Schools of the Future

In Australia, approaches to supporting children in academic life have advanced in recent years. Education policy is no longer focused solely on academic achievement, rather schools are expected to have a holistic approach that encompasses student and teacher health, wellbeing and personal development. According to a 2019 McCrindle survey, almost half of Australian parents have increased expectations of schools to support their child’s wellbeing. Other research indicates that there is a strong link between teacher wellbeing and student achievement. The role of the physical school environment in the development of students and teachers cannot be understated. Well designed spaces that are accessible and engaging can contribute to a better quality of life and enhanced learning and teaching effectiveness. Conversely, poor environmental conditions can result in reduced cognitive function, health risks and behavioural issues, all of which can adversely affect the student’s ability to learn. Against this backdrop, architects, designers and specifiers are focusing on selecting sustainable and healthy building materials for classrooms and other learning environments. Comfortable, clean and durable floors can significantly enhance the quality of educational spaces and positively impact the everyday lives of students and teachers. In this whitepaper, we examine the key design considerations when specifying flooring for the educational sector. We look at the use of colour, acoustics, underfoot and sitting comfort, indoor air quality and other relevant factors in relation to creating engaging, healthy spaces that enable elevated learning and teaching outcomes.

As children spend a majority of their young lives in school, indoor air quality in educational facilities is a major public health concern. Indoor air quality refers to the quality of air within building structures, particularly in relation to its effect on the health and comfort of occupants. Indoor pollution concentrations are often equal to or exceeding outdoor levels. This is partly due to the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust and allergens. Regular exposure to allergens can lead to the development of asthma, a major cause of school absenteeism. Children are especially vulnerable with approximately 14% of the world’s children reporting asthma symptoms based on recent statistics. Moreover, according to the Global Asthma Report, Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world. Exposure to VOC emissions can lead to short and long-term health issues including allergies, headaches, eye, nose and throat irritation, and respiratory disease. More serious complications include damage to the liver, kidneys or central nervous system. Children are particularly at risk as they have less-developed respiratory and immune systems. It is recommended to select floor coverings with low-VOC content. Reports suggest that soft-surface flooring, like carpet and textile composites, are minor contributors to VOC emissions, with the majority of emissions concentrated around the time of installation then tapering off. Flooring products should be tested for volatile emissions and certified to contain safe levels of VOCs. Some flooring materials emit VOCs throughout their entire lifecycle or have maintenance procedures that require the use of toxic substances. Polishes, waxes and strippers can contain harmful chemicals and are commonly used in the maintenance of certain types of hard-surface flooring. Surfaces that require minimal maintenance, or which can be simply cleaned with safe cleaning solutions like detergent and water, should be considered. The presence of particulate matter (PM) (also referred to as fine dust) can also impact indoor air quality. Particulates with an aerodynamic diameter of 10μm or smaller (PM10) can contain microbial contaminants, which cause respiratory problems, allergies and in some cases physiological issues. Some studies have found that carpet captures dust and other allergens within its fibres, reducing the number of airborne particulates in an indoor space. Recent innovations in flooring has seen the introduction of carpets specifically designed to capture more fine dust and particles, delivering improved performance over existing standard carpet solutions.

Poor acoustics in educational spaces are known to negatively affect student learning ability. Noise affects children more than adults in tasks involving speech perception, listening and comprehension. Excess noise can also lead to reduced occupant comfort, increased stress, and losses in concentration – all of which can lead to declines in academic performance. Creating an environment where noise is kept to comfortable levels is important to enable effective learning and teaching, especially in areas such as libraries, lecture theatres and classrooms. Good acoustic design means minimising ambient noise and noise from adjacent areas. Coverings on floors, walls and ceilings can absorb noise and contribute to calmer learning environments. Selecting soft surface flooring options over hard surface flooring is good practice. Hard, ceramic tiles reflect sound and add to general noise levels. Soft surface flooring products are typically better at absorbing sound. Carpet with a high sound absorption coefficient is suitable for large spaces, while smaller classrooms benefit from flooring that can reduce impact sound from chair legs.

Beyond its decorative purpose, the pattern and colour on floor coverings can help create a positive learning and teaching environment. Research shows that colours produce different physical and psychological effects, including alertness, tension, heartbeat and brain activity. In addition, colour selection has been shown to influence learning performance. In research discussed in the Color Research & Application journal, test subjects delivered significantly higher reading scores in vivid color conditions. Another study published in 2015 noted that a visually coherent aesthetic can help students focus and ignore distractions. As the perception of colour and space develops with age, light and colour needs to be adapted to each student age group. 

Children 0-12 years In this age group, the focus is on motor and sensory development, which is aided by primary colours and light and dark contrasts. As children age, individual personality traits emerge and a wider palette of colours and geometric patterns will be more suitable. 

Young adults 12-18 years Throughout their teenage years, young adults become more aware of colour contrast, which can stimulate and relax. Balancing highly activating colours (e.g. intense, vivid tones) with colours that evoke a sense of relaxation (e.g. pastels and greys) within a learning space can avoid a disengaging, monotone environment. 

Adults over 18 years As students enter into higher education, attitudes to colours and materials are often influenced by academic discipline. For example, technical students may prefer industrial tones, while humanities students may prefer an aesthetic that balances authenticity and modernity.

Mandatory requirements 

Australian building regulations contain performance requirements and specifications that apply to all building structures. States and Territory governments also issue design guidelines for educational facilities which should be referenced during the design and specification process. 

Underfoot and sitting comfort 

Comfort is key for a good learning space, particularly when sitting, standing or walking. Physical discomfort can lead to stress, fatigue and physical pain, all of which can contribute to reduced productivity and motivation. The bounce and softness profile of floor covering can contribute to increased comfort, particularly in classroom settings where younger students may be sitting on the floor. 

Durability 

Flooring solutions specified for school environments should be able to withstand heavy traffic and wear. Some flooring materials are more susceptible to dents and indentations, which make them unsuitable for classrooms. Carpets and textile flooring need to be resistant to pile crushing and offer high dimensional stability if they are being used in areas subject to heavy traffic. 

Stain resistance 

Stain resistance is also an important consideration in a variety of educational contexts. School classrooms will likely see spillage of substances that could stain floors, from paints in art class to chemicals like iodine in science. To preserve their appearance and surface performance over their lifetime, some flooring products include protective coatings that protect against stains and enable easy cleaning and restoration. 

Maintenance requirements 

Approximately 80% of operational costs associated with floor coverings relate to cleaning and maintenance. Some products will be more expensive to maintain than others, so lifecycle costs should be considered during specification. Floor coverings will generally suffer reduced performance if not maintained or cleaned properly. 

Sustainability value

 In Australia, industry design guidelines encourage schools to utilise sustainable, environmentally-certified building materials. Designers and specifiers should consider the environmental impact of a flooring product throughout its entire lifecycle – from manufacturing to endof- life disposal. Certain types of flooring products are not biodegradable, or difficult to recycle and re-use. Products with environmental credentials and low-VOC certification should be preferred.