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air-Q in action:
Kurt-Masur-Schule Leipzig - root cause analysis for temperature problems in summer

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Since 2019, the Kurt Mausur School has been struggling with overheated classrooms and insufficient air circulation, especially in the summer months. Teachers and children report concentration problems, headaches and restricted teaching. Temperature problems also occur in winter, with unpleasantly cold rooms at the beginning of the week. The aim of the project is to improve these conditions and find sustainable solutions.

Find out here how the air-Q can be used in a school to improve indoor air quality.

What is the measurement about?

In 2019, the school contacted the parents' council about overheated rooms and poor air quality. Parents, teachers and the after-school care center also confirmed the problems, which occurred in both summer and winter. A working group (AG Hitze) was set up to find solutions, but obstacles such as costs, planning and fire safety made it difficult to take action.

In 2024, the school began systematically documenting room temperatures and sent the results to the architecture firm.

On the initiative of the parents' council, air-Q agreed to carry out and evaluate measurements of relevant indoor air parameters in predefined rooms. A small air conditioning unit was operated in one room at the same time, as the school management is investigating its installation in particularly polluted rooms as a possible solution.

air-Q in the WellHome study
air-Q in the WellHome study
Picture: one thermometer for checking and two air-Q light

How was the measurement carried out?

In order to analyze the situation, air-Q light room air analysis devices were placed in two classrooms between 21 August and 9 September. The devices recorded the air pressure, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, relative humidity and the concentration of volatile organic compounds every two minutes.

While the temperature is used to record the heating of the rooms, the recording of humidity, the concentration of volatile hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide allows a statement to be made about the sensation of the room temperature, the intensity of the air exchange achieved, as well as some basic parameters for assessing the air quality.

By measuring the carbon dioxide concentration, it is possible to read when the room is being used and whether its accumulation is the cause of discomfort, headaches or dizziness. The selection as well as the high temporal resolution of the measured values not only allows conclusions to be drawn about the average exposure to these variables, but also provides an insight into the temporal relationships between these variables.

In addition, freely accessible as well as existing temperature data from the outdoor area were consulted in order to be able to qualitatively interpret the influence of outdoor temperatures on indoor temperatures.

What are the results of the measurement?

Temperature‍

  • The room temperatures during lessons were constantly too high (between 26°C and over 30°C).
  • The main causes are direct sunlight on the window fronts and the heat emitted by people and appliances.
  • There is no noticeable cooling at night due to the building's high heat storage capacity.

Air quality‍

  • CO₂ values and humidity remained within an acceptable range.
  • VOC concentrations showed only occasional peaks, presumably due to room use or materials in the room.
  • The ventilation system ensures a sufficient supply of fresh air, but does not actively cool the rooms.

The measurement results confirm the high temperatures as the greatest burden on school operations. The proposed measures for improved ventilation and shading offer short-term solutions, while possible active cooling needs to be examined in the longer term. The priority is to implement a free cooling program for the efficient use of cool outside air at night in order to achieve a sustainable improvement in the indoor climate.

air-Q in the Wellhome study2
Picture: our air-Q in the classroom
How air-Q helped to document the problem of overheating in the classrooms and derive measures to improve the indoor climate.

Real-time monitoring:
The air-Q's ability to transmit air quality data to the air-Q Cloud in real time allows non-professionals to quickly access the data, quickly identify specific sources of pollution and increase their understanding of air quality. This can not only raise awareness of indoor air pollution, but also lead to practical changes in the daily school routine of teachers and children, such as regular ventilation.

Important functions of the air-Q for measurement at the Kurt Masur School

Comprehensive data acquisition:
The air-Q measuring device enables the simultaneous measurement of several air pollutants such as temperature, carbon dioxide (CO₂), relative humidity and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Two air-Qs light were used for the measurement. The high-frequency measurement (every 2 minutes) enables precise analysis of temperature and air quality trends.

Flexibility and ease of use:
The air-Q is compact, easy to install and easy to transport, making it ideal for use in different rooms. This flexibility has made it possible to collect detailed data in different classrooms.

Real-time monitoring:
The air-Q's ability to transmit air quality data to the air-Q Cloud in real time allows non-professionals to quickly access the data, quickly identify specific sources of pollution and increase their understanding of air quality. This can not only raise awareness of indoor air pollution, but also lead to practical changes in the daily school routine of teachers and children, such as regular ventilation.

Interview with the Kurt Masur School

Discover exciting insights from our written interview with the director of the Kurt Masur School and our expert for indoor air analysis.

‍Learnmore about the measurement at the Kurt Masur School, which our expert carried out with 3 air-Q devices. The interview was conducted in February 2025 and provides exciting insights into the real problems of the school's construction and modern indoor air analysis.

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Would you also like an indoor air analysis for your school?

Right click
Healthy air and indoor climate are essential for productive learning. Would you also like to check the air quality at your school? Get in touch with us and we will help you!
Right click
Healthy air and indoor climate are essential for productive learning. Would you also like to check the air quality at your school? Get in touch with us and we will help you!