• Control of airborne pollutants
• Introduction and distribution of adequate outdoor air.
• Maintenance of acceptable temperature and relative humidity.

Temperature and humidity cannot be overlooked because thermal comfort concerns underlie many complaints about "poor air quality", or "stuffiness". Temperature and humidity affect indoor contaminant levels.

For rooms with high density, sustained occupation for cost effective resorts, the subjects of Heating and Ventilation (winter and summer), should be considered as one subject.

Indoor Air Pollution is among the top five environmental risks to public health. Acceptable IAQ is a vital component of a healthy indoor environment, and can help schools reach their primary goal.

IAQ problems can cause, create or aggravate -----

• Negative publicity affecting a school’s or administration’s image.
• Occupant health problems, i.e. Promoting the spread of airborne infectious diseases - Influenza etc, eye irritation, headache, asthma episodes, and allergic reactions, and, in rarer cases, severe asthma attacks, hepatitis and meningitis.
• An unfavourable learning environment for children. High levels of carbon-dioxide (CO²), affect humans differently. Drowsiness, hyperactivity, skin rash, irritability are common symptoms.
• Reduced productivity of teachers and pupils due to discomfort, sickness, or absenteeism.
• Increasing maintenance costs, i.e. Mould and fungus growth destroys decorated and textile surfaces.
• Strained relationships between school administration, parents and staff.
• Potential legal liability problems.

Indoor Air Problems do not always produce easily recognised impacts on health, or well-being of occupants. Often, only one or a few individuals may be affected by what appears to be psychosomatic in nature, because other occupants do not appear to have any symptoms.

Children are especially susceptible to air pollution, because the same concentration of pollutants cause higher body burden in children than adults. Children breathe a greater volume of air relative to their body weight than adults. Indoor Air Quality is more than a "quality" issue; it is the safety of students, staff and property that is a major responsibility.

Unique Aspects of NZ Schools

• Unlike many other buildings, school management combines the responsibility for public funds and child safety issues, which can cause strong reactions from concerned parents and the general community.
• A typical school classroom has approximately four times as many occupants as office buildings for the same amount of floor space.
• Tight budgets may cause maintenance budget cuts.
• The presence of a variety of pollutant sources, including art and science supplies, industrial and vocational arts, home economic classes, and gyms, and volatile organic gasses from decorated surfaces, paints, carpets, wallpaper, cleaning chemicals.