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Maintaining good air quality in schools is paramount to providing students with a safe and healthy learning environment. Studies reveal exposure to pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon can impact students’ working memory, short-term memory, attention, processing speeds and psychomotor functions in school-aged children.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that nearly half of the 57.5 million students and teachers are exposed to polluted air containing toxic chemicals, pesticides, mold, viruses and bacteria. This exposure poses a serious challenge for school administrators looking to facilitate a safe environment conducive to learning.
To effectively address issues related to poor air quality in schools, schools need to be able to detect harmful pollutants reliably. This guide will explore how indoor air quality monitors for schools can help maintain a safer and healthier environment for students, teachers and staff.
As more research is conducted about the adverse effects of poor indoor air quality (IAQ), the value of IAQ monitors for schools becomes evident. An EPA study indicated indoor pollutant levels are often two to five times higher than those observed outdoors.
Long-term exposure to polluted air is linked to a variety of health concerns. Considering that an average person spends 90% of their time indoors, it becomes clear that maintaining good IAQ is essential, especially in educational environments.
Specific risks associated with poor IAQ in schools include:
Ensuring consistently good IAQ in any high-occupancy environment can be challenging, but schools face several additional challenges. Below are the most common indoor air quality challenges schools experience.
Almost 40% of school buildings in America were built before 1970, while 28% were built before 1950. The outdated design of these buildings prioritizes insulation over ventilation, leading to the accumulation of air pollution in schools.
The average class size in U.S. public schools is 16 – 25 students. However, as class sizes rise due to staff shortages, more students often occupy enclosed classrooms during the school day. In this context, CO2 levels can quickly become hazardous if adequate ventilation systems are not in place.
To maintain safe air quality, schools are expected to keep CO2 levels below 1000 parts per million (ppm). However, studies have shown that levels can reach as high as 3000 ppm in some classroom environments. Air quality monitors can help school administrators observe these levels and make timely decisions about occupancy levels.
HVAC systems are crucial for air circulation and filtration in schools. Adequate ventilation systems are critical in older buildings and overcrowded classrooms to help reduce indoor air pollution.
A 2020 U.S. Government Accountability Office study found that 36,000 American K‑12 public schools have outdated or damaged HVAC systems. Although replacement of the HVAC systems can be costly and disruptive, the Government Accountability officials suggested that updates should be prioritized to address health and safety risks.
Outdoor air quality can significantly affect indoor air cleanliness. Open windows and doors allow external contaminants to enter classrooms, while poorly ventilated systems can introduce external pollutants.
Common outdoor contaminants include nitrogen dioxide, smog from traffic and industrial activities, seasonal pollen and pollutants from wildfires. The levels of outdoor contaminants that impact IAQ can vary across school districts.
Even when indoor air quality issues have been identified, securing funding for improvements can be challenging for many schools. Due to the lack of available funds, school administrators often need to make strategic decisions and reprioritize how resources are used, which means that some issues are not addressed for multiple years.
However, schools can explore additional options for IAQ improvements. School safety grants like ESSER funds and the SSSG Program can be used to support the implementation of technologies that improve safety and security in schools. Such school safety grants can help make the price of IAQ monitors for schools more accessible.
Given the numerous challenges schools face in maintaining good indoor air quality, IAQ monitors play a crucial role in detecting and addressing these issues effectively.
Indoor air quality monitors for schools are specialized sensors designed to detect harmful pollutants, particulate matter and contaminants in the air. Sensors installed in high-risk locations like classrooms, hallways and offices can trigger custom alerts if pollutant levels exceed safe thresholds.
IAQ monitoring systems combine hardware and software solutions, where physical sensors connect to a digital management platform, allowing administrators to access real-time and historical data from secure devices or computers.
Indoor air quality monitors for schools can help identify and address various air quality issues that could negatively impact student learning and health. By continuously analyzing school air quality for signs of harmful pollutants, IAQ monitors enable prompt and effective responses to potential issues.
High-quality IAQ monitors for schools can detect the following concerns:
When developing and implementing IAQ monitoring systems for schools, it’s important to consider the unique challenges your institution faces. IAQ monitors for schools should accurately detect common pollutants, notify admins of potential incidents and produce detailed IAQ reports to support continuous improvements.
Here are the key features to look for in the best indoor air quality monitors for schools.
Numerous pollutants and contaminants can be hazardous to the health and safety of students, so your IAQ monitors should be able to detect multiple types of pollutants like CO, CO2, NO2, PM and VOCs, as well as environmental conditions like temperature and humidity.
Some advanced indoor air quality monitors can also detect security threats. For example, cigarette and vape detectors can help address smoking incidents on campus, while sound sensors can identify acts of aggression or break-ins.
Pollutants, contaminants and harmful particulate matter can vary significantly in size, from larger particles (PM10) to those measuring 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and even 0.1 microns. The best indoor air quality monitors for schools should be certified to detect at least PM2.5‑sized particles to help ensure safe air quality indoors.
For IAQ monitors to be effective, they must be easy to operate and adjust. Administrators should prioritize devices that can be linked to a cloud-based management system and accessible to relevant staff, with options for instant SMS and email alerts.
Advanced indoor air quality monitors for schools can integrate with existing school security systems and building management systems to enable automated responses. For example, if pollutant levels surpass the safe thresholds, the system can send instant alerts to the ventilation system to improve airflow. Air quality sensors can also integrate with wider school emergency alert systems to trigger notifications and alerts.
Indoor air quality monitors can also integrate with security devices like alarms and access control systems to instantly warn of air quality incidents and automatically lock access points to minimize exposure. Additionally, some advanced sensors can be integrated with school surveillance cameras to manage and gain insight into potential issues on a seamless video management platform.
IAQ monitors for schools with built-in analytics and reporting functions can provide insights into long-term exposure events. These sensors continuously collect data to create reports detailing air quality metrics over time, helping administrators maintain compliance with regulations and identify potential ventilation issues. These reports can also serve as evidence in federal grant applications to improve your school’s safety systems.
The HALO Smart Sensor is an award-winning, comprehensive solution for detecting a wide range of air quality concerns in schools. These advanced sensors help school administrators stay ahead of potential issues by monitoring a wide range of air quality and environmental factors:
By continuously analyzing air quality data, HALO Sensors provide actionable insights to help maintain healthier indoor spaces for students and staff. HALO Sensors integrate seamlessly with broader school safety technology to enable swift response to air quality concerns.
Beyond air quality, HALO sensors also detect vaping, smoke and sound anomalies, adding a layer of security without compromising privacy. This makes HALO sensors an all-in-one solution for schools looking to address not only air quality concerns but also behavioral and safety issues.
Once you have identified a suitable IAQ monitor for your school, it’s important to implement and utilize them effectively.
Below are some best practices and considerations to take into account when implementing IAQ sensors in schools:
Begin by assessing air quality in high-risk areas of the school to determine appropriate locations for IAQ monitors. Prioritize high-traffic areas like hallways, classrooms, restrooms and offices where air quality issues are most likely to impact people, as well as rooms housing HVAC equipment.
External experts can help conduct these assessments and provide recommendations. Alternatively, school administrators may use handheld IAQ monitors to conduct internal tests. However, it’s important to ensure whoever conducts the assessment has experience analyzing air quality index data.
Prioritize installing IAQ sensors in areas identified in the preliminary assessment. For optimal performance, position sensors in enclosed areas free of heavy air drafts. Depending on the type of sensor, the devices may need to be installed with access to power cable wiring for operation. If sensors are to be integrated with wider safety technologies, consulting with a security system integrator will be important to determine proper installation location and processes.
IAQ monitors for schools will provide real-time information about the air quality, but it’s crucial to understand the data to respond appropriately. Most IAQ monitors will provide a general overview of air quality through an Air Quality Index (AQI) score ranging from 0 – 500, with ratings of over 100 indicating IAQ issues.
In addition to AQI ratings, school administrators should be aware of safe thresholds for pollutants like CO, CO2, NO2 and VOCs. Proper calibration of IAQ monitors is key, especially if you plan to integrate them with HVAC and physical security technology for automated responses.
Indoor air quality monitors for schools are only effective if staff know how to use them and respond to alerts. Teachers should be familiar with IAQ monitor locations, what they detect and what an alarm sounds and looks like. Detailed response plans should also be made accessible on a shared platform. Regular training is essential to ensure school staff are aware of the latest safety procedures and can respond to incidents safely.
Good air quality in schools is an essential component of a safe and healthy environment conducive to learning. Pollutants like CO, CO2 and VOCs are often present in school buildings and have been linked to serious health risks. However, detecting and addressing these pollutants can be challenging without technological assistance.
Multi-sensor IAQ monitors for schools, like the HALO Smart Sensor, can help detect a wide range of air quality issues and security threats. IAQ sensors for schools offer a comprehensive solution to common school health and safety needs, allowing students to stay focused on learning.
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