VOC contributions from building materials, furniture, and user equipment in low emitting and modular classrooms

This study aimed to assess whether building materials,
furniture, and user equipment are sources of pollution
that would influence the need for ventilation. Between
2017-2020, measurements were taken in four regular
classrooms in a low emitting school and four modular
classrooms in a prefabricated school. Weekly passive
sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
aldehydes were carried out in the classrooms under
the following four conditions: 1) emptied, 2) furnished,
3) with furniture and user equipment, and 4) during
normal use. For the first three conditions, the
classrooms were measured with either no ventilation
or \"low\" airflow rates. Total VOC (TVOC)
concentrations were up to ten times higher in the
unventilated classroom at the prefabricated school
compared to classrooms at the low emitting school
(<450 µg/m3 for conditions 1-2). Our results show the importance of selecting low emitting building materials and proper ventilation.