional ventilation control, the amount of outside air supplied to the room is not calculated for maximum occupancy, but depends on the current indoor air quality resulting from the present occupancy level. This means that demand-controlled ventilation saves costs due to lower energy consumption and guarantees enhanced comfort and a healthier room climate thanks to improved indoor air quality. Savings are particularly high in buildings with changing and unpredictable occupancy levels. Such buildings include office buildings, restaurants, hotels, congress centers, lecture halls and theatres. The Symaro air quality sensors can be straightforwardly integrated in existing HVAC systems, thus offering optimum cost efficiency.

The Symaro air quality sensors are part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2009, revenue from the Portfolio totaled about EUR23 billion, making Siemens the world's largest supplier of ecofriendly technologies. In the same period, the company's products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their CO₂ emissions by 210 million tons. This amount equals the combined annual CO₂ emissions of New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin.