Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort of Primary Schools in Winter in a Mediterranean Climate

Abstract

Research studies have shown the potential effects of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) on pupils’ health and academic performance. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted renewed interest in the assessment of deficient indoor air quality (IAQ) conditions in schools and has become a priority over achieving adequate comfort conditions. Scientific studies confirm aerosols as one of the transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 so that the possibility of airborne transmission increases in indoor environments with high occupancy, such as classrooms. As a result, international protocols and guidelines have established a requirement for educational buildings to over-ventilate with a fresh outdoor air supply. The main object of this work is to analyse the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on thermal comfort and indoor air quality, in winter, in two classrooms of southern Spain. Thus, onsite measurements of environmental variables were conducted before and during the pandemic. Both classrooms have mechanical ventilation systems as they are within a recently built primary school (2018). Results shows a decrease of 300 ppm in CO2 weekly average values during the pandemic, when hybrid ventilation is used, and a decrease of 400 ppm when schools are naturally ventilated during all teaching hours. However, the analysis of standards shows that over 60% of hours are thermal discomfort conditions.

Practical Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in Kindergartens. A Case Study of Slovenia

“…With the COVID-19 outbreak, humanity has been facing challenges, which have had an impact on every aspect of society, health, economy, culture, etc. Changes due to COVID-19 have also had environmental impacts on air quality and pollution [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], indoor air quality in schools [ 4 , 5 ], energy consumption [ 6 ] and on the built environment [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…A currently accessible published study on indoor air quality and thermal comfort in the context of COVID-19 in a primary school in a region with a Mediterranean climate [ 4 ] shows that ventilation protocols provide good results in terms of IAQ conditions, but not in relation to IEQ conditions, which are influenced by thermal comfort. The study is based on the analysis of the measured parameters in a new school which used a hybrid model (mechanical and natural ventilation) during the pandemic.…”

COVID-19, a double-edged sword for the environment: a review on the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment

“…The results showed that the concentrations of CO 2 decreased around 36% on average due to the COVID pandemic. Furthermore, this study showed that using hybrid ventilation during the pandemic resulted in a decrease of 300 ppm in CO 2 weekly average concentrations and a reduction of 400 ppm with natural ventilation during all school hours (Alonso et al 2021).…”

On the Built-Environment Quality in Nearly Zero-Energy Renovated Schools: Assessment and Impact of Passive Strategies

“…Bogdanovica et al [35] analyzed the CO 2 concentration in a secondary school in Latvia, coupling measurement and a pupil survey; they observed an inverse correlation between the CO 2 concentration level and the pupils' performance. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic measures on thermal comfort and IAQ conditions in Mediterranean classrooms was studied in [36]. The environmental monitoring carried out before and during the pandemic in two classrooms demonstrated that the "emergency" ventilation protocols provided good IAQ conditions with a decrease in CO 2 concentrations; conversely, effects on thermal discomfort conditions were also registered.…”