Fresh Air Systems for Indian Schools

Two numbers determine whether a classroom supports learning: PM2.5 and CO₂. Most Indian classrooms fail both. aqi0 installs the engineering that fixes it.

The problem, in peer-reviewed data

PM2.5 in classrooms

A typical 40-student Indian classroom during Delhi winter shows indoor PM2.5 between 80-180 µg/m³ — sometimes higher than outdoor because of ventilation through leaks and the particulate kicked up by classroom activity. That’s 6-12× the WHO 24-hour limit.

Health impact: PM2.5 exposure in children: - Reduces lung function development by 5-10% over school years (USC Children’s Health Study) - Increases asthma incidence and severity - Correlates with reduced cognitive scores on standardised tests (cross-sectional studies from Beijing, Delhi, Mexico City)

CO₂ in classrooms

A closed classroom with 30+ students routinely reaches 1,500-3,000 ppm CO₂ within the first hour. The WHO/ASHRAE guideline is 1,000 ppm for cognitive function.

Learning impact: - Harvard TH Chan / SUNY Upstate study (Allen et al., 2016): decision-making scores drop 15-50% as CO₂ rises from 600 to 1,400 ppm - Korean study (Myhrvold et al.): primary-school test performance correlates inversely with classroom CO₂ - This is not a small effect. Classroom CO₂ is one of the most under-recognised factors in student performance across Indian schools.

The compounding problem

During NCR’s October-February smog season, schools face a double bind:

Windows closed → PM2.5 somewhat better, CO₂ climbs above 2,000 ppm (cognitive drop)
Windows open → CO₂ drops, but PM2.5 exceeds 300 µg/m³ (health damage)

Neither option is good. A fresh air system breaks the bind: windows stay closed, CO₂ stays low, PM2.5 stays low.

What aqi0 delivers for classrooms

Classroom size	Units required	Continuous airflow
Up to 500 sq ft (~25 students)	1	~500 m³/h
500-1,000 sq ft (~40 students)	1-2	500-1,000 m³/h
Large hall (assembly, dining)	2-4	Up to 2,000 m³/h

Performance target (contractually backed):

PM2.5 under 15 µg/m³ during school hours
CO₂ under 1,000 ppm during all class periods
Filtered outdoor air at clinical H13 HEPA grade (≥99.95% at 0.3 µm)

Installation:

Typically done during vacation windows (summer break, winter break)
Ducting hidden above false ceilings; intake on external wall
No classroom disruption once installed — silent at classroom-conversation volume

Why this matters for Indian schools specifically

Parent expectations. Parents paying ₹2-5 lakh/year in fees increasingly know about PM2.5 and CO₂. Air quality has become a school-choice factor in NCR. Schools advertising “HEPA classrooms” are winning admissions.
Absenteeism reduction. Schools with measured indoor air quality report 10-20% reduction in respiratory-illness absenteeism during NCR winter. This is recoverable teaching time.
Test performance. The cognitive literature on CO₂ is direct. Schools investing in ventilation see measurable test-score improvements, particularly in competitive exam outcomes (JEE, NEET, CBSE boards).
Compliance direction. India’s indoor air quality regulation is tightening. School boards and state governments are beginning to specify ventilation standards for new schools. Getting ahead of this reduces retrofit cost later.

Pricing for schools

Pricing is customised based on: - Number of classrooms / halls - Total square footage - Installation complexity (external wall access, false-ceiling work) - AMC scope (filter swap schedule, monitoring dashboard)

Typical range: ₹65,000-₹85,000 per unit + GST, with volume discounts on 10+ units. AMC pricing reflects peak-season filter frequency for high-occupancy classrooms (every 30 days during Oct-Feb).

GST input tax credit is claimable by registered educational institutions.

Request institutional quote →

What a school engagement looks like

Site visit — our team (Rohan + technical lead) visits, measures current PM2.5 and CO₂ in 3-5 sample classrooms + common areas over a full school day (8am-4pm).
Proposal — within 7 days, a detailed proposal with unit plan, install timeline, pricing, and a 30-day performance warranty.
Installation — during a scheduled vacation window.
Verification — we measure PM2.5 and CO₂ in the same sample rooms for one full school day post-install. If targets not hit, we adjust (unit count, airflow setting, duct layout) at our cost until they are.
AMC — ongoing. Filters, cleaning, monitor dashboard access for facilities admin.

FAQ for school administrators

Does this replace our existing HVAC?

No. It complements. Most Indian school HVAC is cooling-only (AC) and often recirculates without true outdoor-air intake. aqi0 provides the ventilation layer. If your HVAC has a fresh-air mode, aqi0 handles filtration and ensures the fresh-air volume is actually sufficient.

How loud is it in a classroom?

At normal operating voltage, quieter than a classroom ceiling fan on speed 2. Students and teachers do not report it as noticeable. At peak AQI (6 V during November smog), slightly audible but not disruptive to teaching.

Can we monitor performance?

Yes. Every installation includes one or more WiFi AQI monitors. Admin dashboards can be set up to show PM2.5, CO₂, temperature, and humidity per classroom in real time. Alerts can be configured for threshold breaches.

What happens during summer?

The system runs year-round. In summer, PM2.5 is lower (30-60 µg/m³ typical) but CO₂ control remains critical — classrooms with closed doors and AC still accumulate CO₂. The system matters in every season, not just winter.

Do you provide training for facilities staff?

Yes. A 1-hour training for facilities admin covers: monitor access, filter-change indicators, escalation path, and what the numbers mean. Written SOP provided.

Book a school site survey

Email [email protected] with your school name, location, and rough classroom count. We respond within 48 hours with a site-visit slot.

Or WhatsApp us →

For institutional installs in offices, clinics, hotels, or hospitality — email [email protected] with your space details and we’ll respond with a tailored proposal within a working day.