Thermal Comfort and Co₂ as Indicators of Indoor Environmental Quality in High School Classrooms

Educational spaces are fundamental for the development and learning of students. However, studies on thermal comfort and indoor air quality in classrooms are still limited in Latin American contexts. The objective of this research is to evaluate the thermal comfort and air quality in classrooms of the 11-18 age group of a high school in Loja city, Ecuador. For this purpose, the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) was measured and variables such as temperature, humidity, radiation, air speed, air renewal and CO2 concentration were analyzed. The results indicate the need to reduce the interior temperature of the classrooms by at least 4°C to achieve thermal comfort and thus comply with the regulations of the “Norma Ecuatoriana de la Construcción” (NEC). In addition, it was detected that in classrooms occupied by adolescents 10 to 13 years old, CO2 levels rise up to 1500 ppm, exceeding the admissible limits of Indoor Air IDA3 and 4. The work contributes with strategies to improve environmental conditions and achieve healthy spaces that favor learning and well-being of adolescent students.