A Simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality Risk Index: Application in the Mediterranean Region to Support the Enhanced Design of Educational Environments
The quality of indoor environments within educational settings significantly impacts the health, safety, and comfort of occupants. In this manuscript, a simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ) Risk Index, aimed at assessing the potential ability of classrooms to maintain CO<sub>2</su...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/4033 |
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| author | Ruben Daniel Lopez Carreño Francesc Pardo-Bosch Stanislav Aidarov David Boix-Cots Pablo Pujadas |
| author_facet | Ruben Daniel Lopez Carreño Francesc Pardo-Bosch Stanislav Aidarov David Boix-Cots Pablo Pujadas |
| author_sort | Ruben Daniel Lopez Carreño |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The quality of indoor environments within educational settings significantly impacts the health, safety, and comfort of occupants. In this manuscript, a simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ) Risk Index, aimed at assessing the potential ability of classrooms to maintain CO<sub>2</sub> levels within acceptable limits, is introduced. Comprising three primary components—the likelihood of surpassing predefined CO<sub>2</sub> thresholds, the potential number of individuals exposed, and the classroom’s capacity to withstand or mitigate threats—this index serves as a valuable compliance tool during both the design phase and operational management of educational spaces. Additionally, apart from presenting the index framework, a sensitivity case study analysis is carried out to verify the suitability of the proposed method and the sensitivity of the factors involved. Through this analysis, the robustness of the CIAQ Risk Index in various scenarios is demonstrated. By quantifying and evaluating potential risks associated with indoor air quality, the CIAQ Risk Index contributes to ongoing efforts to create healthier indoor environments. Furthermore, it facilitates the identification of budgetary mitigation strategies that should positively affect the air quality; among those, an intervention, retrofitting, and ventilation improvements can be listed. Through proactive risk identification and appropriate actions, including regulation adjustments and ventilation strategies, the reduction in health problems, the enhancement of well-being, and the improvement of overall performance and quality of life for educational communities can be achieved. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-65387ea92fef47fb830770df486151b3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-65387ea92fef47fb830770df486151b32025-08-20T03:08:44ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01157403310.3390/app15074033A Simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality Risk Index: Application in the Mediterranean Region to Support the Enhanced Design of Educational EnvironmentsRuben Daniel Lopez Carreño0Francesc Pardo-Bosch1Stanislav Aidarov2David Boix-Cots3Pablo Pujadas4Group of Construction Research and Innovation (GRIC), C/Colom, 11, Ed. TR5, 08222 Terrassa, SpainGroup of Construction Research and Innovation (GRIC), C/Colom, 11, Ed. TR5, 08222 Terrassa, SpainGroup of Construction Research and Innovation (GRIC), C/Colom, 11, Ed. TR5, 08222 Terrassa, SpainDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Barcelona Tech (UPC), c/Jordi Girona 1–3, 08028 Barcelona, SpainGroup of Construction Research and Innovation (GRIC), C/Colom, 11, Ed. TR5, 08222 Terrassa, SpainThe quality of indoor environments within educational settings significantly impacts the health, safety, and comfort of occupants. In this manuscript, a simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ) Risk Index, aimed at assessing the potential ability of classrooms to maintain CO<sub>2</sub> levels within acceptable limits, is introduced. Comprising three primary components—the likelihood of surpassing predefined CO<sub>2</sub> thresholds, the potential number of individuals exposed, and the classroom’s capacity to withstand or mitigate threats—this index serves as a valuable compliance tool during both the design phase and operational management of educational spaces. Additionally, apart from presenting the index framework, a sensitivity case study analysis is carried out to verify the suitability of the proposed method and the sensitivity of the factors involved. Through this analysis, the robustness of the CIAQ Risk Index in various scenarios is demonstrated. By quantifying and evaluating potential risks associated with indoor air quality, the CIAQ Risk Index contributes to ongoing efforts to create healthier indoor environments. Furthermore, it facilitates the identification of budgetary mitigation strategies that should positively affect the air quality; among those, an intervention, retrofitting, and ventilation improvements can be listed. Through proactive risk identification and appropriate actions, including regulation adjustments and ventilation strategies, the reduction in health problems, the enhancement of well-being, and the improvement of overall performance and quality of life for educational communities can be achieved.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/4033indoor air qualityclassroom environmentrisk assessmentIAQ risk managementventilation strategies |
| spellingShingle | Ruben Daniel Lopez Carreño Francesc Pardo-Bosch Stanislav Aidarov David Boix-Cots Pablo Pujadas A Simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality Risk Index: Application in the Mediterranean Region to Support the Enhanced Design of Educational Environments Applied Sciences indoor air quality classroom environment risk assessment IAQ risk management ventilation strategies |
| title | A Simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality Risk Index: Application in the Mediterranean Region to Support the Enhanced Design of Educational Environments |
| title_full | A Simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality Risk Index: Application in the Mediterranean Region to Support the Enhanced Design of Educational Environments |
| title_fullStr | A Simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality Risk Index: Application in the Mediterranean Region to Support the Enhanced Design of Educational Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality Risk Index: Application in the Mediterranean Region to Support the Enhanced Design of Educational Environments |
| title_short | A Simplified Classroom Indoor Air Quality Risk Index: Application in the Mediterranean Region to Support the Enhanced Design of Educational Environments |
| title_sort | simplified classroom indoor air quality risk index application in the mediterranean region to support the enhanced design of educational environments |
| topic | indoor air quality classroom environment risk assessment IAQ risk management ventilation strategies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/4033 |
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