DUTCH DAYCARE CENTERS: HOT AND STUFFY

摘要

Young children spend a lot of time in daycare centers. It is known that a bad indoor environment can cause health problems. This paper describes an investigation of the indoor environment in Dutch daycare centers. The study includes summer and winter measurements of the air temperature and the absolute CO{sub}2 levels in 14 daycare centers. The results showed that during winter in 34% of all spaces the maximum CO{sub}2 limit of 1000 ppm was exceeded. In summer the CO{sub}2 levels stay beneath 1000 ppm in most spaces but it is too hot (in 70% of all bedrooms measured air temperature exceeded recommended value). The main causes are that daycare centers are mostly housed in naturally ventilated buildings which depend on adequate ventilation devices and on adequate sun shading, which are both lacking in most cases. Most important recommendations: adequate ventilation devices by adding facade-vents and mechanical exhaust systems, install sun-screen and instruction to the staff.