Investigation of Indoor Air Quality in Natural Ventilated Classroom in Perlis

Abstract

Indoor air pollutants have been linked to many health effects in humans and particularly children who are more vulnerable to the poor IAQ. This study presents quantitative assessment of IAQ in the selected primary schools in Perlis that is situated at northern peninsular of Malaysia. The objectives of this study was to investigate indoor air quality and comfort parameters in the natural ventilated school classroom in Perlis. A real-time monitoring method that was derived from Industry Code of Practice on IAQ 2010 by Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) was used in this research. IAQ monitoring was conducted using Aeroqual Series 500, Tactical Air Sampler, SKC Aircheck XR5000, Elitech Rc-4 and UT363BT Anemometer were carried out at two primary schools which are SK Seri Perlis and SK Putra. Selected parameters such as respirable particulates (PM10), total volatile organic compound (TVOC), formaldehyde (CH2O), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), temperature, relative humidity and velocity were measured for two months period. The IAQ monitoring results revealed that the air pollutants were recorded higher in SK Seri Perlis compared to SK Putra due to its location that is nearby roadside. The examined pollutants concentration such as PM10, CO, and O3 were within the acceptable limits of Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (2010) by DOSH, while CH2O, temperature, relative humidity and velocity were detected higher than the acceptable limits.