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WindowMaster has joined industry consultants, leading academics in the field of natural ventilation and other solutions providers to make the case for natural ventilation in schools.
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WindowMaster has joined industry consultants, leading academics in the field of natural ventilation and other solutions providers to make the case for natural ventilation in schools.
Europe's largest provider of natural comfort and smoke ventilation solutions helped deliver a full day seminar and workshop on natural ventilation in schools organised by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). The seminar sought to draw lessons from post-occupancy studies and set out strategies for future compliance.
As part of the seminar, WindowMaster's Carl Sutterby outlined how careful design and precise control for natural ventilation are essential in the delivery of a compliant natural ventilation strategy.
Carl said: "There is a widely held misconception that natural ventilation is not satisfactory to provide adequate indoor air quality in schools. It is believed to be too hot, too cold or too stuffy. It is also said to create high energy bills and to give unpredictable results.
"Post occupancy studies have found that naturally ventilated Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects are using 300 per cent more energy than expected. There are also perceived issues around acoustics, health and security. This is because designs are poorly specified or 'value engineered'.
"The answer is that the building and its controls should be well designed and fine, precise control is solution-based rather than product-based. Currently, performance specifications tend to be based on products and not on the building, its location or specific client needs. Effective natural ventilation solutions must be aligned to these factors.
"Natural ventilation depends on the ability to open and close windows as necessary to ensure sufficient air changes to maintain optimum indoor climate quality. Millimetre by millimetre control of façade and roof windows is essential so that they automatically open and close according to fixed values for the desired room temperature and CO2 levels, as well as external temperature, rain and wind speed.
"Precise control within the first five centimetres of window opening is crucial to the control of temperature, carbon dioxide and noise. It also reduces draughts and improves building security."
The seminar concluded that in order to deliver adequate natural ventilation solutions careful analysis of the project is required in terms of design compliance and fine control strategies. The design should be solution-based design not led by one specific product. That single controls solution should be delivered by a single provider with a single point of responsibility.
Solutions providers such as WindowMaster must be able to deliver strong specifications and proof of their ability to comply with them through live data logging, post occupancy evaluation and client testimonies.
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Tammy Norris
63 Park Road
Peterborough
PE1 2TN
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