SOS School without stress

© proHolz Steiermark . Graz . Zeltweg . www.proholz-stmk.at . office@proholz-stmk.at
proHolz / Holzcluster Steiermark
"SOS – School without Stress“
(from German „Schule ohne Stress“)

way© proHolz Steiermark . Graz . Zeltweg . www.proholz-stmk.at . office@proholz-stmk.at
The initial situation

• Powerful "concrete lobby"
• IBO survey: solid building materials rated as "Category 0"
• BUT:
Untreated solid timber elements as well as windows and doors
made from wood rated as "Category 1"
Initial situation

Initial situation

• The Idea to demonstrate the advantages of the building material
wood with a study project
Initial situation

Results of the pine study:
• Significant reduction in cardiac workload after sleeping in a bed made
from pine wood (3,500 heartbeats / night)
• Lasting positive effect also noticeable during daytime
Relevant previous projects: Pine study

Results of the spruce study:
• Significant advantages of the spruce room regarding
HRV-parameters and heart rate in 25.6 % of the test phases
• Lower stress level in the spruce room, especially in the relax phase
and after power nap
• Significant advantages of the spruce room under conditions of
stress (mental stress was perceived less strenuous)
Relevant previous projects: Spruce study

SOS – project and results

SOS –
project partners

Secondary school in Haus im Ennstal

Wood classroom Standard classroom
SOS – Classrooms

SOS – Classroom interiors

• Corridor wall: 33 m²
(spruce, unfinished)
• Parquet floor: 63 m²
(oak, proActive)
• Ceiling: 63 m²
(fir, unfinished)
• Cupboard: 600 x 100 x 46 cm
(pine/beech)
• Pin board: 600 x 100 cm
(soft fibre board with fabric coating)
SOS – Materials used in wood classrooms

Duration of the study: approx. 1 year
submission, funding,
planning, information, PR
modification,
measurement
period 1
measurement period 2,
information event, PR
measure-
ment
period 3,
analysis
SOS – Timeline

• 7 measurement dates (ECG measurement, questionnaires)
• 4 classrooms
• 54 test persons
SOS – Design of the study

SOS – Measuring device and method

AUSTRO-Mir 1991:
Space device Kymo and
sensor jacket

Sensor housing made from Styrian wood

Examples from the analyses

„bad“ night „good“ night
Examples from the analyses

Physiological results of
the SOS study

Daily variation:
Heart rate standard classroom vs. wood
classroom
8,600 heartbeats per day saved!
Standard classroom Wood classroom

Daily variation:
Vagus nerve standard classroom vs. wood
classroom
Standard classroom Wood classroom

Psychological results of
the SOS study

Social stress of pupils caused by teachers
remains stable

Conflict potential
decreases in wood
classrooms but increases
in standard classrooms!
Conflicts and subjective quality of sleep

Fewer concentration
problems in wood
classrooms!
Grades and concentration performance

• Heart rate:
... in awake state; decreases in "Wood classroom" group (test
group) but increases in "Standard classroom" group (control
group)
• Vagus nerve activity (cardioprotective value):
... in awake state, increases in test group but decreases in
control group
... during night time; remains unchanged in test group but
decreases in control group
• Social stress of pupils caused by teachers:
... remains unchanged in test group but increases in
control group
• School performance and concentration skills:
... less mistakes due to lack of concentration in test group
Summary of the results

Effects of the results on other fields

What do these results mean for the
education sector?
• Proof that schools made from wood provide a stress-free
environment for pupils and teachers:
- Less aggression among pupils
- More willingness to learn and less mistakes due to lack of
concentration and / or focus
- Higher teaching quality due to less behavioural problems
- Probably reduced burnout risk for pupils and teachers

Impressions from the wood classroom

© proHolz Steiermark . Graz . Zeltweg . www.proholz-stmk.at . office@proholz-stmk.at
www.proholz-stmk.at
Further information:

SOS School without stress

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