How This Helps
Creates a stable vocabulary layer for readers comparing air-cleaning, ventilation, and standards claims.
IAQ Metrics That Change Decisions
Define each metric by the action it can and cannot justify.
| Term | Decision impact | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 | A ventilation and occupancy signal | Does not measure particle removal or infection risk by itself |
| CADR | Estimates particle-cleaning delivery for portable cleaners | Quiet setting and room mixing can reduce real usefulness |
| MERV 13 | Can improve HVAC filtration when the system supports it | Pressure drop, fit, and bypass matter |
| ACH / eACH | Frames ventilation or equivalent clean-air changes | Calculation inputs and room assumptions must be clear |
| ASHRAE / EPA / CDC guidance | Provides scoped recommendations or context | Do not turn guidance into a universal health guarantee |
Cross-Link Rules
Reference entries are useful when they point back to the decision pages where the term changes an action.
- Link CO2 terms to placement, calibration, and dashboard pages.
- Link CADR and MERV terms to sizing, filter fit, and bypass pages.
- Link standards terms to school, office, and ventilation guidance pages.
- Avoid term pages that only paraphrase vendor, standards, or research language without decision context.
Editorial Boundary
The glossary should prevent metric drift: each term should say what it supports and what it cannot prove.