Energy Efficiency and Maintenance Constraints When Considering the Indoor Air Quality of an Educational Building—Case Study

Indoor air quality (IAQ) and its effect on occupant´s well-being and comfort is an important area of study. This paper presents a case study concerning a primary School that has some problems with pollutants and bad smell. By establishing links between IAQ and occupant well-being and comfort, a range of issues related to IAQ, pollutants, thermal comfort and ventilation, are considered in this paper. The procedures for measuring and monitoring indoor air conditions that were followed revealed very high CO2 concentration levels and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which confirm insufficient air exchange just by opening windows. Some good practices, such as user awareness, training and education on the proper utilization of the spaces and installed equipment, as well as retrofitting options that include redesigning technical facilities and reviewing the organization's management options, are some of the areas of intervention highlighted and documented in the full version of this document. In addition, it presents an immediate action to improve the IAQ of the building, as well as the results that prove the subsequent satisfactory improvement of the IAQ. This paper presents an approach proven to safeguard the pollutants control allowing to considerably reduce them inside the building, providing adequate IAQ even when the air quality outside of the building present some significant problems and when the architectural configuration is also an issue to take in account. The knowledge established as part of this paper would be helpful for researchers, architects, designers and engineers, namely maintenance engineer.