1. Ventilation Rates in Schools and Children’s Learning Performance Zsolt Bakó-Biró School of Construction Management and Engineering

2. Research Team Prof. Derek Clements-Croom (SCME, University of Reading) Dr. Hazim Awbi (SCME, University of Reading) Dr. Marylin Williams (School of Psychology, University of Reading) Dr. David Coley (Centre for Energy & Environment, University of Exeter) Dr. Neena Kochhar (SCME, University of Reading) Dr. Zsolt Bakó-Biró (SCME, University of Reading)

3. Objectives To extend our knowledge about IAQ and typical ventilation rates in school environments To determine a direct relationship between IAQ and pupils’ learning performance.

4. Methods School selection: 20 primary schools in Reading & Exeter Targeted age group: 9-11 years old children Measurements: objective & subjective evaluations (repeated design) (2-3 weeks / school for 2 years) Intervention: to increase the ventilation rates above 8 L/s per person

5. Physical measurements Continuous monitoring Spot measurements: Noise level Ozone level (Indoors/Outdoors) Air change rate (SF6), TVOC, Selected VOCs Air temperature & Relative Humidity (RH) Globe temperature Air velocity Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) Airborne particles (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) Lighting

6. Data collection

7. Classroom setup

9. Subjective evaluations Classroom noisy Classroom quiet Air humid Air dry Air stuffy Air fresh Classroom dark Classroom bright Classroom environment

10. Subjective evaluations Nose dry Nose running Nose blocked Nose clear Throat dryThroat not dry SBS symptoms & other questions Eyes dryEyes not dry Mouth dryMouth not dry Eyes itchyEyes not itchy

11. Subjective evaluations SBS symptoms & other questions TiredNot tired SleepyAlert Slept badSlept good Feeling badFeeling good HungryFull HeadacheNo Headache DreamyAttentive DizzyNot dizzy Do not feel like working today Feel like working today

12. Pupils’ Performance Tests Computerised Assessment Tests (CAT) (attention, concentration and memory) Pen and Paper (school based) performance activities 24 pupils/classroom groups of 6-8 people

13. CAT - battery 1. Simple Reaction Time 2. Choice Reaction Time 3. Colour Word Vigilance 4. Digit classification 5. Digit-symbol matching 6. Reaction time - addition 7. Digit span memory 8. Picture recall memory 9. Verbal Reasoning 10. Words recognition Attention / vigilance Perceptual speed Speed of mental arithmetic Working memoryLanguage based

14. CAT battery Simple Reaction Time Simple Reaction Time: 16 signals / minute. Randomized intervals between 2 – 5 seconds

15. Choice Reaction Time: CAT battery 16 signals / minute. Randomized intervals between 2 – 5 seconds

16. Colour Word Vigilance Test response is required only to a minority of the signals Red Yellow Blue White Red Yellow Blue White CAT battery 30 signals / minute at constant intervals Random distribution within each sequence of 16 stimuli

17. Pen and Paper (school based) Activities Math based : Addition : 26 +or346 + 97472 Subtraction : 86 -or736 - 47472 Multiplication: 8 x 264 Number comparison: False 326548326248 x264269 756517756317 x

18. Pen and Paper (school based) Activities Language-based: Logical reasoning : StatementTrueFalse AB A does not precede B x BA B is followed by A x

19. Outcomes To recommend suitable ventilation rates for classrooms. To examine the suitability of the air quality guidelines for classrooms based on the results obtained To develop a website displaying the main research findings.

20. Thank You

21. Program interface

22. Interpretation