Indoor Air Quality in Schools
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- This information is available in PDF in English.
Improving Indoor Air Quality in Schools
School indoor environments can include a number of problems that can impact health, attendance, and performance. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is affected by several factors, many of them directly related to building operations and maintenance. Problems leading to poor IAQ include inadequate ventilation, intrusion of outdoor pollutants into the building, mold from inadequate moisture control, allergens in dust and from rodents and cockroaches, inadequate control of chemical contamination, and improper cleaning practices.
Take Action
Visual Assessment
Increase Ventilation Rate
- Increase outdoor air supply.
- Check that doors, windows, fans, and vents are free of obstructions and working properly.
- Verify that air is coming into and exhausting out of classrooms.
Increase HVAC Filter Efficiency
- Upgrade air filters and replace regularly.
- Use the highest Minimal Efficiency Rating Value (MERV) rating compatible with your mechanical system.
Supplement with Portable Air Filters
- Portable air filters are cost effective and widely available.
- Portable air filters can be easily placed and relocated to improve air quality in classrooms and other indoor spaces. Check manufacturers specifications to select the right-sized unit for the room.
- The New York State Departments of Education and Health do not recommend ionization air cleaners.
Help Students by Improving Indoor Air Quality
- Reduce asthma symptoms
- Reduce transmission of COVID, Flu, and other respiratory viruses
- Improve student health, performance, and school attendance
- Remove particles, including dust and mold
- Remove chemicals, including VOCs and some odors
More Information
Infographics
Checklists
Walkthrough Inspections Backgrounders & Checklists from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Webinars and Presentations
Additional Resources
NYS Resources for Schools
Other Resources for Schools
- Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools. This US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) webpage provides links to best practices, understanding the benefits of indoor air quality, healthy school renovations, training, managing indoor air quality, and connecting to other programs.
- Indoor Air Quality/Ventilation. This fact sheet from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discusses the impact of poor indoor air quality on students and staff and the role of ventilation in addressing this concern.
- Improve Academic Performance Through Better Indoor Air Quality in Schools. Learn how indoor air quality can impact student health and test scores with these resources compiled by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Student Health and Academic Performance: Quick Reference Guide. Brief reference guide by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighting the importance of having a healthy learning environment for students.
- Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades. A US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide to help school facility managers, energy managers, risk managers, building operators, and school administrators to collaboratively manage the relationships between energy efficiency upgrade activities and indoor air quality in schools.
- Radon in Schools. Information pertaining to exposure, testing, and reduction of radon in schools.
- School IAQ Assessment Mobile App. A mobile guide from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist in the completion of a school walkthrough, submit assessment checklists, and help track and prioritize IAQ-related follow-up actions.
- Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems, Part of Indoor Air Quality Design Tools for Schools. Find tools from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for how to design a quality, cost-efficient HVAC system.
- Building Commissioning, Part of Indoor Air Quality Design Tools for Schools. A US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) resource on the benefits of commissioning school HVAC systems and how to go about it.
- Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners & Facility Managers. Information from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on preventing, identifying, and correcting indoor air quality problems.
NYS Resources for Home
