More
often than not, when people think of proper facilities for elementary and high
school students, the focus understandably is on such things as teachers, furniture, and equipment. People considering good
schools for primary and secondary students do not often think about or
contemplate air quality in schools. The stark reality is that the quality of
air in schools has a direct impact on student performance.
Clean
Indoor Air and Student Health and Performance
Air
quality and ventilation in school buildings are vital to student health and
performance. School HVAC systems can either enhance the overall environment for students or they can contribute to
a dangerous deterioration of air quality. A deterioration in air quality
because of an ineffective HVAC system jeopardizes student health and
performance. The ways in which a less than ideal HVAC system deteriorates air
quality, student health, and student performance include:
·
increased particulate matter
·
increased volatile organic compounds
·
increased toxic materials of other types
·
moisture intrusion
·
mold problems
Materials
that degrade air in a school building result in a myriad of problems for
students. These include:
·
respiratory issues
·
visual disorders
·
memory impairment
·
skin problems
·
concentration issues
·
lethargy
Classroom
Deficiencies
Research
and analysis has revealed that many classrooms in schools in the United States
lack mechanical ventilation. In other words, these classrooms only get any air
circulation via open windows, when seasonally possible, and open doors. The
bottom line is that classrooms lack appropriate ventilation and circulation.
This results in the quality of air in a typical classroom being rated as poor
or even extremely poor.
Sick
Building Syndrome
A startling number of students in elementary and high schools are considered to
have faced what is known as sick building syndrome. Sick building syndrome is a
recognized medical condition. People with this illness become ill in different
ways because of unhealthy air in a building.
Symptoms
of sick building syndrome include:
·
headache
·
eye irritation
·
nose irritation
·
throat irritation
·
fatigue
·
dizziness
·
nausea
When
a student is afflicted with sick building syndrome he or she sees a marked
deterioration in his or her academic performance. Of course, the symptoms of
sick building syndrome that has just been outlined for consideration can be
distracting when it comes to the educational process.
In
addition, fatigue renders a person mentally far less focused that is the case
when a student is sharp in his or her perceptions and acuity. This renders a
student's academic performance to be significantly impacted in a truly negative
manner.
There
is one fairly widespread misperception associated with sick building syndrome.
This is that these symptoms persist only when a person is in a building with
issues like poor ventilation.
In
fact, when a student is afflicted with sick building syndrome, he or she
suffers the consequences of that condition not only when it a school but also
during times when a student is not in the classroom. Despite breaks in direct
contact with the environment of a school building, a student spends a good part
of his or her life inside the school. As a result, periods of time out of the
building during the course of a school year is not sufficient to result in a
notable recovery from the ill effects of a poorly ventilated, generally unhealth
school. Only when there is a more extended break from classroom attendance does
a student begin to experience some true relief from sick building syndrome.
Remedying
Poor Air Quality in Schools
The only true way in which air quality can be improved in schools is to undertake
some fairly drastic measures. As noted previously, one of the prime reasons air
quality in many schools is so poor is because of limitations in mechanical
ventilation. As a result, there simply is not an appropriate level or
ventilation in a school, leaving air quality in a building poor. Thus, one of
the fundamental steps that need to be taken to improve poor air quality in a
school, and hence improve student performance, is to install mechanical air
circulation and ventilation devices for all parts of a school, including
classrooms.
In
the process of upping ventilation, air quality, and student performance can be
enhanced through the installation of HVAC air cleaning systems. While this is a
financial investment, the rewards are real. This type of enhancement will
benefit the health and wellbeing of students. In addition, it will benefit the
health and wellbeing of teachers and staff as well.
This
can prove to be a financially wise investment. When the air quality in a school is
improved, a school or school district has teachers and staff that take less
time off as a result of some type of illness. In other words, adding an air
cleaning system is an investment that ends up paying for itself through a
decrease in faculty and staff absences.
In
the final analysis, the importance of healthy air in a school must not be
minimized. Not only does good air quality enhance a student's physical health,
but it also works to ensure that a student's performance is optimal.
For for information on an onsite safety analysis see Advanceonline.com
For for information on an onsite safety analysis see Advanceonline.com
