Indoor Air Quality in Schools: a comparative analysis of natural and mechanical ventilation

Indoor air quality (IAQ) affects people's physical and mental health, especially in crowded spaces. Insufficient ventilation leads to various types of pollution and reduced comfort, potentially triggering symptoms associated with Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The SYMBIEN (Schools Symbiotic Environments) research project, developed at the Liceo Ariosto in Ferrara, as part of a project for students’ orientation, by the Universities of Ferrara and Bologna, together with the Municipality and Province of Ferrara. The effects on indoor air quality in a classroom have been investigated, comparing natural ventilation with the installation of a mechanical ventilation system with a heat recovery unit (MVHR). Long-term experimental measurements were conducted on temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO2), radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM2.5), lighting, electricity, and heat consumption. Microbiological analyses of the air and surfaces (desks and floors) were also conducted before and after lessons. Green walls were installed to assess the impact of planting on environmental well-being. The preliminary results are presented here, highlighting the limitation of natural ventilation in crowded environments.