California: School Facilities: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems
The 2019 report by the University of California, Davis, Western Cooling Efficiency Center and the Indoor Environment Group of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that over one-half of new HVAC systems in schools had significant problems within three years of installation and that the vast majority of classrooms in California continue to fail to meet minimum ventilation rates. Some classrooms were found to have carbon dioxide concentrations above 2,000 ppm for substantial periods of the day. A March 2021 study found that proper ventilation in classrooms could reduce COVID-19 infection risk by over 80 percent compared to classrooms without ventilation. In California, the legislature declares this policy to ensure school facilities are designed and operated to provide a healthy environment for its occupants, including adequate ventilation and indoor air quality. The requirements include suggestions from the ASHRAE standard.
Illinois: School Code-Ventilation
Studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) that compare risks of environmental threats to public health consistently rank indoor air pollution among the top five risks. Illinois is acting on this information, putting focus in elevating school facilities. With guidance from ASHRAE, Illinois is requiring all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with a portable air cleaner that meets specified requirements, as well as 5 additional to be used in school health offices, libraries, cafeterias, and other similar spaces. Each school district is also required to undertake a ventilation verification assessment of all mechanical ventilation systems in the school district performed by a certified assessor or a mechanical engineer.
Massachusetts: An Act to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Massachusetts has constructed the policy that public health be protected and promoted through the regulation of indoor air quality within all public buildings. Per ASHRAE standards, building owners must keep and publish thorough records of indoor air quality levels and tests, as well as, conduct a plan for remedies and proposed preventive measures. The Massachusetts Department of Education has also taken great strides in IAQ amelioration by offering Improving Ventilation and Air Quality in Public School Buildings Grant. They are targeting the populations who are historically disadvantaged given that they experience higher rates of poor health for a range of conditions, including airborne disease transmission and chronic breathing impairments such as asthma. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to more such disparities.
Wisconsin: Indoor Air Quality Inspection and Evaluation Program for Public Schools
This legislation requires the Department of Health Services to perform random air quality inspections of a public school building used by pupils and shall respond to complaints received about the quality of air in a public school building used by pupils. With guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an issue brief was also released in May 2021 by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). This provides several strategies for mitigating airborne transmission of COVID-19 in early care and education facilities.
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Stay up to Date on Advancements
AirBox tracks policy developments nationwide related to indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools, homes, and other buildings. Contact our experts to find out more about your state requirements.
