Adequate means of ventilation and protection against overheating is essential for schools and learning environments. This is outlined in Building Bulletin 101: Guidelines on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools, and one of the best ways to do this is to provide natural ventilation using window actuators.
Benefits of using natural ventilation in schools
When it comes to ventilating educational buildings, natural ventilation is a great alternative to mechanical ventilation, which involves using mechanical devices such as fans. This is because natural ventilation is not only better for the environment, but it is also more cost-effective.
However, in cases where there is already mechanical ventilation in place, natural ventilation can be installed to create what is known as a hybrid system, which can reduce running costs and carbon emissions.
Types of natural ventilation for schools
There are 3 main types of natural ventilation system for schools that can be achieved using manual or automatic window actuators:
Cross ventilation – great for educational buildings that are narrow but not too deep, cross ventilation is provided using windows and vents at either side of a building where the differences in pressure draw air in and out.
Stack ventilation – effective for taller buildings with central atriums and deeper buildings, stack ventilation draws cooler air in at a lower level. The air then rises due to heat exposure before it is vented out at a higher level.
Single-sided ventilation – single-sided ventilation is ideal when cross ventilation is not possible, and it involves using windows or vents at one side of the building to manipulate air pressure.
To give you an idea of how natural ventilation in schools can be provided using chain window actuators in the UK, we have listed various projects that we have been involved in below:
Hillside Primary School, Dundee
For Hillside Primary School in Dundee, we supplied several Windowmaster WCC 310S/320S motorcontrollers with WCA 3FM interface boards, allowing for the windows to be automated as part of the natural ventilation system.
University of the West of England, Bristol
For the natural ventilation system at the University of the West of England in Bristol, we supplied a range of 24v motor controllers from Windowmaster.
Big Data Institute, University of Oxford
The Big Data Institute is the name for Oxford University’s new medical centre and our Highline manual window opening system was installed across its opening vents.
Natural ventilation in schools using louvres, rooflights and vents
Window actuators are not the only method for providing natural ventilation in schools and learning environments. You might also consider louvres, AOV rooflights and other wall and roof vents, depending on the requirements of that project.
Do you require a natural ventilation system for a school or educational building? Get in touch with Teal Products today. We are available to call on 01242 620318 or you can contact us online.
Related to this post:
Summer break sees boom in number of Highline systems fitted in schools
Choosing the right ventilation option for commercial buildings
Why the EVC control system is ideal for natural ventilation systems
