BBC Beijing ensures clean air for its office with Smart Air

Sector/Industry: Media & Broadcasting
Region: China

Reduced PM2.5 and VOC Levels in a 2,800 sq-ft office

Smart Air partnered with the BBC Beijing office to combat indoor air pollution, significantly reducing harmful pollutants and ensuring a healthier working environment for employees and guests.

The challenge: Air quality concerns in a newly renovated office

When the BBC moved into its newly renovated 2,800 sq-ft office in Chaoyang District, Beijing, they faced an urgent air quality issue:

Severe outdoor PM2.5 pollution: Beijing’s annual average PM2.5 levels (49μg/m³) far exceeded the WHO safe guideline of 10μg/m³. Without effective filtration, harmful air particles were infiltrating the office.
Ineffective central air system: The office’s air exchange system and 14 ceiling-mounted air conditioning units were not sufficient to filter pollutants, leaving employees exposed.
High VOC and formaldehyde levels: Due to recent renovations, indoor air quality audits showed dangerous levels of TVOCs (3.30 ppm) and formaldehyde (up to 0.12 ppm in some areas) — both known to cause headaches, fatigue, and long-term health risks.

The BBC needed a cost-effective and efficient solution to improve indoor air quality while working within the constraints of their office layout.

What did Smart Air do?

To tackle the air quality challenges, Smart Air proposed a three-phase air purification strategy that combined ceiling-mounted and standalone air purifiers:

VOC bake-out to reduce chemical pollutants
- VOCs from new furniture and paint can take up to two years to off-gas naturally. To speed up this process, Smart Air conducted a VOC bake-out:
  - Heated office areas to 30ºC for 3-4 days while regularly airing out the space to remove trapped pollutants.
  - Fully ventilated the office after the process to flush out remaining VOCs.

Ceiling-mounted air purifiers for maximum coverage
- Smart Air installed five Blast mini air purifiers in key locations, including:
  - Reception/Admin area
  - Bureau Chief office
  - Large meeting room
  - Newsroom (x2)

This setup delivered 6,000 cubic meters of clean air per hour, reducing PM2.5 levels while minimising noise and floor space usage.

Standalone HEPA purifiers for additional protection
- Smart air provided eight Blast mini purifiers to supplement the ceiling units, ensuring full coverage across all workspaces.
- Two mobile units were stationed outside Live Point and Edit Suite 1 rooms, allowing for easy movement when required.

Staff awareness training on air pollution
- To maximise purifier effectiveness, Smart Air provided a free training session for BBC employees. This covered:
  - The importance of air purification in Beijing's high-pollution environment.
  - Proper operation and maintenance of air purifiers, including filter changes.

This ensured staff could actively maintain clean air in their workspace.

Implementation: a science backed approach to clean air

The BBC office installed a hybrid solution of ceiling-mounted and portable purifiers, featuring:

H13 HEPA filters to remove 99.97% of PM2.5 particles.
Activated carbon filters to absorb VOCs, formaldehyde, and odours.
Portable and scalable units that could be repositioned as needed.

Was the result achieved?

After implementation, Smart Air conducted routine air quality audits to measure the effectiveness of the solution. The data was clear:

PM2.5 levels reduced by over 80%: Indoor air quality significantly improved, providing employees with healthier breathing conditions.
Formaldehyde levels dropped by 82%: The VOC bake-out and activated carbon filters effectively neutralised chemical pollutants.
TVOCs reduced by 93%: Ensuring a safer and more comfortable workspace.
Cost-effective and scalable solution: The BBC achieved high air quality without the excessive costs of a centralised HVAC overhaul.
Ongoing maintenance for long-term protection: Smart Air provided a two-year maintenance plan, including filter replacements and quarterly air quality audits to ensure sustained results.

Why choose Smart Air?

Large companies and fast-growing startups like Zomato, BBC, and Auchan have chosen Smart Air over traditional brands because Smart Air is disrupting the market for clean air.

As a social enterprise and certified B Corp, Smart Air was founded on the belief that clean air should not be a luxury good. Traditional air purifier companies often inflate prices by claiming to have patented technology and hiding the simple science behind air purifiers.

Smart Air does things differently.

We publish open-source, open-method scientific tests that reveal the true cost of clean air. By sticking to the basic science, Smart Air designs purifiers that deliver more clean air than major European brands — at just a fraction of the price.