The Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Indoor Air Quality in Schools: An Experimental Comprehensive Analysis
Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a vital role in supporting both the physical and mental well-being of individuals in enclosed spaces, and the role of mechanical ventilation systems has gained increasing attention due to building design’s focus on energy efficiency and thus airtight constructions. Thi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/869 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849341666763210752 |
|---|---|
| author | Vincenzo Ballerini Maddalena Coccagna Matteo Bisi Antonella Volta Lorenzo Droghetti Eugenia Rossi di Schio Paolo Valdiserri Sante Mazzacane |
| author_facet | Vincenzo Ballerini Maddalena Coccagna Matteo Bisi Antonella Volta Lorenzo Droghetti Eugenia Rossi di Schio Paolo Valdiserri Sante Mazzacane |
| author_sort | Vincenzo Ballerini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a vital role in supporting both the physical and mental well-being of individuals in enclosed spaces, and the role of mechanical ventilation systems has gained increasing attention due to building design’s focus on energy efficiency and thus airtight constructions. This study investigated the pre–post effects of installing a heat recovery mechanical ventilation system (MVHR) on indoor air quality in a high school classroom in Ferrara, Italy. The analysis focused on experimental measurements of temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) both inside and outside the same classroom, which had constant occupancy (17 students) for an entire school year, allowing a comparison between natural and mechanical ventilation. With a comprehensive approach, particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and radon levels (Rn) were monitored as well, after the installation of the MVHR. By comparing natural and mechanical ventilation, the study highlights the strengths and limitations of the ventilation system implemented, together with an evaluation of the system’s energy consumption, including a 2 kW post-heating battery. In terms of results, the MVHR demonstrated clear benefits in managing CO<sub>2</sub> levels and improving sensory, olfactory, and psychophysical well-being, as well as the attention levels of students. In detail, under natural ventilation, peak concentrations exceeded 4500 ppm, while mechanical ventilation kept them below 1500 ppm. The average CO<sub>2</sub> concentration during occupancy dropped from 2500 ppm to around 1000 ppm, achieving a 62% reduction. However, beneficial effects were not observed for other parameters, such as PM<sub>2.5</sub>, VOCs, or radon. The latter displayed annual average values around 21 Bq/m<sup>3</sup> and peaks reaching 56 Bq/m<sup>3</sup>. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-95995e684fe145059331bbface389856 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-95995e684fe145059331bbface3898562025-08-20T03:43:34ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-03-0115686910.3390/buildings15060869The Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Indoor Air Quality in Schools: An Experimental Comprehensive AnalysisVincenzo Ballerini0Maddalena Coccagna1Matteo Bisi2Antonella Volta3Lorenzo Droghetti4Eugenia Rossi di Schio5Paolo Valdiserri6Sante Mazzacane7Department of Industrial Engineering DIN, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, ItalyCIAS—Research Center for Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Control in High Steril Rooms—Interdepartmental Laboratory, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 13, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyCIAS—Research Center for Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Control in High Steril Rooms—Interdepartmental Laboratory, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 13, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyCIAS—Research Center for Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Control in High Steril Rooms—Interdepartmental Laboratory, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 13, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyLiceo Classico Ludovico Ariosto, Via Arianuova 19, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering DIN, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering DIN, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, ItalyCIAS—Research Center for Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Control in High Steril Rooms—Interdepartmental Laboratory, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 13, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyIndoor air quality (IAQ) plays a vital role in supporting both the physical and mental well-being of individuals in enclosed spaces, and the role of mechanical ventilation systems has gained increasing attention due to building design’s focus on energy efficiency and thus airtight constructions. This study investigated the pre–post effects of installing a heat recovery mechanical ventilation system (MVHR) on indoor air quality in a high school classroom in Ferrara, Italy. The analysis focused on experimental measurements of temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) both inside and outside the same classroom, which had constant occupancy (17 students) for an entire school year, allowing a comparison between natural and mechanical ventilation. With a comprehensive approach, particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and radon levels (Rn) were monitored as well, after the installation of the MVHR. By comparing natural and mechanical ventilation, the study highlights the strengths and limitations of the ventilation system implemented, together with an evaluation of the system’s energy consumption, including a 2 kW post-heating battery. In terms of results, the MVHR demonstrated clear benefits in managing CO<sub>2</sub> levels and improving sensory, olfactory, and psychophysical well-being, as well as the attention levels of students. In detail, under natural ventilation, peak concentrations exceeded 4500 ppm, while mechanical ventilation kept them below 1500 ppm. The average CO<sub>2</sub> concentration during occupancy dropped from 2500 ppm to around 1000 ppm, achieving a 62% reduction. However, beneficial effects were not observed for other parameters, such as PM<sub>2.5</sub>, VOCs, or radon. The latter displayed annual average values around 21 Bq/m<sup>3</sup> and peaks reaching 56 Bq/m<sup>3</sup>.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/869IAQCO<sub>2</sub>radonPMVOCsschools |
| spellingShingle | Vincenzo Ballerini Maddalena Coccagna Matteo Bisi Antonella Volta Lorenzo Droghetti Eugenia Rossi di Schio Paolo Valdiserri Sante Mazzacane The Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Indoor Air Quality in Schools: An Experimental Comprehensive Analysis Buildings IAQ CO<sub>2</sub> radon PM VOCs schools |
| title | The Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Indoor Air Quality in Schools: An Experimental Comprehensive Analysis |
| title_full | The Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Indoor Air Quality in Schools: An Experimental Comprehensive Analysis |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Indoor Air Quality in Schools: An Experimental Comprehensive Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Indoor Air Quality in Schools: An Experimental Comprehensive Analysis |
| title_short | The Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Indoor Air Quality in Schools: An Experimental Comprehensive Analysis |
| title_sort | role of mechanical ventilation in indoor air quality in schools an experimental comprehensive analysis |
| topic | IAQ CO<sub>2</sub> radon PM VOCs schools |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/869 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vincenzoballerini theroleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT maddalenacoccagna theroleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT matteobisi theroleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT antonellavolta theroleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT lorenzodroghetti theroleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT eugeniarossidischio theroleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT paolovaldiserri theroleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT santemazzacane theroleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT vincenzoballerini roleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT maddalenacoccagna roleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT matteobisi roleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT antonellavolta roleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT lorenzodroghetti roleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT eugeniarossidischio roleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT paolovaldiserri roleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis AT santemazzacane roleofmechanicalventilationinindoorairqualityinschoolsanexperimentalcomprehensiveanalysis |