Light + Air

Western Europe

Quick Guide to

Ventilation in
Education
2 Ventilation in An air of
Education achievement

An air of achievement

From primary schools to universities,

educational facilities should provide safe, Working in classrooms
comfortable, and energising environments with higher air quality:
that support staff and learners’ cognition,
communication, and creativity. As decades
of research has shown, ensuring good air
quality is vital to this.

However, designing ventilation strategies for

educational buildings can be a challenge.
Schools contain numerous facilities set
across large sites, including classrooms, 15% better word
recognition
laboratories, lecture and assembly halls,
corridors, sports facilities, offices, kitchens,
and toilets – all carrying their own air
quality and ventilation requirements. Added
to this complexity is the focus on energy
and carbon reduction, with more stringent
performance criteria to meet, and the need
for spaces to offer a degree of flexibility as 2.2% better
choice reaction
teaching methods, student populations and
other building demands evolve.

A holistic design approach which focuses

on in-operation functionality over design
intention can not only tick the practical
boxes of ventilation performance and
energy efficiency but also help to create 8% better
inspiring, user-friendly educational picture memory
spaces that will help generations of
learners to thrive.
Zs Bakó-Biró et al (2012) ‘Ventilation rates in schools and
pupils’ performance’, Building and Environment, vol. 48
 Sector-specific
considerations
Pass or fail?
Location
Assessing local air quality
can help to determine the
most effective ventilation
strategy. For example,
an inner-city school may
require a mechanical
system with filters for daily
use, whilst natural methods
can be more effective for
schools where the external
air quality is higher than
inside the buildings. Climate
must also be taken into
consideration, as prevailing
weather conditions can
have an impact.
Space use
Besides affecting air flow,
how a space is used can
impact its ventilation
requirements. Internal
activities and occupancy
levels can alter the air
quality and required air
change rate.Again, as
educational sites contain
a range of facilities,
designers must employ
different strategies at
different points. Single
spaces may be used for
diverse purposes, such as
sports halls used for exams,
therefore flexibility is key.
Ventilation in 3
Education
Space
organisation
The volume, shape and
organisation of the internal
space all affect the way
that air flows through
a building. Educational
buildings often contain lots
of different types of space
which may require different
ventilation approaches. For
example, large halls may
be able to make use of only
natural ventilation, whilst
architecturally land-locked
corridors or small, single-
sided classrooms may need
fans to aid air flow.
Construction
+ finishes
Space use will also impact
how the buildings are
constructed and which
materials are used. Paints,
carpets, flooring, furniture,
and other furnishings can
all emit molecules of what
are known as volatile
organic compounds
(VOCs), which must be
ventilated out the building.
Additionally, solar heat
gains due to glazing,
orientation or heavy
building materials need to
be considered as these will
increase cooling demand.
4 Ventilation in
Education
Acoustics
Good acoustics are vital in
school design, allowing the
learners and teachers to
easily engage, concentrate
and communicate. In
locations with a high
amount of external noises,
such as constant traffic,
opening ventilators may
not be suitable. Meanwhile,
fan powered systems can
emit a low-level hum which
can be distracting for some
occupants. All implications
must be considered and
balanced to find the best
solution.
Regulations
+ standards
Educational facilities are
often subject to specific
performance criteria.
Systems must be designed,
installed, and maintained
in line with any applicable
legislation. Increasing
numbers of schools are
also achieving building
standards relating to
sustainability or health and
wellbeing which stipulate
defined levels of indoor air
quality or energy efficiency
to be met– both of which
impact the ventilation
specification.
Sector-specific
considerations
Occupant
experience
As well as maintaining
comfortable temperatures,
systems can be specified
to contribute to a space’s
architectural impact.
Hidden drives in windows
or opening skylights can
be used to provide fresh air
and natural light which are
proven to boost cognitive
performance and mood.
Consideration must be
given to how the ventilation
strategy impacts the
interior design; for example,
vertical ventilators may
reduce the amount of
display space.
Operation
+ maintenance
Designers not only need to
meet projects’ immediate
requirements, they must
also consider how a system
will function in the long-
term, futureproofing
against any changes in
occupants’ needs, space
use or building specifics.
Access for maintenance
must be addressed in the
design and requirements
clearly communicated at
handover, and both building
owners and users must
understand how to use the
systems properly.
Energy
+ cost efficiency
Heating and cooling
account for a large
proportion of school
energy use. Natural or
hybrid systems ventilate
large quantities of air using
no or minimal energy,
making them ideal for
reducing a school’s carbon
footprint and lowering
its operational costs.
Fitting systems with smart
controls can prevent any
unnecessary ventilation,
which may otherwise lead
to occupants using heating
systems to balance the
internal temperature.
Safety
+ security
Safeguarding occupants is
a fundamental requirement
of any building, but is
especially important for
schools, particularly those
with young or vulnerable
learners. Ventilation
systems can often be
configured to also function
as a smoke control solution
in the event of a fire,
protecting key escape and
access routes. Opening
rooflights can typically be
specified with a security
mesh where necessary.
 Finding the Ventilation in 5
right solution Education

Finding the The complexity of educational design

means that there is no one system that is
right solution best suited and often several ventilation
strategies will be combined across the
sites, each offering different benefits to the
spaces they serve.

Benefits of the different

ventilation types for school

Natural Ventilation

Standard solution for schools/ Low capital, running

and maintenance costs/ Range of ventilator
options e.g. windows, opening skylights,
windcatchers/ Can also contribute to daylighting
scheme/ Solutions available with heat recovery

Mechanical Ventilation

Suitable for small or landlocked spaces e.g.

corridors/ High levels of control over air supply/
Unaffected by external conditions/ Suitable for
urban areas with high noise and pollution levels
/ Can filter out outdoor contaminates from
incoming air

Hybrid Ventilation

Increasingly popular choice for schools/ Combines

natural and mechanical ventilation/ Higher level
of control than natural-only systems/ More cost
effective than mechanical-only systems
In Control Smart ventilation systems automatically adjust the
ventilation rates in response to numerous factors
that can negatively impact internal air quality
and occupant comfort, such as temperature,
occupancy, humidity and CO2 levels. This
responsive approach provides the desired internal
environmental conditions without excessive energy
consumption and costs or the risk of cold draughts.
They can also be time controlled, taking advantage
of night cooling during hot weather. However,
occupiers should have the option to override these
systems if necessary.

Want to learn more about ventilation?

Read our Introduction to How to

Ventilate Buildings Guide

Kingspan Light + Air Limited

Carrickmacross Road
Kingscourt, Co. Cavan
T: +353 (0) 42 969 8500
F: +353 (0) 42 969 8572
E: info@kingspanlightandair.com

Disclaimer: This guide is intended to give an overview of ventilation

methods and systems. It is not a definitive guide or a replacement for
technical advice, and professional support should always be sought
before undertaking any ventilation work. Whilst every effort has been
made to ensure accuracy, Kingspan Light + Air is not responsible for
any errors in third party links.