Managing Environmental Conditions in School Buildings

13 Mar 2026

How Environmental Assessments Support Healthy Learning Environments

Students and staff spend six to eight hours each day inside school buildings. Ventilation systems, building materials, and indoor conditions influence indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and occupant health.

Across the United States, many school facilities were constructed decades ago. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that more than half of school districts report needing to update or replace major systems such as HVAC, plumbing, and roofing.

Aging mechanical systems, older building materials, and sustained occupancy place pressure on those responsible for maintaining safe indoor environments. Evaluating environmental conditions while buildings are fully occupied helps identify how building systems perform under normal operating conditions.

Environmental assessments and testing help schools plan maintenance, schedule renovations, and manage risks in occupied buildings.

Environmental Conditions Commonly Managed in School Facilities

Maintaining healthy indoor environments is a routine part of school facilities management. Many issues become more visible during maintenance, system upgrades, or renovation work in occupied buildings.

Older school facilities often contain materials and building systems that require ongoing monitoring. These reviews often focus on building materials, ventilation performance, moisture conditions, and water quality.

Asbestos-Containing Materials

Many schools constructed before the late 1980s incorporated asbestos-containing materials (ACM) for their durability and fire resistance. However, many ACMs were still used in later years.

Asbestos-containing materials may be present in:

• Floor Tiles
• Pipe Insulation
• Sprayed Fireproofing
• Ceiling Materials
• Mechanical Insulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates asbestos management in schools through the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), which requires periodic reinspection, routine surveillance of known materials, and written management plans for K–12 facilities.

When these materials remain intact and undisturbed, they are often managed in place through established operations and maintenance programs. Renovation or maintenance activities, however, may disturb these materials and require proper identification and control procedures before work begins. It is also important to note that the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) require a separate, more thorough survey of all materials to be disturbed by these activities and does not provide an end date for building construction.

Lead Exposure Risks

Lead exposure remains a concern in many older schools, particularly those constructed before federal restrictions on lead-based paint in 1978.

Lead-based paint may still be present on walls, doors, windows, and other building components in older schools. Lead can also remain in plumbing systems, solder, and brass fixtures, which may contribute to elevated lead levels in drinking water under certain corrosive conditions.

Renovation, repair, or maintenance activities that disturb painted surfaces can generate lead-contaminated dust if proper containment and work practices are not followed. Because of these risks, renovation activities in facilities serving children are regulated under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule and other applicable occupational and environmental regulations.

Lead exposure concerns may also arise from aging plumbing infrastructure. Corrosion within older piping systems or fixtures can introduce lead into drinking water, particularly where lead service lines or older brass components remain in service.

Sampling and testing of painted surfaces and drinking water fixtures help facilities teams identify potential lead sources and plan maintenance or renovation work accordingly.

Indoor Environmental Quality

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in schools is influenced by several factors, including:

• Ventilation Rates
• Filtration Efficiency
• Building Materials
• Classroom Occupancy
• Moisture Conditions
• Chemical Usage

Industry guidance, such as ASHRAE Standard 62.1, establishes ventilation rates intended to maintain acceptable indoor air quality in occupied buildings.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) monitoring is commonly used as an indicator of ventilation performance in classrooms. Elevated CO₂ concentrations may indicate that outdoor air ventilation is not keeping pace with occupant density.

School facilities teams often reference the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools framework when evaluating ventilation practices, preventive maintenance, and building operation procedures.

Moisture Intrusion and Microbial Growth

Moisture intrusion from roof leaks, plumbing failures, or building envelope deficiencies can create conditions that support microbial growth. Porous materials such as drywall, insulation, carpeting, and ceiling tiles can retain moisture if leaks or condensation are not addressed quickly.

Moisture conditions are typically investigated through visual inspections, moisture mapping, and environmental sampling. Identifying moisture sources early helps address underlying issues before larger remediation efforts are required.

Drinking Water Quality

Drinking water systems represent another environmental consideration in school facilities.

Low-use fixtures, aging plumbing infrastructure, and corrosion within piping systems can influence water quality. Corrosion in older piping systems or fixtures may introduce lead into drinking water, particularly where lead service lines or older brass components remain in service. Microbial impacts can also occur in poorly maintained potable water and HVAC systems, with Legionella spp. and coliforms frequently present.

Sampling and testing of drinking water fixtures help facilities teams identify potential issues and verify that plumbing systems are operating safely.

The Role of Early Environmental Assessment

Industrial hygiene and environmental assessments provide information before conditions escalate or project schedules are affected. Rather than reacting to complaints or discovering environmental conditions during construction, schools can plan maintenance and renovation work with an understanding of existing building conditions.

Common environmental assessments include:

• Indoor Environmental Quality Evaluations
• Asbestos Surveys and Material Sampling
• Lead-Based Paint Inspections
• Moisture and Mold Investigations
• Drinking Water Sampling

These assessments help facilities teams determine where controls are needed and how work can proceed safely in occupied buildings.

How Intertek Supports Education Facilities

Intertek provides industrial hygiene and environmental services to education facilities across the United States. Schools and universities work with Intertek to evaluate building conditions before maintenance or renovation work begins and to monitor occupied buildings during construction.

Our accredited laboratories and field specialists provide testing, sampling, and analysis that help schools plan maintenance, prioritize upgrades, and maintain safe learning environments.