Indoor air temperature and relative humidity measurements in Finnish schools and day-care centres

Abstract

Indoor air temperature and relative humidity measurements of schools and day-care centres in two research projects on indoor air conditions in municipal buildings with mechanical ventilation in Finland were combined for a large sample of occupied spaces with typical conditions experienced by users of the buildings. In addition to user experience, the occupied spaces represented the spaces with determining air humidity load when assessing moisture performance of envelope structures. Indoor air temperature was stable excluding extreme external conditions that caused crossings of limit values. Permanence within limit values of the Finnish Classification of Indoor Environment was inadequate leaving all buildings in the lowest classification level S3. Mechanical ventilation in municipal buildings is designed to keep pollutants at moderate level during high occupancy which results in non-existent indoor air moisture excess, which during winter leads to low indoor air relative humidity. Although dry indoor air provides safety of envelope structures, the drawback is poor performance with regards to the recommended range. Dry indoor air has negative effects on the indoor air quality experienced by the users, causing skin and eye irritation.