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Quality (IEQ)

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Indoor Environment Quality

Acoustical Quality

Indoor Acoustics can have a large impact on the ability of students to concentrate. When background noise becomes excessive and distracting, the ability of students and teachers to understand each other is diminished. The level to which background noise affects the ability of a student to learn varies based on age, language proficiency, instances of hearing loss, and individual hearing preferences. Typically, children's ability to distinguish sounds from background noise is not fully developed until they are teenagers. Therefore, improving indoor acoustics should become a priority for school officials and architects.

Background noise comes both from indoor and outdoor sources. Outdoor sources of unwanted noise include traffic, airplanes, construction, etc. Indoor sources of noise come from loud air-conditioning and ventilation systems, and internal noise from other parts of the school. As a result, teachers often shut off ventilation systems, which can have the unfortunate side effect of reducing indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Using air baffles for supplies and returns, interior insulated closets for air handlers, and package units, and separate low- noise exhaust air systems for continuous air supply can reduce HVAC noise levels, save energy, and help classrooms run more smoothly.