Ventilation needs in schools, nurseries, and public spaces

Developing countries that face severe pollution issues -such as India- are clear that, during episodes of increased pollution, children should not go outside and even should not attend school if good air purification and renewal cannot be guaranteed. Indeed, children are one of the at-risk groups regarding air quality -along with our elderly and individuals with respiratory issues- so that ventilation in schools and air renewal in nurseries and other public centers must be carried out with more care than in other places.

However, some schools in Europe face serious problems with this. According to a study by the Dutch government, nearly 70% of European schools experience periods where CO2 levels exceed acceptable limits. The issue stems from poorly installed ventilation systems and, in older facilities, the complete lack of an air renewal circuit.

Being able to eliminate the stale air generated in enclosed spaces is vital in a place inhabited by children, where, without proper ventilation, viruses and bacteria could easily spread. Moreover, poor-quality air negatively affects the health and performance of young people, which is why having a mechanical ventilation system is essential in schools.

The benefits of ventilation in schools and nurseries focus on achieving greater energy efficiency, but they also provide the following improvements for students:

• Fewer health problems and infections.
• Reduced absenteeism by minimizing colds.
• Greater concentration and a more relaxed environment due to good air quality.
• Better academic performance.

In Spain, the Regulations for Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE) sets requirements since 2008 concerning the need for mechanical ventilation in schools. It is not enough in our country to open windows to eliminate stale or lower-quality air, and it is necessary to automate air removal and renewal systems to ensure the health of students and school staff.

The obligation of the RITE arises from the counterproductive and harmful effects that simply relying on opening windows can produce, as in cities -where there are more schools and higher occupancy- this causes the entry of contaminating particles such as ultrafine PM2.5, along with emissions from diesel combustion vehicles. The air must be filtered so that children breathe better.

Requirements and options for ventilation in schools

Additionally, the regulations now also consider the outside air quality, requiring schools to be built in areas with good outdoor air quality. The materials used must also be those that do not generate pollutants and enhance air quality. The filters clean both particles and gases and other volatile organic compounds.

On the other hand, energy efficiency is also very important in ventilation in schools, as it can help reduce pollution in cities.

The ventilation systems in schools, nurseries, and other educational centers are usually single-zone or multi-zone. The first dedicates a single fan to one room, while the latter can operate in multiple rooms with a single fan.