school

Long-term monitoring of radon, aerosol and carbon dioxide concentrations was carried out in two Finnish public buildings. In each case, a distinct periodic behaviour of pollutant concentrations was observed. CO2 and aerosol showed maxima during the working hours, but the fluctuations of the aerosol concentration were faster and more irregular. The radon concentration peaked at night and on weekends, dropping off rapidly in the working day mornings when ventilation was turned on.

This paper describes the results of a study of the indoor climate at 11 Danish schools. The investigation shows how the pupils themselves experience the indoor climate and indicates, for example, the relationship between the volume of outdoor air supplied per pupil and the pupils' evaluation of the quality of the air in the classroom.

The British Gas 'Autovent' system utilises the constant concentration technique and was developed for measuring ventilation rates in dwellings. It has recently been used in two large open-plan buildings, a school nursery and a factory unit, and the opportunity was taken to carry out special tests to assess its validity in such buildings. The reason why these tests were needed, the nature of the tests and the results obtained form the main content of the paper. The evidence from the tests strongly indicates that the system is suitable.

An account is given of what the kindergarten staff wrongly believed caused the problems and what measures they carried out in an attempt to solve them. On the spot measurements showed however what the real main cause of the problems was. Results from the comprehensive measurements of CO2 concentrations andother ventilation performance criteria in a room occupied by 12 children and 3adults are then presented.

Due to better insulation and improved airtightness of doors and windows, the supply of fresh air entering a room has been greatly reduced. This in turn causes an increase in the amount of pollutants emitted by different insulation and building materials. Measurements of the formaldehyde concentration in newbuildings have shown that the admissible limits are still exceeded even after a year. Stricter regulations limiting the emissions of pollutants are therefore urgently necessary.

The U.S. EPA initiated an indoor air monitoring program in 1982, concentrating on commercial or public-access buildings (homes for the elderly, schools, and office buildings). Several buildings from each category are sampled over 2-3 day peri

Data on energy use was compiled for 223 retrofitted US commercial buildings and analysed for average savings, average retrofit costs, correlation between cost and savings, type of retrofit attempted etc. Dominant building types were schools and offices. Nearly all buildings included operations and maintenance changes as part of the retrofit. 89% of the buildings which saved energy by retrofitting achieved a payback (simple) in less than 3 years. 9% of the buildings failed to save (generally because of improper maintenance). Average savings for the entire sample were 20%.

Describes a test carried out in the Fridley, MN, Junior High School Music Dept. to obtain air quality, energy and subjective response data on an Automatic Variable Ventilation System. Devises a control system with both CO2 and temperature inputs to control the use of outdoor air. Infiltration measurements lead to a quantitative measure of ventilation efficiency, which in turn lead to recommendations for air circulation patterns in rooms. The measured ventilation efficiency enables energy and CO2 models to fit measured data. Finds energy savings of approx. 20% in this application.

Assesses the indoor air quality at Oakland Gardens Elementary School in New York City under 3 different ventilation rates. Uses a mobile laboratory to monitor air quality in 2 classrooms, a hallway and outdoors. Parameters measured include air exchange rates, particulates, odour perception, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, radon, formaldehyde and total aldehydes. When the ventilation rate is reduced, carbon dioxide concentrations increase significantly, but do not exceed current occupational standards.

The heating system of a Junior High School in Minnesota has been re-equipped with a CO2-controlled variable ventilation system. The outdoor air dampers remain fully closed whenever the CO2 concentration is below a specified setpoint. During the early months of 1980, the system operated in alternate periods under the conventilanal temperature-driven control strategy and the experimental CO2-driven control strategy.