NYC Officials Say School Windows Can Always Offer Solid Ventilation. Independent Scientists Disagree.

...The city has been reluctant to publicly disclose whether all of the classrooms that have been cleared for use in the coming school year meet established air quality standards. Whether the ventilation will be adequate and consistent in the 4,000 or so classrooms across the city that rely only on natural ventilation—that is, functioning windows—remains a point of contention. The city has also added air purifiers to supplement ventilation and is defending the brand they purchased despite criticism that it doesn’t meet the top filtration standards.

While engineers who have spoken to WNYC/Gothamist have called windows a less reliable source of ventilation because they depend on fickle weather conditions, city officials argue they are not only adequate but sometimes more effective than an HVAC system...

https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-officials-say-school-windows-can-always-offer-solid-ventilation-independent-scientists-disagree