School Classroom Air Quality Project

In 2008 the Dutch government ascertained that the quality of the indoor environment in primary schools could be improved. The concerns were mainly related to air quality during the heating season, temperatures in classrooms during the summer and annoying noises. Also acting on behalf of her colleagues at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Minister of Spatial Planning and the Environment asked the Health Council of the Netherlands what is known about how children’s health and cognitive performance are affected by the indoor environment in schools.
 

1. Causes and Effects of Sick Schools Vary

Students who attend schools in districts that do not correct conditions that pose potential health risks might eventually pay a high price for the districts' inaction. The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that exposure to hazardous elements inside schools is expected to cause serious illnesses over time. The agency estimates that at least 1,000 people will die prematurely from exposure to asbestos in schools. It also estimates another 4 million children may be exposed to uncontrolled hazardous waste sites or spills because they live within 1 mile of a hazardous waste site.

There are now numerous scientific studies that document that the lack of proper ventilation can impair student performance poor ventilation can also increase the effective read of viruses that lead to increased absentee rates which in turn may directly affect school operational funding. For the latest studies on schools and ventilation go to:http://eetd.lbl.gov/ied/sfrb/vent-school.html. The value of CO2 measurements is that you can constantly monitor and control ventilation levels to
ensure student health and productivity.

2. POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY = POOR CONCENTRATION

The most common environmental problem reported by schools is poor indoor air quality, or poor ventilation. A 1996 European study of 800 students from eight different schools documents a reduction in mental ability caused by poor indoor air quality. The study was presented at the Seventh International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate in 1996. That study and others are now linking performance to changes in indoor air quality, according to the EPA. Poor ventilation generally reduces a person's ability to perform specific mental tasks requiring concentration, calculation, or memory and therefore affects academic achievement, the study reports.Another consequence of poor ventilation in school buildings is high rates of carbon dioxide, which is not a health threat but does indicate poor ventilation and therefore high rates of indoor air pollution. Carbon dioxide is primarily generated by exhalation from people inside the building, according to the EPA. Student scores on concentration tests were low in classrooms with high rates of carbon dioxide. With proper ventilation and improved management of indoor air quality, student performance improves, the EPA states.

Overcrowding also exacerbates the problem of indoor air quality in buildings with poor ventilation. The National Education Association reports that schools have four times as many occupants per square foot as office buildings. The NEA also notes that many school ventilation systems were not constructed to accommodate significant increases in student population.

3. For Student Health Consider CO2 Control

CO2 monitoring can ensure that acceptable levels of ventilation for the health and welfare of students and teachers is maintained at all times.CO2 levels can provide a direct indication of the CFM per person ventilation rate in school classrooms and can provide an ongoing indication if code required ventilation ratesare being maintained. As a result, readings can immediately indicate problems and historical records of concentrations can be used to document acceptable performance of the ventilation system. CO2 sensors are much more cost effective than active airflow monitoring of outdoor intakes.

4.Implementing CO2 Control

Demand Controlled Ventilation using CO2 sensors is now a common method of ensuring a building is providing cost- effective ventilation while maximizing indoor air quality. It also is seen as an ideal continuous monitoring tool because CO2 readings will almost immediately indicate unusual levels if equipment is broken or malfunctioning. In fact most building control systems, packaged rooftop systems and unit ventilators built in the past 5-7 years can accept CO2 sensor inputs. This means that the cost of implementation may be fairly low and could be performed by existing school repair and maintenance staff. Tongdy offers a family of zero maintenance, self-calibrating CO2 sensors that are compatible with all building control systems. To find out more about Tongdy’s CO2 products click on this link:
http://www.tongdy.com/english/pro_info.asp?id=42

Tongdy CO2 Sensors In Schools
Thousands of Tongdy CO2 sensors have been installation in school districts throughout the
Netherlands and Belgium and United Kingdom. Tongdy is known for its zero maintenance, self-
calibrating sensor. If you are involved in a school project and would like to talk to another district
facilities manager or contractor who has used Tongdy CO2 sensors in their project, please
contact Tongdy at +8610-58731276 for references.