Building certification schemes–A way towards better IAQ and thermal comfort in schools? A critical review of schemes used in Northern European countries

Review article, 2025

Many research studies have shown that the quality of indoor environment in school buildings is poor, with low ventilation rates being the most common issue. In the recent years, the interest in certification system have been constantly growing and their use have become more common not only in offices, but also in other types of buildings including educational. The aim of this critical review is to provide a constructive analysis of selected building certification systems and to discuss whether their utilisation can lead to improvements in the currently generally unsatisfactory indoor environment conditions in schools. Several certification systems (BREEAM, LEED, DGNB, Miljöbyggnad and Svanen), which are used in the countries of Northern Europe (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland), are subject of a detailed examination. Both systems used for design and construction of the buildings and systems for buildings in operation are included. The focus is on the criteria related to thermal comfort and indoor air quality, which are also compared with relevant national requirements. All systems include criteria that focus on thermal comfort and indoor air quality; however, the scope and level of detail differ. Moreover, the stage of the building life cycle in which the systems is applied is also crucial. The identified advantages and disadvantages of the use of certification systems as well as the elements and factors that would merit greater attention in the case of school buildings are also discussed.