Written question asked by Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 13 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 January 2006. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 23 January 2006 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Indoor Airborne Chemicals

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to issue guidelines to schools on acceptable (a) levels and (b) maximum concentrations of indoor airborne chemicals for children aged 4 to 11 years.

Answer: DfES will shortly be issuing a new Building Bulletin 101, ““Ventilation of School Buildings””, see www.teachernet.gov.uk/iaq. This document will give the standards on ventilation for new school buildings for compliance with Approved Document F on Ventilation of the Building Regulations. Its performance standards are based on maximum concentrations of a number of pollutants including relative humidity, carbon monoxide, total volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide and ozone and relate these back to a maximum carbon dioxide concentration and minimum ventilation rate. The new standards will come into force on 1 April 2006 at the same time as the new Approved Document F of the Building Regulations. The new standards are broadly in line with the requirements for minimum ventilation rates for all schools which are laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations SI No.2 1999, (http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1999/19990002.htm)

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 43192; 441 c1916W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Buildings Building regulations Standards Schools Ventilation Pollutants
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk