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KMID : 1156220200460030344
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Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
2020 Volume.46 No. 3 p.344 ~ p.352
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Evaluation of Carbon Dioxide Concentrations and Ventilation Rates in Elementary, Middle, and High Schools
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Choe Young-Tae
Heo Jung
Park Jin-Hyeon
Kim Eun-Chae
Ryu Hyoen-Su
Kim Dong-Jun
Cho Man-Su
Lee Chae-Kwan
Lee Jong-Dae
Yang Won-Ho
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Abstract
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Objectives: Much attention has been paid to indoor air quality. Ventilation within schools is important because of indoor air quality and its effect on health and learning performance. In this study, we evaluated the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and ventilation rates in schools.
Methods: This study measured the concentration of CO2 in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms over six months. The seasons during the study were summer, fall, and winter. Sensor-based monitoring was used and the basic characteristics of the classroom were investigated. The body surface area of the students was used to calculate the CO2 generation rate, and the air change per hour (ACH) was evaluated using mass balance modeling.
Results: The average CO2 concentration measured in most schools exceeded 1000 ppm. The ventilation rates varied from season to season. Compared to the recommended ventilation rate of 4.9 ACH, the roughly 3 ACH calculated in this study indicates that most schools possessed insufficient ventilation.
Conclusions: The concentration of CO2 in school classrooms could be an indicator of indoor air quality and can affect students' learning ability. In this study, CO2 concentrations exceeding the standard indicate a lack of ventilation along with problems with indoor air quality. Therefore, appropriate improvements are needed to overcome these problems.
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KEYWORD
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School, classroom, carbon dioxide, ventilation rate, air change per hour
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