News
IAQmatters conference by Eurovent
Breathing Achievement into Every Classroom
Date: Wednesday, 22 January 2025.
Venue: Institute of Engineering Technology, 2 Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL, UK.
Cost: Free to attend (registration required).
The IAQmatters conference by Eurovent: Breathing Achievement into Every Classroom is designed to probe the link between good indoor air quality (IAQ) and a positive learning experience in educational establishments. With the aim of turning academic research into practical, real-life solutions, the event will explore ways to improve the achievement and wellbeing of children and adults in education.
Eurovent, along with event partners the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), will bring together a top line-up of speakers to explore the topic in depth. With IAQ affecting the health, comfort, and wellbeing of both learners and those working in education, the conference will consider a variety of factors to create good indoor environments.
Programme:
| 12:00 - 13:00 | Registration and lunch | Maxwell Library |
| 13:00 - 13:05 | Introduction and welcome remarks, by Ian Butler, Eurovent Certification | Turing Lecture Theatre |
| 13:05 - 13:45 | Sani Dimitroulopoulou, Duncan Grassie, Kaja Milczewska | UKHSA ‘UKHSA literature review: impacts and benefits of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in educational buildings’ |
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| 13:45 - 14:05 | Catherine Noakes | Professor at the University of Leeds ‘Understanding the effectiveness of air cleaners in schools’ |
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| 14:05 - 14:25 | Henry Burridge | Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London ‘SAMHE air quality monitoring in more than 600 schools across the UK, including on ventilation rates and indoor pollution levels’ |
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| 14:25 - 14:45 | Pawel Wargocki | Professor at Technical University of Denmark ‘What we know and should know about classroom air quality, ventilation, and thermal environment in relation to learning and monitoring’ |
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| 14:45 - 15:05 | Corinne Mandin | Environmental Health Researcher ‘Indoor air quality in French schools: 15 years of research to improve knowledge’ |
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| 15:05 - 15:25 | Coffee break | Maxwell Library |
| 15:25 - 15:45 | Adam Taylor | Chairman of the BESA group on IAQ ‘Teachers' attitude to IAQ, and installation and maintenance concerns’ |
Turing Lecture Theatre |
| 15:45 - 16:05 | Emma Gibbons, Peter Walsh | CIBSE ‘Filters in classrooms and intrusion of externally polluted air’ |
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| 16:05 - 16:25 | Dr Ali Alexandre Nour Eddine | Eurovent ‘Performance-based approach simulation to predict IAQ and energy performance of ventilation systems’ |
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| 16:25 - 17:15 | Panel discussion and audience Q&A, moderated by Simon Jones | |
| 17:15 - 19:00 | Networking evening with drinks and food | Maxwell Library |
Stijn Renneboog, Deputy Secretary General of Eurovent said, “We cannot ignore the effects of poor IAQ on a significant proportion of the population, during the most informative years of their lives. The conference will feature the very latest research, industry insights, and real-life stories on the impacts and benefits of IAQ. The keynote will be delivered by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), who will reveal the results of their latest review into IAQ in educational buildings. If you work in education, are a part of the HVAC community, are a facilities decision maker, or a have an interest in the topic of IAQ, this event is not to be missed.”
Adam Taylor, chair of BESA’s Indoor Air Quality group added, “There are no silver bullets to addressing IAQ – and no ‘magic box’ air cleaning solutions. Improving IAQ is a building engineering issue that calls for solutions that can be applied throughout entire buildings.
“Individual products do play a big part in this, of course, but they must be part of a joined-up, whole building solution based around fully designed, professionally installed and commissioned systems that are then maintained throughout their lifetime and supported by ongoing measuring and monitoring of airborne contaminants.
“Just as net zero cannot be delivered by single technologies, such as heat pumps, so air quality in buildings requires integrated solutions,” added Taylor, who is also CEO of ARM Environments.
Online registration for The IAQmatters conference by Eurovent: Breathing Achievement into Every Classroom launched on World Ventil8 Day on 8th November 2024. The event is free to attend, with spaces available on a first come first served basis.