The first CO₂ controlled fresh air timer

Wiesemann & Theis GmbH in Wuppertal, Germany introduces the timeair, the first CO₂-controlled timer on the market.

This manufacturer of microcomputer and network technology for business-to-business now has responded to the demands of the consumer market. The timeair was developed as a small ’in-house start-up’ for use in meeting and event spaces, but also in schools and daycare centers. - in other words wherever people gather together.

The fresh air timer from W&T has two main features. By representing time in the form of a running circle of LEDs, the remaining time until the next needed air exchange can be seen continuously and intuitively. The observer gets all the necessary information at a glance. Sensible and effective ventilation pauses can then be planned. The manufacturer sees the greatest strength however in the linking of the two components time and current air quality.

People give off CO₂ into the air each time they exhale. In poorly ventilated spaces and especially where many people come together, the CO₂ concentration in the ambient air rapidly increases. But of course we exhale not only CO₂. Since viruses are also ejected into the air along with CO₂, a rise in CO₂ is a good indicator for the potential viral load in the air.

W&T takes advantaged of this characteristic with their timeair. The timeair measures the CO₂ concentration in the ambient air. Using a previously set limit value, it determines the time until the next needed air exchange. A 7-segment display is used to indicate the last measured CO₂ concentration in the ambient air. In addition, twelve LEDs arranged in a circle represent the time remaining until the next air exchange.

Depending on the requirement, the limit value for the measured CO₂ concentration can be individually set in a range of from 700 to 3000 ppm. The pre-set value is the recommended limit of 1000 ppm. The measurement values are divided into three ranges for the display and alarm function: Range 1 lies between the value of fresh air (around 400 ppm) and the average up to the set limit, and Range 2 is the section between the average and limit value. A value above the limit value lies in Range 3. An integrated CO₂ traffic light indicates in which range the currently measured CO₂ value lies.

As soon as the limit is exceeded, the timeair issues a visual and an optional acoustic alarm. The ring-shaped LEDs turn red and a set acoustic signal is issued. As soon as the timeair detects fresh air, it adjusts the values and the time indicator accordingly.

Fresh air is important not only in this time of pandemic and winter illnesses. The quality of thinking, work and life is always affected by good ambient air. What we are learning today from coronavirus should be something we use on an everyday basis in the future to make life easier and healthier.

The timeair is available from Wiesemann & Theis for a net price of 170.69 €. Orders can be placed at wut.de/97200. Commercial users can test the product at no charge for a period of 30 days. Private customers can use the online shop at timeair.de and purchase the timeair for a gross price of 198.00 €.

Wiesemann & Theis was founded in 1979 by Reinhard Wiesemann and Rüdiger Theis. 50 employees at the headquarters in Wuppertal produce microcomputer and network technology products. In 2001 Wiesemann & Theis was the first company to offer the Web Thermometer, the first industrial temperature sensor with a network interface, representing soon twenty years of experience in the areas of Industry 4.0 and internet.