Research shows that one in five U.S. schools have IAQ problems, affecting more than 8 million students, according to the U.S. government research outlined in an article published in “IAQ Applications” by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Problems can include drowsiness, lack of concentration, and headaches, which affect students’ comprehension and motivation.

Charlene Bayer, a researcher with Georgia Tech Research Institute, suggests that most IAQ problems in schools can be avoided by:

• Providing an adequate amount of outdoor air on a continuous basis;

• Controlling humidity in the space so that it is usually between 30% and 60% rh; and

• Providing a level of particulate filtration efficiency for outdoor air adequate to prohibit most mold spores and fungi from entering the hvac system.