Investigation and Evaluation of Winter Indoor Air Quality of Primary Schools in Severe Cold Weather Areas of China

Fusheng Ma, Changhong Zhan and Xiaoyang Xu
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Fusheng Ma: School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology and Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Changhong Zhan: School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology and Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Xiaoyang Xu: Construction Technology Research Institute, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: The indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms has attracted more and more attention. Unfortunately, there is limited information relating to IAQ in the primary schools in severe cold weather areas of China. In this study, a field investigation on the IAQ of a primary school of Shenyang in northeast China was carried out by physical measurements and questionnaire surveys. The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration in selected classrooms was continuously measured for a week, and the corresponding ventilation rate was calculated. Meanwhile, the perceptions of the IAQ, the purpose and the comfort degree of window opening have also been recorded from 106 pupils, aged 9–12. The results indicate the ventilation rate is considerably inadequate in about 99% of the class time due to the low frequency of window opening. The average daily CO 2 concentration in these classrooms is 1510–3863 ppm, which is far higher than the recommended value of 1000 ppm. Most pupils understand that the purpose of opening windows in winter is to improve air quality. However, there are big differences between the measurement results and subjective judgments of indoor air quality. Contrary to the high measured CO 2 concentration, around 70% pupils consider the air fresh, and only 3.7% pupils are dissatisfied and even very dissatisfied with IAQ in their classroom. It is necessary to change the existing manual window opening mode, because the pupils’ subjective judgment affects the window opening behavior.

Keywords: severe cold areas; primary school; natural ventilation; IAQ; carbon dioxide; ventilation rate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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