Older educational buildings: How to protect student and staff well-being
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in higher education has a big impact on the health, cognitive performance, and overall well-being of students and staff. The COVID-19 pandemic helped raise awareness about the relationship between air quality and health. A lasting “benefit” of this has been spotlighting the need for higher education institutions to proactively address IAQ issues.
High-profile cases demonstrating the serious effects of poor IAQ, such as asbestos cases, have heightened awareness, leading to increased demands for higher education institutions to improve their indoor air quality.
Airthings' October webinar, Older educational buildings: How to protect student and staff well-being, hosted by Adriana Raibstein, Regional Sales Manager at Airthings for Business, featured expert insights from:
Takeaways from the webinar are summarized in the article below.
You can also watch a replay of the webinar here and download slides from the presentation, with citations and more resources.
Unique IAQ challenges in higher education
According to the webinar’s first speaker, John Simmering, Chief Science Officer at Trusted Client Solutions, a particular challenge facing higher education environments is simply the variety and complexity found across the buildings that make up a higher education campus.
Higher education buildings range from state-of-the-art constructions to century-old structures. This variation results in significant differences in ventilation, insulation, and the overall “building envelope,” or all the components that separate the interior of the building from the outside, which affect IAQ in each space.
Campuses are also diverse, consisting of large lecture halls, libraries, dormitories, laboratories, and athletic facilities. These spaces all have unique air quality needs and challenges. For example, densely populated lecture halls may see rapid carbon dioxide (CO₂) increases and, potentially dangerous rises in volatile organic compound (VOC) levels as students settle in for extended periods. High CO₂ levels, often caused by inadequate ventilation, are linked to cognitive decline, fatigue, and poor academic performance. All these factors are especially concerning in an environment where focus and mental clarity are essential.
Similarly, VOCs, a group of chemicals released from common items like furniture, cleaning supplies, and even student belongings, can further compromise air quality and exacerbate existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Older buildings also come with additional risks. Outdated ventilation systems, potential mold growth, and older building materials that emit hazardous compounds (like formaldehyde and asbestos) are commonly found in aging infrastructure. For example, the case of Poe Hall at North Carolina State University revealed that outdated building materials containing harmful compounds were causing long-term health effects and, in some cases cancer, for its occupants. This case illustrates the potential for aging infrastructure to impact indoor air quality, especially as exposure to pollutants and pathogens has been linked to increased absenteeism and health complications among students and staff.
The health and cognitive impacts of poor IAQ
The health and academic implications of IAQ are substantial. Lisa Greenfield, IAQ specialist at Erlab and a former educator, emphasizes the negative respiratory and cognitive effects of poor air quality. Lisa’s personal experiences with respiratory illnesses caused by the teaching environments highlight how, if unchecked, air pollutants can directly affect teacher and student health:
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In spaces with pollutant levels, staff and students are more likely to experience symptoms such as coughing, asthma flare-ups, headaches, and fatigue. Over time, these health issues can affect learning and reduce productivity, causing students to fall behind academically and miss out on important learning opportunities.
Prolonged exposure to pollutants impacts cognitive function in students especially. Studies show poor IAQ can reduce attention spans and affect memory, critical thinking, and overall academic success. As Lisa Greenfield explains, higher CO₂ levels are particularly problematic in higher education, where students are expected to engage in complex learning and testing environments requiring sustained concentration. Recognizing this impact means parents and prospective students are increasingly concerned about IAQ when choosing a college campus. For example, this survey, published in 2021 by JLL demonstrates that IAQ is becoming a factor for students when selecting their college campus.
Continuous monitoring: A data-driven solution to understand IAQ health
Continuous monitoring of IAQ is essential for higher education institutions to manage their air quality proactively and ensure healthier environments for all building users.
As Airthings’ VP of North America, JJ Baird, highlights, advanced IAQ monitoring technologies can detect and analyze pollutants in real time. Using this data helps institutions address issues before they become severe issues, and well before they cause performance and health issues. Airthings’ solution, for example, measures key IAQ indicators, like particulate matter (PM), CO₂, VOCs, humidity, and temperature, across a campus. Data is sent to a centralized dashboard where it can be reviewed and acted on, with the effects of any IAQ-improvement initiatives easily tracked from there.
As JJ comments:
“Gathering data continuously over time helps facility managers to identify specific areas of their building with poor air quality. Once they know where the issues are, they can implement targeted solutions, such as enhancing ventilation or installing air purification systems where they are most needed.”
Airthings’ capacity to deliver continuous data is particularly valuable. JJ explained that, by tracking IAQ over time, institutions can differentiate between temporary spikes and chronic issues, making it easier to implement effective, long-term strategies. For instance, if IAQ monitors detect a recurring rise in VOCs or CO₂ in certain areas, it may indicate a need for system upgrades or procedural changes, such as adjusting ventilation settings during peak occupancy times. Using the Airthings dashboard, they can track the effectiveness of these adjustments and either have peace of mind that the air is safe and healthy or know that more action is needed.
Policy and strategic planning for IAQ
Including IAQ in long-term planning and policy is a must-have for higher education institutions, particularly given the potential health and financial impacts of IAQ issues.
For instance, poor IAQ might mean higher healthcare costs, more absenteeism, and damage to a university’s reputation. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for preparedness and planning regarding IAQ, with many institutions recognizing the benefits of proactive air quality management. As a result, initiatives like the ASHRAE 241 standard, which outlines IAQ guidelines to reduce aerosol transmission of pathogens, and the Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act, are gaining traction in educational policy discussions.
Monitoring IAQ and adding IAQ strategies to their long-term plans means colleges can better position themselves to meet health and safety expectations. Some universities have taken these first steps, such as starting pilot monitoring programs in selected buildings to collect baseline data and make the case for expanded IAQ solutions. This approach not only helps secure funding for larger initiatives but also demonstrates the effectiveness of IAQ interventions, increasing buy-in from stakeholders.
Looking forward: the future of IAQ in higher education
In the future, IAQ will likely remain a central concern for higher education providers as they strive to create healthier and more sustainable environments, and look for that competitive edge over rival institutions. Continuous IAQ monitoring is invaluable, enabling institutions to make better, data-informed decisions about their campus infrastructure and air quality management. As technology advances, institutions can explore new ways to automate their systems further, helping facilities managers respond quickly to real-time changes in air quality.
In summary, IAQ in higher education presents unique and complex challenges that demand a proactive and data-driven approach. Giving priority to continuous air quality monitoring and integrating IAQ into their long-term strategic planning, colleges and universities can ensure they provide a safe, healthy, and conducive environment for learning and development.
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