Birmingham Students Build Classroom Air Filtration Systems
Students and UAB researchers partnered to install DIY air filters to lower indoor particle pollution.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Asthma
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Students at Birmingham's Build Up Community School collaborated with University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers to improve indoor air quality. The team built and installed DIY air filtration systems to combat high levels of particulate matter.
Why it matters
High concentrations of indoor particulate matter are linked to diminished academic performance and various health complications. Improving air quality within classrooms helps create a safer, more effective environment for learning.
Before the filtration systems were installed, classroom PM2.5 readings ranged from 12 to 25 micrograms per cubic meter. Students and researchers constructed and placed 12 additional air filters throughout the school to address these levels.
The players
Build Up Community School
This educational institution in Birmingham served as the primary site for the air quality research and filter installation project.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Known as UAB, this research university collaborated with students to test indoor air quality and deploy filtration technology.
The details
Students assembled Corsi-Rosenthal boxes, which use four air filters arranged in a square with a fan on top to pull in pollutants. Researchers used internal sensors to track PM2.5 and PM10 particles, confirming that the new systems successfully reduced pollution to desired ranges.
Timeline
October 28, 2026: The research findings and project details were published.
The Big Picture
This project follows a design pattern established by the Corsi-Rosenthal box, which was popularized to provide accessible air cleaning. It represents an application of DIY engineering solutions to address environmental health challenges in localized indoor settings.
This initiative demonstrates how simple, low-cost filtration can effectively improve the immediate air quality within a shared space. Reducing particulate matter levels can help minimize respiratory triggers for students and staff with underlying health conditions.
The takeaway
DIY air filtration systems offer a scalable way to reduce indoor pollutants in schools and other public buildings. Implementing these simple fan-and-filter setups can provide immediate, measurable improvements to the air quality in occupied spaces.
Further reading
For more information on respiratory health and environment, visit our Asthma section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WVTM 13.
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