ASHRAE Studies Impact of IAQ on Classroom Performance

Is it possible that Johnny can’t read because Johnny can’t breathe? Upper respiratory tract infections account for most short-term absenteeism in schools, while allergy, asthma and symptoms of sick building syndrome contribute to longer absences. Absenteeism clearly affects school performance.

Appropriate classroom design and operation can reduce symptom severity and incidence of complaints among children, according to published data. “Improving classroom ventilation can thus be expected to reduce the incidence of such symptoms and therefore reduce absenteeism, increasing school performance,” said David Wyon, Ph.D, one of the principal investigators of an up-and-coming study on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). The research, being conducted by the American Association of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), will help determine whether indoor air quality conditions in classrooms are negatively impacting children’s health and their performance in school. ASHRAE approved funding for eight research projects in the areas of indoor air quality, comfort and health, energy conservation, operating and maintenance tools, environmentally safe materials and design tools at its 2003 Annual Meeting held in late June.

One of the projects focuses on Indoor Environmental Effects on the Performance of School Work by Children. The project, sponsored by ASHRAE Physiology and Human Environment committee, is expected to take two years. Research has shown that office work by adults is negatively affected by poor air quality as well. Work is improved by removing the source of indoor air pollution or by increasing outdoor air supply.

It also has been found that temperatures in classrooms impact the performance of children. Wyon, a main researcher on the project, said, “The current concern is that outside air ventilation rates per person are known to be low in classrooms, mainly due to an overemphasis on reducing installation and operation costs.” He continued, “The resulting low air quality may be negatively affecting school performance.”