SISEÕHU KVALITEET TARTU LINNA JA MAAKONNA KOOLIDES
Indoor Air Quality in the Schools of Tartu and Tartu County
Ave Tihane MSc, Inga Ploomipuu MSc, Mairi Sepp
Abstract Results of different studies have shown that indoor climate in schools is inadequate and that may adversely affect children’s health and learning performance. The aim of the research was to identify indoor air quality in classrooms and its impact on students’ comfort. The research was performed in classrooms of secondary education schools in Tartu city and Tartu county. Observation and measurement were performed in four schools in eight classrooms. Indoor climate parameters were measured and questionnaires carried out (n=177) to assess students’ subjective perceptions of how they feel and indoor air. Research was carried out in October and December 2012. Temperature and humidity are the indoor climate factors that were favorable in autumn. It can be assumed that the results would have been different with the different measurement conditions. Carbon dioxide concentrations in classrooms were much lower and for much shorter time exceeding the suggested limit of 1000 ppm in county schools. Most complaints about indoor climate were related to airless and dry air and variable temperatures. Students in city schools associated the classrooms with drowsiness, headache and unexplained tiredness, county school students also felt stress. Key words: air in the room, indoor climate, carbon dioxide, indoor air quality.
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