Portable Classrooms & Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

There are over 130,000 K-12 schools across the United States according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Over 55 million students attend these public and private schools and a many of these schools have had to rely on the use of portable classrooms due to overcrowding and other reasons.

With the increased use of portable classrooms, some teachers, students and parents have expressed concerns over the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of these structures as many have become permanent fixtures on school campuses.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the most common problems with portable classrooms include:
• Poorly functioning HVAC systems that provide minimal ventilation with outside air
• Poor acoustics from loud ventilation systems
• Chemical off-gassing from pressed wood and other high-emission materials, which may be of greater concern because of rapid occupancy after construction
• Water entry and mold growth
• Site pollution from nearby parking lots or loading areas

The EPA specifically mentions the fact that pressed-wood products, which may contain higher concentrations of formaldehyde, are used more in the factory-built portable units than in buildings constructed on-site. As a result, levels of airborne chemicals may be higher in new portable classrooms, especially if ventilation is reduced.

The agency goes on to state that like all school facilities, portable classrooms should contain appropriate building and indoor surface materials, and properly designed ventilation systems, to minimize the presence of indoor pollutants. Commissioning and regular maintenance are also important to maintain the quality of the indoor environment. To assist school districts in creating a healthy learning environment, the EPA provides helpful checklists for Specifying New Portable Classrooms, Commissioning, and the Operations and Maintenance of these types of buildings.

These are just a few things to know about indoor environmental quality and portable classrooms. To learn more about this or other building science, indoor air quality, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.

Clark Seif Clark https://www.csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. https://www.emsl.com
LA Testing https://www.latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental https://www.zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine https://www.healthyindoors.com