Frontiers of Architectural Research >

2014 , Vol. 3 >Issue 2: 166 - 177

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2014.03.001

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Evaluation of indoor environmental quality conditions in elementary schools' classrooms in the United Arab Emirates

  • Moshood Olawale Fadeyi , 1,2,3 ,
  • Khawla Alkhaja 1 ,
  • Maryam Bin Sulayem 1 ,
  • Bassam Abu-Hijleh 1
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  • 1. Faculty of Engineering and IT, British University in Dubai, PO Box 345015, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 2. Current address: Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore, 1 Create Way, #11-01, Singapore 138602, Singapore
  • 3. Current address: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, N1-01a-29, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore

Received date: 26 Dec 2013

Accepted date: 06 Mar 2014

Published date: 31 Jul 2014

Copyright

2014 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Abstract

This study presents findings of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) investigations conductedin elementary schools' classrooms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Average TVOC, CO2, O3, CO, and particle concentrations measured in the classrooms were 815 μg/m3, 1605 ppm, 0.05 ppm, 1.16 ppm, and 1730 μg/m3, respectively. Whereas, local authority knownas Dubai Municipality recommended 300 μg/m3, 800 ppm, 0.06 ppm, 9 ppm, and 150-300 μg/m3 for TVOC, CO2, O3, CO, and particle, respectively. Dubai Municipality recommended temperature and relative humidity (RH) levels of 22.5 1°C to 25.5 1°C and 30%–60%, respectively. Average temperature and RH levels measured in the classrooms were 24.5 1°C and 40.4%, respectively. Average sound level in the classrooms was 24 dB greater than recommended sound level limit of 35 dB. Six (6) classrooms had average lux levels in the range of 400–800 lux. Two (2) classrooms had average lux levels in the range of 100–200 lux. The remaining classrooms had lux levels around the recommended 300 lux. High occupancy density was observed in majority of the studied classrooms. Observations during walkthrough investigations could be used to explain measured IEQ data. Poor IEQ conditions in the studied classrooms highlight the need for further research investigation to understand how poor classrooms' IEQ condition could influence students' health, comfort, attendance rate, and academic performance.

Key words： Indoor environmental quality (IEQ); Elementary school; Health and comfort; Building performance and sustainability

Cite this article

Moshood Olawale Fadeyi , Khawla Alkhaja , Maryam Bin Sulayem , Bassam Abu-Hijleh . Evaluation of indoor environmental quality conditions in elementary schools' classrooms in the United Arab Emirates[J]. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 2014 , 3(2) : 166 -177 . DOI: 10.1016/j.foar.2014.03.001

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