A complete guide to indoor air quality monitors for schools

The importance of indoor air quality in schools

As more research is conducted about the adverse effects of poor indoor air quality (IAQ), the value of IAQ monitors for schools becomes evident. An EPA study indicated indoor pollutant levels are often two to five times higher than those observed outdoors.

Long-term exposure to polluted air is linked to a variety of health concerns. Considering that an average person spends 90% of their time indoors, it becomes clear that maintaining good IAQ is essential, especially in educational environments.

Specific risks associated with poor IAQ in schools include:

• Health: alongside the long-term health impacts mentioned above, IAQ issues can cause students and staff to experience headaches, eye and throat irritation, allergic reactions and chronic illnesses.
• Comfort: indoor air quality monitors for schools can detect changes in humidity and temperature — key factors linked to concentration and attention.
• Costs: IAQ monitors for schools can help staff identify and address maintenance issues like faulty HVAC systems and poor insulation by analyzing metrics like humidity, temperature and particulate levels.
• Compliance: while there is no federal law mandating air quality monitor installation in schools, multiple states have IAQ laws for schools. For example, California Education Code § 17661(d) requires school HVAC systems to meet minimum ventilation requirements, which can be verified using IAQ monitors.

The challenges of maintaining good air quality in schools

Ensuring consistently good IAQ in any high-occupancy environment can be challenging, but schools face several additional challenges. Below are the most common indoor air quality challenges schools experience. 

Outdated school buildings 

Almost 40% of school buildings in America were built before 1970, while 28% were built before 1950. The outdated design of these buildings prioritizes insulation over ventilation, leading to the accumulation of air pollution in schools. 

High occupancy levels

The average class size in U.S. public schools is 16 – 25 students. However, as class sizes rise due to staff shortages, more students often occupy enclosed classrooms during the school day. In this context, CO2 levels can quickly become hazardous if adequate ventilation systems are not in place.

To maintain safe air quality, schools are expected to keep CO2 levels below 1000 parts per million (ppm). However, studies have shown that levels can reach as high as 3000 ppm in some classroom environments. Air quality monitors can help school administrators observe these levels and make timely decisions about occupancy levels.

Poor existing HVAC systems

Much like indoor air quality in healthcare facilities, HVAC systems are crucial for air circulation and filtration in schools. Adequate ventilation systems are critical in older buildings and overcrowded classrooms to help reduce indoor air pollution.

A 2020 U.S. Government Accountability Office study found that 36,000 American K‑12 public schools have outdated or damaged HVAC systems. Although replacement of the HVAC systems can be costly and disruptive, the Government Accountability officials suggested that updates should be prioritized to address health and safety risks.

Issues with outdoor air pollution

Outdoor air quality can significantly affect indoor air cleanliness. Open windows and doors allow external contaminants to enter classrooms, while poorly ventilated systems can introduce external pollutants.

Common outdoor contaminants include nitrogen dioxide, smog from traffic and industrial activities, seasonal pollen and pollutants from wildfires. The levels of outdoor contaminants that impact IAQ can vary across school districts.

Funding and budget constraints

Even when indoor air quality issues have been identified, securing funding for improvements can be challenging for many schools. Due to the lack of available funds, school administrators often need to make strategic decisions and reprioritize how resources are used, which means that some issues are not addressed for multiple years.

However, schools can explore additional options for IAQ improvements. School safety grants like ESSER funds and the SSSG Program can be used to support the implementation of technologies that improve safety and security in schools. Such school safety grants can help make the price of IAQ monitors for schools more accessible.

How IAQ monitors for schools help improve indoor air quality

Given the numerous challenges schools face in maintaining good indoor air quality, IAQ monitors play a crucial role in detecting and addressing these issues effectively.

Indoor air quality monitors for schools are specialized sensors designed to detect harmful pollutants, particulate matter and contaminants in the air. Sensors installed in high-risk locations like classrooms, hallways and offices can trigger custom alerts if pollutant levels exceed safe thresholds.

IAQ monitoring systems combine hardware and software solutions, where physical sensors connect to a digital management platform, allowing administrators to access real-time and historical data from secure devices or computers.

What pollutants can IAQ monitors detect?

Indoor air quality monitors for schools can help identify and address various air quality issues that could negatively impact student learning and health. By continuously analyzing school air quality for signs of harmful pollutants, IAQ monitors enable prompt and effective responses to potential issues.

High-quality IAQ monitors for schools can detect the following concerns:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2): CO2 accumulates in the air when large numbers of people spend time in enclosed spaces like classrooms and offices.
• Carbon monoxide (CO): CO leaks, often from poorly maintained furnaces, boilers or faulty gas exhaust systems, are odorless and hard to detect without specialized equipment like IAQ monitors for schools.
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2): NO2 is one of the most common indoor air pollutants, resulting from poorly maintained heating systems or outdoor sources like vehicle emissions and industrial processes.
• Particulate matter (PM): PM is a mix of particles and droplets suspended in the air that can cause eye, nose, throat and respiratory issues if inhaled. IAQ monitors for schools should be configured to detect PM as small as 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5).
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): VOCs can be emitted from various sources, including cleaning products, disinfectants, varnishes and paints. VOC levels indoors are often much higher than outdoors.
• Temperature and humidity: High temperatures and excess humidity can impact comfort and concentration and promote mold and mildew growth. This is not only detrimental to students’ health but also may cause structural building damage.
• Nicotine and THC: Around 2.8 million young people in the U.S. use tobacco products frequently. Advanced indoor air quality monitors for schools can detect nicotine, vape aerosols and THC to help teachers detect vaping or smoking incidents on school property and address them.

Choosing an indoor air quality monitor for schools

When developing and implementing IAQ monitoring systems for schools, it’s important to consider the unique challenges your institution faces. IAQ monitors for schools should accurately detect common pollutants, notify admins of potential incidents and produce detailed IAQ reports to support continuous improvements.

Here are the key features to look for in the best indoor air quality monitors for schools.

Multiple sensor types

Numerous pollutants and contaminants can be hazardous to the health and safety of students, so your IAQ monitors should be able to detect multiple types of pollutants like CO, CO2, NO2, PM and VOCs, as well as environmental conditions like temperature and humidity.

Some advanced indoor air quality monitors can also detect security threats. For example, cigarette and vape detectors can help address smoking incidents on campus, while sound sensors can identify acts of aggression or break-ins.

Detection sensitivity

Pollutants, contaminants and harmful particulate matter can vary significantly in size, from larger particles (PM10) to those measuring 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and even 0.1 microns. The best indoor air quality monitors for schools should be certified to detect at least PM2.5‑sized particles to help ensure safe air quality indoors.

Intuitive and adjustable controls 

For IAQ monitors to be effective, they must be easy to operate and adjust. Administrators should prioritize devices that can be linked to a cloud-based management system and accessible to relevant staff, with options for instant SMS and email alerts.

Integration capabilities 

Advanced indoor air quality monitors for schools can integrate with existing school security systems and building management systems to enable automated responses. For example, if pollutant levels surpass the safe thresholds, the system can send instant alerts to the ventilation system to improve airflow. Air quality sensors can also integrate with wider school emergency alert systems to trigger notifications and alerts.

Indoor air quality monitors can also integrate with security devices like alarms and access control systems to instantly warn of air quality incidents and automatically lock access points to minimize exposure. Additionally, some advanced sensors can be integrated with school surveillance cameras to manage and gain insight into potential issues on a seamless video management platform.

Analytics and reporting functions

IAQ monitors for schools with built-in analytics and reporting functions can provide insights into long-term exposure events. These sensors continuously collect data to create reports detailing air quality metrics over time, helping administrators maintain compliance with regulations and identify potential ventilation issues. These reports can also serve as evidence in federal grant applications to improve your school’s safety systems.

Improving school air quality with HALO Smart Sensors

The HALO Smart Sensor is an award-winning, comprehensive solution for detecting a wide range of air quality concerns in schools. These advanced sensors help school administrators stay ahead of potential issues by monitoring a wide range of air quality and environmental factors:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Air pressure
• Light levels
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Particulates (PM1, PM2.5 and PM10)
• Ammonia (NH3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)

By continuously analyzing air quality data, HALO Sensors provide actionable insights to help maintain healthier indoor spaces for students and staff. HALO Sensors integrate seamlessly with broader school safety technology to enable swift response to air quality concerns.

Beyond air quality, HALO sensors also detect vaping, smoke and sound anomalies, adding a layer of security without compromising privacy. This makes HALO sensors an all-in-one solution for schools looking to address not only air quality concerns but also behavioral and safety issues.

How to effectively implement indoor air quality monitors in schools

Once you have identified a suitable IAQ monitor for your school, it’s important to implement and utilize them effectively.

Below are some best practices and considerations to take into account when implementing IAQ sensors in schools:

Conduct preliminary assessments

Begin by assessing air quality in high-risk areas of the school to determine appropriate locations for IAQ monitors. Prioritize high-traffic areas like hallways, classrooms, restrooms and offices where air quality issues are most likely to impact people, as well as rooms housing HVAC equipment.

External experts can help conduct these assessments and provide recommendations. Alternatively, school administrators may use handheld IAQ monitors to conduct internal tests. However, it’s important to ensure whoever conducts the assessment has experience analyzing air quality index data.

Identify optimal sensor placement

Prioritize installing IAQ sensors in areas identified in the preliminary assessment. For optimal performance, position sensors in enclosed areas free of heavy air drafts. Depending on the type of sensor, the devices may need to be installed with access to power cable wiring for operation. If sensors are to be integrated with wider safety technologies, consulting with a security system integrator will be important to determine proper installation location and processes.

Learn how to interpret IAQ data

IAQ monitors for schools will provide real-time information about the air quality, but it’s crucial to understand the data to respond appropriately. Most IAQ monitors will provide a general overview of air quality through an Air Quality Index (AQI) score ranging from 0 – 500, with ratings of over 100 indicating IAQ issues.

In addition to AQI ratings, school administrators should be aware of safe thresholds for pollutants like CO, CO2, NO2 and VOCs. Proper calibration of IAQ monitors is key, especially if you plan to integrate them with HVAC and physical security technology for automated responses.

Provide detailed staff training

Indoor air quality monitors for schools are only effective if staff know how to use them and respond to alerts. Teachers should be familiar with IAQ monitor locations, what they detect and what an alarm sounds and looks like. Detailed response plans should also be made accessible on a shared platform. Regular training is essential to ensure school staff are aware of the latest safety procedures and can respond to incidents safely.

Conclusion

Good air quality in schools is an essential component of a safe and healthy environment conducive to learning. Pollutants like CO, CO2 and VOCs are often present in school buildings and have been linked to serious health risks. However, detecting and addressing these pollutants can be challenging without technological assistance.

Multi-sensor IAQ monitors for schools, like the HALO Smart Sensor, can help detect a wide range of air quality issues and security threats. IAQ sensors for schools offer a comprehensive solution to common school health and safety needs, allowing students to stay focused on learning.