A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Building characteristics, indoor environmental quality, and mathematics achievement in Finnish elementary schools
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6425-9116
Abstract Objective To study indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in elementary school buildings and its association with students’ learning outcomes. Methods Measurements of ventilation rates and temperatures were recorded during school days in 108 classrooms in 60 schools in the spring and summer of 2007; background information on 3514 school buildings was retrieved from the Finnish population register. Data on school environment and students’ health were collected by questionnaires from 4248 students as well as from 1154 school principals. Results from a national student achievement assessment program were used to assess learning. Results Upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems correlated significantly with airflow measurement, ventilation rate per student and per area, and mean temperature (r s = 0.642, r s = 0.654, r s = 0.647 and r s = −0.325 &r = 0.481, r = 0.483, r = 0.574, r = −0.271 respectively). The ventilation rate per student correlated with the number of students in classrooms (r s = −0.360 &r = −0.387) and mean temperature (r s = −0.333 &r = 0.393). Only schools with a mechanical supply and exhaust type of ventilation met the recommended ventilation rate per student of 6 l/s per person. An association was found between lower mathematics test results and schools that did not meet the recommended ventilation rate. Conclusion Ventilation is associated with thermal comfort and students’ learning outcomes. The ventilation system requires scheduled maintenance or replacement as well as ongoing ventilation adjustment to accommodate the number of students at any one time.
Highlights Students in classrooms fulfilling the required ventilation rate (6 l/s per person) had higher mathematics test results. Ventilation rates were also associated with both perceived air quality and thermal comfort among students. Some 52% of the classrooms with fully mechanical ventilation met the current standards, whereas all other classrooms failed. Other factors related to ventilation adequacy were HVAC upgrade and number of students in classrooms. The results did not indicate a need to increase ventilation rate above the current standards.
Building characteristics, indoor environmental quality, and mathematics achievement in Finnish elementary schools
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6425-9116
Abstract Objective To study indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in elementary school buildings and its association with students’ learning outcomes. Methods Measurements of ventilation rates and temperatures were recorded during school days in 108 classrooms in 60 schools in the spring and summer of 2007; background information on 3514 school buildings was retrieved from the Finnish population register. Data on school environment and students’ health were collected by questionnaires from 4248 students as well as from 1154 school principals. Results from a national student achievement assessment program were used to assess learning. Results Upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems correlated significantly with airflow measurement, ventilation rate per student and per area, and mean temperature (r s = 0.642, r s = 0.654, r s = 0.647 and r s = −0.325 &r = 0.481, r = 0.483, r = 0.574, r = −0.271 respectively). The ventilation rate per student correlated with the number of students in classrooms (r s = −0.360 &r = −0.387) and mean temperature (r s = −0.333 &r = 0.393). Only schools with a mechanical supply and exhaust type of ventilation met the recommended ventilation rate per student of 6 l/s per person. An association was found between lower mathematics test results and schools that did not meet the recommended ventilation rate. Conclusion Ventilation is associated with thermal comfort and students’ learning outcomes. The ventilation system requires scheduled maintenance or replacement as well as ongoing ventilation adjustment to accommodate the number of students at any one time.
Highlights Students in classrooms fulfilling the required ventilation rate (6 l/s per person) had higher mathematics test results. Ventilation rates were also associated with both perceived air quality and thermal comfort among students. Some 52% of the classrooms with fully mechanical ventilation met the current standards, whereas all other classrooms failed. Other factors related to ventilation adequacy were HVAC upgrade and number of students in classrooms. The results did not indicate a need to increase ventilation rate above the current standards.
Building characteristics, indoor environmental quality, and mathematics achievement in Finnish elementary schools
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6425-9116
Abstract Objective To study indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in elementary school buildings and its association with students’ learning outcomes. Methods Measurements of ventilation rates and temperatures were recorded during school days in 108 classrooms in 60 schools in the spring and summer of 2007; background information on 3514 school buildings was retrieved from the Finnish population register. Data on school environment and students’ health were collected by questionnaires from 4248 students as well as from 1154 school principals. Results from a national student achievement assessment program were used to assess learning. Results Upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems correlated significantly with airflow measurement, ventilation rate per student and per area, and mean temperature (r s = 0.642, r s = 0.654, r s = 0.647 and r s = −0.325 &r = 0.481, r = 0.483, r = 0.574, r = −0.271 respectively). The ventilation rate per student correlated with the number of students in classrooms (r s = −0.360 &r = −0.387) and mean temperature (r s = −0.333 &r = 0.393). Only schools with a mechanical supply and exhaust type of ventilation met the recommended ventilation rate per student of 6 l/s per person. An association was found between lower mathematics test results and schools that did not meet the recommended ventilation rate. Conclusion Ventilation is associated with thermal comfort and students’ learning outcomes. The ventilation system requires scheduled maintenance or replacement as well as ongoing ventilation adjustment to accommodate the number of students at any one time.
Highlights Students in classrooms fulfilling the required ventilation rate (6 l/s per person) had higher mathematics test results. Ventilation rates were also associated with both perceived air quality and thermal comfort among students. Some 52% of the classrooms with fully mechanical ventilation met the current standards, whereas all other classrooms failed. Other factors related to ventilation adequacy were HVAC upgrade and number of students in classrooms. The results did not indicate a need to increase ventilation rate above the current standards.
Building characteristics, indoor environmental quality, and mathematics achievement in Finnish elementary schools
Toyinbo, Oluyemi (author) / Shaughnessy, Richard (author) / Turunen, Mari (author) / Putus, Tuula (author) / Metsämuuronen, Jari (author) / Kurnitski, Jarek (author) / Haverinen-Shaughnessy, Ulla (author)
Building and Environment ; 104 ; 114-121
2016-04-29
8 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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