Specific Indoor Environmental Quality Parameters in College Computer Classrooms

Abstract

The indoor environmental quality parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, particulate matter concentration, illumination level, sound level, carbon dioxide concentration and ventilation rate in two computer classrooms and one general classroom were evaluated. Analytical results reveal average carbon dioxide concentration in the three classrooms during daytime classes was 785"1681 ppm. These values exceeded the exposure limits for indoor air quality suggested by the Environmental Protection Administration of the Republic of China, Taiwan (ROCEPA). The particulate matter concentration in the general classroom was 0.087 mg/m3, which exceeded the indoor air quality exposure limit for Type-1 venues recommended by the ROCEPA. Illumination level in the two computer classrooms was 386 and 176 Lux; these values are far lower than the illumination level for school classrooms suggested by Ministry of Education, Taiwan. Indoor sound levels in the three classrooms during non-class (51.4"61.9 dB(A) and class times (61.0"73.6 dBA exceeded the limit recommended by the Ministry of Education, Japan. The ventilation rates for the three classrooms were 0.41"0.65 h-1; such low ventilation rates were likely responsible for the very high indoor carbon dioxide concentrations in the three classrooms during class periods. These analytical results indicate schools should examine the efficacy of air-conditioning equipment in classrooms, particularly computer classrooms. Schools should also pay attention to ventilation rates and sound levels. Due to the poor ventilation rates in computer classrooms, this study suggests that problems arisen from the accumulation of specific toxicants dispersed by computer equipment, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, need further investigations.