Cerema partner of a European project to improve air quality in classrooms

The quality of the air inside buildings has a proven effect on health and well-being. It is attributed a minimum annual cost of 19 billion euros per year in France for the community. The 3SqAir project for “Sustainable Smart Strategy for Air Quality Assurance in Classrooms” is the winner of the Interreg SUDOE call for projects, which aims to support regional development in southwestern Europe. The objective of the project is to design an action plan to improve the indoor air quality of classrooms at different levels by implementing innovative, sustainable and intelligent solutions.

The actions cover both:

• On the technical aspects, with the development of an open-source metrology platform that makes it possible to reproduce this approach, with continuous updating of data and a controlled cost;
• On user behavior, with specific innovative approaches for each type of occupant (technical staff, teachers, students), both to measure individual well-being in relation to indoor air quality and to raise their awareness the associated health and comfort issues (educational approach).

The Cerema will pilot one of the two French demonstrations in a college in Gironde. The choice of the pilot site will favor a socially disadvantaged place, welcoming up to 1 pupils between 000 and 11 years old. The study will focus on classrooms, offices, meeting rooms and eating places. The objective is to achieve high energy efficiency coupled with a low environmental impact, by seeking installations with double flow mechanical ventilation and renewable energies.

Cerema works to promote the French experience and know-how it holds for the benefit of the European Union. In this context, this transnational collaboration is essential to assess the impact of intercultural, technical and legal aspects of the European SUDOE area on the deployment of plans to improve indoor air quality. Final results are expected in April 2023.