Indoor Air Quality: Don’t be a Victim of the Great British Weather

Good indoor air quality (IAQ) can play a major role in establishing a favourable learning environment, as well as protecting the health and supporting the productivity of both students and staff. But, all too often, we fall foul of the Great British weather in our attempts to ventilate buildings in the UK.

For many educational buildings, there is a trend towards using natural ventilation to improve indoor air quality, due to the simple fact that it’s free. However, this method is likely to put added pressure on the heating system, especially if we’re purposely inviting the cold and wet climate of the Great British Isles into the building through an open window or door. This, in turn, is likely to result in inflated energy bills and increase the number of outdoor air pollutants affecting the quality of the air inside the building.

Don’t worry it’s not all doom and gloom, as there are other ways to achieve good air quality without letting staff and students endure the elements. Mechanical ventilation – although not mandatory – is a much more reliable option all year round.

Drowsiness and lack of concentration is an all too often scene in the classroom, but with CO₂ sensors incorporated into mechanical ventilation products, fan speeds are automatically controlled depending on the ventilation required. Heating costs are always a concern so to help conserve energy further, it may be worth considering installing a Single Room Heat Recovery Ventilator into each individual classroom.

But if you’re feeling a bit hot and bothered when it comes to choosing the best ventilation system for your project, then discover our full range of high-quality air movement solutions for the education sector.