An exploratory study on the influence of indoor-air parameters on discomfort and cognition performance in schools

The impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on the health and comfort of occupants in indoor environments is now recognized as playing a determining role. Many studies have characterised the causes of poor IAQ in tertiary buildings and their associated productivity losses. Recent studies have quantified the occupants’ cognitive performance decrease in educational buildings as a result of the non-achievement of satisfactory comfort conditions of use. Based on a state-of-the-art review on the impact of IAQ on the occupants’ cognitive performance in schools, we have identified levers for improving indoor ambient conditions and associated cognitive performance. Then, through an experimental on-site measurement campaign, we have collected and analysed temperature, hygrometry and CO2 concentration at a high school in France. We analysed the results in relation to the discomfort feelings of the occupants, as expressed using IoT stations of low-cost commercial multi-sensors. Despite a limited number of collected votes, we explored possible relationships between negative votes and static and dynamic conditions such as: time slots, levels and evolution of temperature, relative humidity and CO2 concentration. We highlight a possible relationship between negative votes and the associated levels of temperature. Last, in the light of these first exploratory results, we conclude on recommendations for future research to improve IAQ and cognitive performance in schools.