Ventilation in schools

School buildings consist of different types of premises of different sizes and functional types: classrooms, sports gyms, canteens, study laboratories, computer classrooms and others. For every premise there are special requirements concerning air exchange and peculiarities of ventilation.

Requirements for ventilation in schools

So, in classrooms there is a norm of 16 m3/h per one pupil. In laboratories and classrooms with computers it is necessary to have 20 m3/h of supply of fresh air for one person. In sports gyms and canteens – not less than 50 m3/h. The best microclimatic parameters are 16-220C air temperature, 30-60% relative air humidity, up to one l/m3 of CO2.

If air exchange is not sufficient, being in such premises can pose a threat to children’s health.

If air exchange is not sufficient, being in such premises can pose a threat to children’s health. Concentration and attention are decreased, well-being is worsened, a person can have intensification of allergy reactions and in the epidemic period school children get ill more often. Open windows do not solve these problems as they create draughts and in winter time precious warmth is lost.

Peculiarities of arrangement of ventilation in schools

The best variant of ventilation arrangement is the provision of forced intake and extract of air in educational establishments. As natural ventilation is not enough when you install air proof windows, to get positive balance, the extract coefficient must be lower than intake coefficient.

Separately they install mechanical extraction ventilation in toilet facilities and in the premises with local air ducts: chemical laboratories with a ventilation hood, workshops with machine tools and so on.

Independent ventilation systems are installed in the kitchen, dish-washing premises and toilet facilities. The ventilation of a canteen and a lunchroom is designed in accordance with the norms for places of public catering.

Which ventilation system to choose

It is necessary to install an intake-extract ventilation system with heat recuperation in school educational establishments. These are the ventilation installations which have two ventilators on both sides and they rotate to the opposite sides. Consequently, intake and extract air moves simultaneously along different channels towards each other. Due to the copper heat exchanger extract air gives its heat to the intake air. This is called recuperation. So, the air from the outside gets inside fresh and heated up to the level of room temperature. Professionals recommend before buying a recuperator to agree first on necessary equipment and the number of installations which are necessary for every school premise.

A recuperator is an innovative solution in ventilation

When you choose a ventilation installation, you must take into account that in the winter period the premises will be considerably cooled. That is why ventilation will require additional heating expenses. If you install intake-extract ventilation with heat recuperation, then on the contrary, all inner heat will be preserved without interruption of fresh air supply.

It is also important to mention that while removing extract air from the premises, the excessive heat, which is the biggest enemy to any building, is also removed. Due to excessive humidity mould and fungus appear on walls and windows get damp. Only the appropriate ventilation can cope with these problems.

In case if an educational establishment cannot buy a recuperator independently, they can address various options of financing programs.