WindowMaster (www.windowmaster.co.uk) has produced a new white paper for contractors on how best to ensure natural ventilation systems in new schools meet the criteria for the Priority School Building Programme. The white paper can be downloaded free from http://tiny.cc/SchoolVentilation.
Europe's largest provider of natural comfort and smoke ventilation solutions is seeking to help architects, specifiers and contractors make the right choices in setting out strategies for natural ventilation.
In June 2013 the Education Funding Agency (EFA) (http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/executiveagencies/efa) released a revised version of its Facilities Output Specification for the Priority Schools Programme. It differs from the Building Schools for the Future programme in that it emphasises efficient and effective environmental performance by targeting ventilation, heating and acoustics.
WindowMaster's Richard Arnott said: "The Priority Schools Programme has set out a number of strict criteria relating to thermal comfort, carbon dioxide levels and acoustics. Failure to comply with these is likely to cause major headaches for designers, contractors and clients that have to pay to put them right.
"These criteria can be easily achieved using a purely passive natural ventilation strategy with automated high level windows."
WindowMaster has developed a white paper which uses dynamic thermal and CFD modelling to demonstrate how careful design and precise control for natural ventilation are essential in the delivery of a compliant natural ventilation strategy. It shows how this can be achieved without the need for mechanical fans and mixing boxes, or their associated energy and maintenance costs.
Richard added: "The new performance specifications are based on the building itself, its location or specific client needs. Effective natural ventilation solutions must be aligned to these factors.
"WindowMaster helps contractors take into account such things as multi-speed operation, pressure safety, actuator position feedback, wiring routes, synchronisation and fault indication in order to deliver precise control within the first five centimetres of window opening. This helps to control temperature, carbon dioxide and noise, reduces draughts and improves building security."
