Indoor Air Quality in Naturally Ventilated Classrooms. Lessons Learned from a Case Study in a COVID-19 Scenario

Alberto Meiss, Héctor Jimeno-Merino, Irene Poza-Casado, Alfredo Llorente-Álvarez and Miguel Ángel Padilla-Marcos
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Alberto Meiss: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
Héctor Jimeno-Merino: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
Irene Poza-Casado: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
Alfredo Llorente-Álvarez: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
Miguel Ángel Padilla-Marcos: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid, 47014 Valladolid, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: This paper describes the implementation of a series of ventilation strategies in a nursery and primary school from September 2020, when the government decided to resume the students’ face-to-face activity in the middle of a COVID scenario. Air quality and hygrothermal comfort conditions were analysed before the pandemic and compared for different ventilation configurations in a post-COVID scenario. Ventilation strategies included the protocols issued by the Public Administration, while others were developed based on the typological configuration and use of the school. Results revealed that it is advisable to implement certain strategies that reduce the risk of infection among the occupants of the spaces, without a significant decrease in hygrothermal comfort. Given the importance of maintaining better IAQ in the future within classrooms, and regarding the pre-COVID situation, these strategies may be extended beyond this pandemic period, through a simple protocol and necessary didactic package to be assumed by both teachers and students of the centre.

Keywords: indoor air quality; COVID-19; educational buildings; natural ventilation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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