Numerous headlines and telephone calls provide
anecdotal information that a wide range of indoor air problems are occurring --
including school evacuations and costly emergency renovations.
In February 1995 the US Government Accounting
Office released a report based on a survey which
indicates that over half of our schools have problems which affect indoor air
quality.
A radon-related EPA investigation of 29 schools
across the country found inadequate ventilation in most of the schools.
Nearly one in five schools has at least one room
with radon above the EPA recommended action level of 4 pCi/L.
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All types of schools -- whether new or old, big
or small, elementary or high school -- are experiencing indoor air quality
problems.
Schools across the country have an array of
indoor air problems, but biological problems such as mold and mildew are
particularly pronounced in the Southeast where humidity levels are high.
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The quality of the indoor air can either impede
or assist a school in meeting its core mission -- educating students.
Failure to prevent or quickly resolve problems
can:
- increase the potential for long-term and short-term health problems, e.g.,
asthma (the number one cause of student absenteeism);
- increase absenteeism of students and staff:
- reduce productivity for teachers and staff;
- accelerate deterioration and reduce efficiency of heating/cooling
equipment;
- strain relationships among school administration and parent and staff; and
- create potential liability problems.
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EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools outreach and
implementation is a top priority and teaches school staff to:
- Prevent and resolve IAQ problems;
- Identify practical and low-cost/no-cost solutions to fixing IAQ problems;
- In Taking Action, Richard Trethewey of the well-known series This
Old House shows how one school successfully implemented IAQ Tools for
School Action. In Ventilation Basics, Steve Thomas and Richard
Trethewey explain the importance of good indoor air quality and show how to
properly operate and maintain school ventilation systems. Many indoor air
quality problems can be prevented or solved by in-house staff using the
basic techniques provided in these videos. It is important that these videos
be used in conjunction with guidance contained in the IAQ Tools for
Schools.
- Some EPA Regional Offices
and EPA Cooperative Partners, e.g., NEA and ALA are providing workshops
on IAQ Tools for Schools.
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- Obtain a copy of the IAQ Tools for Schools Action
Kit (Kit).
- Obtain a copy of the IAQ Tools for Schools --
Taking Action and Ventilation Basics Video.
- Ensure that an adequate amount of outdoor air is being supplied, i.e., a
minimum of 15 cfm/person (see Ventilation
Checklist and Log).
- Test for radon
- Separate students and staff from construction and renovation areas.
- Reduce use of products, e.g., adhesives, floor-care products, pesticides,
that require ventilation during use.
- Maintain relative humidity at a level below 60% indoors during hot and
humid summers.
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The Kit provides practical, hands-on
recommendations for schools which can be applied using in-house staff. Following
this guidance will enable schools to correct existing problems or prevent future
problems from occurring. EPA is aware of the unique environment in which schools
must function, including limited resources and multiple demands on those
resources, therefore the majority of the activities have been designed to be
either low cost or no cost.
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Although the majority of the recommendations in
the Kit are either low cost or no cost, due to the limited maintenance budget
for school buildings there are potentially two fixes which could be costly. The
first is a leaky roof, which can cause water damage inside the building and may
lead to microbial contamination (mold, fungi, bacteria). Secondly, if the
ventilation system has been allowed to deteriorate, there may be significant
costs involved in returning the system to its original design and/or building
code intent.
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Every type of building has the potential for
poor IAQ, and based upon limited anecdotal information we know that there are
IAQ problems in schools. It is impossible to generalize. While some schools may
have minor problems, others may have more significant ones. The Kit provides the
school staff with practical steps they can take to correct current problems and
prevent future problems. Awareness of the issues and proactive steps to ensure
good IAQ will go a long way towards providing a safe and productive learning
environment for children.
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Children are particularly susceptible to the
effects of secondhand smoke (or
environmental tobacco smoke), therefore every effort should be made to keep the
children's environment smoke free. Based on the Pro Kids Act, schools which
receive federal funding may not allow smoking within the school. If the school
chooses to operate a smoking lounge, it should be vented directly to the
outdoors, and the room should be under negative pressure compared to surrounding
spaces. The room should be located such that children never need to enter the
space. If smoking areas are located outside, they should be positioned away from
the doors, operable windows, and outdoor air intakes.
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Investigations of radon and limited measurements
of IAQ in schools have been conducted in buildings for students in grades K
through 12. The schools are from a variety of regions across the country and
consist of a wide mixture of architectural styles.
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No, not from EPA. However, the GAO report (see
the first question) contains the most significant statistical data available
at this time. A recent Congressional Office of Technology Assistance report,
along with other sources, provides anecdotal information which strongly
indicates that some schools need to pay more attention to IAQ. Deferred
maintenance, which frequently occurs when schools have financial problems, is
often the culprit responsible for poor IAQ.
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No. Although radon
problems in schools are often remedied by increasing the ventilation, this will
not necessarily remedy an IAQ problem. Some indoor pollutant sources are too
strong for ventilation increases to ensure good IAQ. Increasing the ventilation
in areas with high humidity or elevated outdoor air pollutants may in fact
worsen an already existing IAQ problem.
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Carpet use in schools provides a decrease in noise, falls, and injuries. IAQ
problems can be encountered with carpet and many other materials used indoors if
the school has any type of water problem, such as a leaky roof. If carpet
remains damp, it can become a primary source for microbial growth which
frequently results in adverse health effects on people. Carpet and other
furnishings that become significantly water damaged should be removed and either
steam cleaned and thoroughly dried before reinstallation, or it should be
discarded.
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Nearly all of the activities can be successfully
completed without any specialized training or tools. One of the activities, the
measurement of the amount of outdoor air being supplied to indoors, requires an
airflow measurement device such as a flow hood or pitot tube. The Kit provides
basic information on the costs and sources of this equipment, and some
cost-saving ideas such as equipment sharing.
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The guidance is voluntary, and can be followed,
modified, or not followed, depending on the school's needs and desires. Any
information gathered as a result of using this Kit is for the benefit and use of
the local school or school district. EPA does not require retention or
submission of any information gathered, and EPA has no regulatory or enforcement
authority regarding general indoor air quality in schools.
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The IAQ
Tools for Schools Kit, individual IAQ
Problem Solving Wheels, and Taking Action and Ventilation Basics Videos are
available free of charge and can be obtained by calling the IAQ
INFO Clearinghouse at 1-800-438-4318.
The entire Kit (except for the video and the IAQ Problem Solving Wheel) can be
downloaded in PDF and are available in HTML from this website.
For general
information on Indoor Air Quality, you can call EPA's IAQINFO Hotline at
(800) 438-4318.
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