External Building Safety
Portable Classroom Safety
An estimated 385,000 portable classrooms are in use at schools across the country, and that number is sure to grow, as school districts across the nation are dealing with overcrowding issues. Portable classrooms should be a temporary fix for overcrowding, but more often than not, they are becoming permanent fixtures on school campuses.
Portables and Health Issues
Portables should be only used as short-term fixes as they can lead to chronic problems, such as the following:
- exposing students and teachers to mold and mildew
- poor ventilation
- potential for dangerous gases from cheap or sub-standard building materials
Mold in Classrooms
Experts say outdoor air should be supplied on a continuous basis when students and/or teachers are in the portable classroom to improve the ventilation. If students or teachers experience eye or respiratory irritation, neurologic symptoms or difficulty concentrating while in the portable classrooms, they should immediately reduce exposure and get medical help.
Poor lighting, extreme temperatures and noisy heating, and air conditioning can compromise the learning experience in portables. The structures often are placed in soggy fields or parking lots, near noise and vehicle exhaust.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-1. What is one reason portables should only be used temporarily?
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