The 3 I’s of Classroom IEQ

Gerald LampingDirector for IAQ

What factors affect the classroom environmental

conditions

The three causes for poor classroom environmental quality

The 3 I’s of IEQ that can affect attendance

1. Invisible ParticlesAerosols Levels in the classroom Airborne particles have the potential to cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, coughing, sneezing, respiratory difficulties and circulatory system problems.

2. Irritant Gases Ventilation Rates in the classroom Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, body odors, and biological contaminants are causes for occupant discomfort and poor health outcomes.

3. Infectious MicrobesCold/Flu virus transmission in the classroomBacterial and Viral respiratory tract infections, particularly of rhinoviruses, are associated with the majority of asthma exacerbations in both children and adults.

Invisible particles + Irritants + Infections = Inflammation process

Sources of the I’s

Infiltration

dust and gases enter from open penetrations

Which is the culprit ???Invisible Particles Irritants InfectionTobacco smoke Gases Colds / sinusitis Pollen Perfumes FluMolds lotions, hair spray, aerosol Poor hygieneCombustion Exhaust Ozone practicesFibersAnimals Dander Chemicals in and out of the classroom markers paints, science suppliesCockroaches Strong Odors Snacks attract pests air fresheners, off gassingDusts Dust Mite Carpet, stuffed animals, Pillows, curtains, air vents chalk, cushions, ‘fluffy’ stuff

Invisible Particles• Tobacco Smoke• Animal dander• Household dust• Insect parts• Pollen• Molds• Combustion by-

products

• Common Reservoirs:– Carpets, pillows,

couches, stuffed animals

Invisible Particles• Tobacco smoke• Pollen• Molds (Ceiling tile, wet carpet, plants,) • Combustion Exhaust (buses, cars)

• Fibers (clothes, Cardboard, Carpets) • Animals Dander (in and out of the classroom)

• Cockroaches (Snacks attract pests, dry floor drains)

• Dusts • Dust Mites

Breathes of Air• The average adult at rest inhales and exhales about one-fourth of a cubic foot of air per minute. That totals something like 388 cubic feet of air in a day.• Along with it comes about 20 billion particles of dirt and other foreign matter (dust).• The nose traps and filters up to 70 percent of these particles that we inhale each day.

Particle Size & Quantity MattersAn increase in 10 micrograms per cubic meter of indoor course particle pollution, there is a 6 % increase in the number of days of cough, wheeze, or chest tightness in asthmatic children.

An increase in 10 micrograms per cubic meter of indoor fine particle pollution there is a 7 % increase in days of wheezing severe enough to limit speech.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine February 2009

Hand Held Particle Counter

Six Channels of Particle Sizes from .3 to 10 Micrometers in diameter

Cleaning Classroom with HEPA type vacuum cleaners

Elementary School Classroom

332

4107

15828

77752119679

157328

3135056

1328927117793

362471

25047

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

1,000,000

10,000,000

0.1 1 10

Particle Size, Micrometers

Classroom Cleanliness B10

15383702

11

336822748

30499354752

83890

24764750

373562

1

10000

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Particle Size in Micrometers

Parti

cle

Qty

pa

rt./c

u. ft

Before

After

Portable IAQ Monitoring CartPaul Marchant, M.S., R.S.Washington State Department of HealthSchool Environmental Health &

Safety - Indoor Air Quality Program

P.O. Box 47825Olympia, Washington 98504-7825(360) 236-3363paul.marchant@doh.wa.govhttp://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/iaq

Portable IAQ Monitoring CartIAQ Sampling Parameters• Carbon Dioxide• Carbon Monoxide• Particulates (6 particle

sizes) 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10 (units in micrometers)

• Temperature• Relative Humidity

Effects of Fine ParticlesA decrease of

10 micrograms per cubic meterof

fine particle outdoor air pollution results in an increase in life expectancy for area residents of

0.7 years

Harvard School of Public Health, January 2009

Classroom Ventilation Requirements

• ASHRAE Standard 62.1– Ventilation Rate Procedure– IAQ Procedure– Outside air source location– Re-entrainment of gases– Water vapor content

Outside Air Pollutant ConcernsU.S. Public Schools in ‘Air Pollution Danger Zone’• The University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have

found that more than 30 percent of American public schools are within 400 meters, or a quarter mile, of major highways that consistently serve as main truck and traffic routes.

• Research has shown that proximity to major highways—and thus environmental pollutants, such as aerosolizing diesel exhaust particles— can leave school-age children more susceptible to respiratory diseases later in life. 08/18/08

Outside Air Pollutant ConcernsThe Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America's SchoolsWhat might be in the air outside your school?• The air outside 435 other schools — from Maine to California

— appears to be even worse, and the threats to the health of students at those locations may be even greater. The 435 schools that ranked worst weren't confined to industrial centers. Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania had the highest numbers, but the worst schools extended from the East Coast to the West, in 170 cities across 34 states, USA TODAY found.

• At thousands of locations, the model used by USA TODAY indicated that the air outside schools appeared far more toxic than the air in the neighborhoods where the kids lived. At 16,500 schools, the air outside appeared at least twice as toxic as the air at a typical location in the school district. 01/13/09

Air Tests Reveal Elevated Levelsof Toxics Around Schools

• Using the government's most up-to-date model for tracking toxic chemicals, USA TODAY spent eight months examining the impact of industrial pollution on the air outside schools across the nation.

• The result: a ranking of 127,800 public, private and parochial schools based on the concentrations and health hazards of chemicals likely to be in the air outside.

• The potential problems that emerged were widespread, insidious and largely unaddressed

ASHRAE 62.1-2007 Outside Air Contaminants

• Particles; 10 Microns and 2.5 Microns• Pollen, Spores, other Allergens• Ozone; STD 62.1-2007 Sect 6.2.1 OA Treatment

• Water Vapor• Other Gases; Sewer, Boiler Gas, Industrial• Chemical and Biological Threats

IAQ Contaminant Modeling

Contaminant Concentrationmg/m3 [ppm]

formaldehyde 0.12 [0.098]

TVOC 1.0

acetone 7 [3]

ammonia 0.5 [0.7]

hydrogen sulfide 0.042 [0.030]

methyl alcohol 1.5 [1.2]

phenol 0.1 [0.03]

• Target Concentration Limits used in analyzing results

(continued)

Contaminant Concentrationmg/m3 [ppm]

carbon monoxide 10 [9]

nitrogen dioxide 0.10 [0.053]

ozone 0.16 [0.08]

sulfur dioxide 0.079 [0.03]

Gas Phase Filtration Media

• Media is a combination of activated carbon, and

• an activated alumina substrate impregnated with sodium permanganate.

• By using these media in combination, the removal of all odors is achieved.

Gas Phase Filtration Process

• CHEMISORPTION• ADSORPTION

– Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)– Potassium Permanganate Alumina (PIA)

• DUAL METHOD APPROACH– NEISD Bond Projects

2003 Bond Additions• The four Elementary School additions of

the ’03 Bond used gas-phase air filtration in accordance to the 62.1 IAQ Procedure.

• OA flows for the four additions were reduced from 41,856 CFM to 14,375 CFM.

• Total OA reduction of 27,480 CFM.

2003 Bond Schools• The two new Middle

Schools and one High School were designed to used gas-phase air filtration in classroom HVAC in accordance with the 62.1 IAQ Procedure.

• OA flows for each Middle School were reduced by 14,425 Cubic Feet/Minute.

Total VOC levels reduced from 60 ppm in Girls Dance Studio to less than 25 ppm using gas phase filters in the Air Handling Unit for the Studio

VOC removal after Construction Activities

Air Quality Health Alerts

• Ozone pollution• Particle Pollution

AIRNOW Websitewww.epa.gov/air

Ozone Pollution

Unsealed Penetrations

Contaminated air flows through unsealed penetrations for pipe, conduit and duct into the return air conveyance system of HVAC

Classroom Cleanliness Rules

Tips for a Healthy Classroom• Be aware of Asthma and Allergy triggers• Be able to clean room in 20 minutes• Do not use deodorizing sprays and plugins• Do not have fleecy items that harbor mites• Do not keep permanent animals• Report moisture intrusions and spills• Use hand wipes twice a day• Additional tips

Increase in Attendance

Student Attendance Rates are up 0.6% from the prior year

The Goal• Provide healthy &

productive indoor environments

• Suitable for “most people”• Indoor Environment=

“Invisible”• Cost efficient• Energy efficient• Durable

Healthy School BuildingEPA Tools for Schools Toolkit

www.epa.gov/iaq/schools

ASHRAE Std 62.1-2007 and AddendaVentilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

www.ashrae.org

EnerSave IAQ Analysis

www.purafil.com

CDC Asthma Friendly School Toolkit

www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/asthma/index.htm

ASBO InternationalEnvironmental Resource Center

www.asbointl.org

Maintenance ActionsCarpet RemovalGreen CleaningCustodial TrainingCleaning EfficiencyEMC CommissioningHEPA Filter VacuumsDrying EquipmentEarth Retainer Blocks

Carpet Removal Program

Replaced over 30,000 square feet of carpet with new VCT tile over the 2008 summer

Green Cleaning

Cleaning Chemicals Cleaning Chemicals and and

Dispensing Systems Dispensing Systems that do not contain that do not contain harmful ingredients harmful ingredients

and vaporsand vapors

Custodial Training

Honors™ School & University Custodial Program by Buckeye

Cleaning EfficiencyRemoval of teachers’ personal items and resource materials reduced the work effort to clear out a room prior to the actual cleaning effort by the custodians

EMCS CommissioningReviewing the HVAC Control Sequences to assure operations of AC systems is correct and not contributing to high energy bills

HEPA Vacuums The vacuum cleaner

must not release dust particles by keeping dirt and dust locked tight in the vacuum and not escaping back into the air where it can be breathed.

Drying Equipment

Rug FansDehumidifiers

Humidity MetersMoisture Meters

Earth Retainer Block Repair

Damaged Earth Retainer Blocks around perimeter of building allow storm water and animals to get access under the building