Air Quality

Indoor air quality is vitally important to schools today. Nothing less than the health of the students and staff are at stake. For years, news reports, scientific inquiries, and educational efforts have communicated the symptoms, causes, and solutions of indoor air quality problems.

Effects on Learning Conditions

Indoor pollutants such as chemical toxins and biological agents can create significant health risks and adverse learning conditions. Pollutants can affect a range of body systems and impact health, learning, productivity, and self-esteem. Health effects can be both transient and long-term, and may not affect all of classroom occupants in the same way. Symptoms range from mild discomfort and the perception of bothersome odors to severe illness and permanent injury. Health effects include increased rates of infectious diseases (e.g., influenza and the common cold), eye and respiratory irritation, allergies and asthma, chronic sinusitis, headaches, and an array of other respiratory diseases. Environmental factors such as light quality, acoustics, and overcrowding may also contribute to, or create, similar problems.

Strategies to Improve Air Quality

School districts have the power to control their indoor air quality. Because of the diverse range of pollutant sources and the potentially high costs of corrective actions, schools should focus on prevention. Many no-cost and low-cost approaches are available to prevent problems. The key elements are:

Maintenance
Maintenance practices are key to preventing indoor air quality problems. Regularly inspecting and maintaining HVAC systems ensures adequate ventilation rates. Cleaning up spills and moisture avoids mold and microbial growth. Regular carpet and floor cleanings minimize surface dust. Also, integrated pest management techniques minimize the use of toxic materials.

Proper Siting
This minimizes exterior sources of pollution and keeps air intakes away from pollutant sources such as parking lots or building exhaust vents.

Appropriate materials
Pollutants can be eliminated at the source by using low-emitting, nontoxic building materials. Pressed wood products (particle board), carpets, paints, adhesives, furniture, and wall-coverings have all traditionally contained toxins. In today's market, low-emitting alternatives are available for most building and finishing materials.

Effectively Designed and Commissioned Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
The building code specifies minimum ventilation rates for schools. Ventilation is critical to removing indoor pollutants from the classroom. Unfortunately, many schools never meet these guidelines. A 1995 California Energy Commission report found that schools consistently had sub-standard ventilation rates, and 1 in 3 classrooms were ventilated at less than half the legal minimums.

Read more abou the design issues relevant to ensuring superior indoor air quality in the CHPS Best Practices Manual Design for High Performance Schools.