Play specialist joins forces with Variety Children’s charity to transform inclusive play

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New playground in the East Midlands aims to to transform play for all abilities

 

Access to playgrounds for children identified with special educational needs or disabilities in the UK is set for a huge boost as leading play specialists, ESP Play teams up Variety, the Children’s Charity.

ESP Play will join Variety in a long-term partnership to advise and jointly fundraise to give disabled and disadvantaged children better play facilities nationwide.

Raleigh Education Trust in the Midlands will become the first facility to benefit from the partnership following an initial £50,000 pledge from ESP Play.

This new playground by ESP Play will feature a range of innovative, custom-designed equipment specifically created to meet the needs of children with physical, sensory and cognitive challenges.

The playground will allow children to engage in activities that enhance their development, with future projects earmarked for the North West.

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Andrew Wood, ESP Play Managing Director, said: “Partnering with Variety marks a pivotal milestone in our mission to ensure every child can play together, regardless of ability. We are dedicated to raising the standards of inclusive play and setting a new benchmark for all play spaces.“By working with Variety and Raleigh Education Trust we can effectively design a playground that meets the needs of all children, breaking down barriers and ensuring that no child is left out.

“This partnership is a flagship example of how organisations can collaborate to create environments that encourage inclusivity, belonging and development for all children. We’re really looking forward to seeing how this inclusive space will impact the students and the community.”

 

Sean Kelly, CEO of Raleigh Education Trust, said:

“As a trust that has been supporting children identified with special educational needs or disabilities for seven years and we understand firsthand how crucial outdoor play is for their development.

“With the right specialist equipment, we can give them the independence and creativity to explore and enjoy playing in a safe environment that allows them to simply enjoy being kids.

“It’s about integration, not segregation. We want to create spaces where all children can interact, support one another and share the joy of play and education.

“The generosity shown by ESP Play to donate such a large sum of money to get this project started is phenomenal and we’re very proud to have the support of such a brilliant business and an amazing charity.

“The new playground will be a game-changer for our students.”

 

Lyn Staunton, Variety Development Director, said:

“This is a really important partnership between ESP Play and Variety that will help us as a charity to ensure more disabled and disadvantaged children can benefit from the access to play.

“We have been blown away by Andrew’s passion for inclusive play for all children and are looking forward to working with Andrew for the long term helping us provide the best play equipment for the children we support.

“Play has a profound impact on the outcomes of our youngsters and through this partnership we hope to provide the best opportunities we can for every child we support.”

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Exciting Times at Breathing Buildings as Company Strides Ahead in Indoor Air Quality

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Breathing Buildings, a leading provider of controlled natural and hybrid ventilation systems, is striding ahead in indoor air quality (IAQ) with three exciting developments. Firstly, the company has led the way in innovation by recently celebrating winning ‘Commercial/ Industrial Ventilation Product of the Year’ category at the prestigious HVR Awards 2024. The company won the award with its new NVHRe, Natural Ventilation with Heat Recycling and Heat Recovery (NVHRe), which is the latest addition to its award-winning range of Natural Ventilation with Heat Recycling (NVHR®) systems. Secondly, building on this success, the company has invested in a new Business Development Director, Matthew Cooper to help grow the Breathing Buildings brand providing industry leading ventilation solutions. Thirdly, Breathing Buildings is exhibiting for the first time in Ireland at the Education Buildings Ireland Exhibition.

 

Breathing Buildings scooped the Commercial/Industrial Ventilation Product of the Year award at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 12th September at London’s Chelsea Harbour Hotel. Breathing Buildings won the award for its innovative NVHRe, which raises the bar on energy efficient ventilation. Marking the next step in hybrid ventilation technology, the key difference between Breathing Buildings’ original NVHR® range and the new innovative Natural Ventilation with Heat Recycling and Heat Recovery (NVHRe) is an addition of a low resistance heat exchanger cell within the unit. This allows the unit to benefit from both heat recycling and heat recovery, reclaiming even more heat than previous models, saving more energy, providing great occupant comfort, and allowing users to include it within the building energy assessments (SBEM).

 

Keen to raise the importance of energy efficient ventilation and the benefits of good IAQ in buildings, Breathing Buildings is excited to have welcomed a new member to its team. Matthew Cooper joins Breathing Buildings as Business Development Director. With over 15 years’ experience within the HVAC industry, Matthew comes with drive and enthusiasm to help steer the team to even more wins.

Matthew Cooper, Business Development Manager

 

 

On joining Matthew said “I’m super excited to join the team and it appears to be perfect timing with our new NVHRe winning the Commercial/ Ventilation Product of the Year at the HVR Awards in my second week of joining! I’m eager to go out and about, meeting customers, gaining new contacts and helping grow the Breathing Buildings brand.”

 

 

Expanding its brand presence beyond the UK, Breathing Building is exhibiting in Ireland for the first time at Education Buildings Ireland Exhibition on 6-7 November 2024, collaborating with Lindab on Stand 519 at RDS Dublin, Hall 2. At the exhibition, the company is hoping to share the wealth of experience it has on how to improve IAQ in schools. The event is organised in partnership with the Government of Ireland and comprises a 2-day multi-stream conference and an exhibition. The aim of all those involved is to create high-quality learning environments for all students and learners. IAQ is recognised as an important part of this goal.

 

The focus on indoor air quality in schools is not new. Prior to the pandemic there was already an increasing awareness of how indoor environments impact our health and wellbeing. In the UK ventilation guidance for schools already existed in the form of Building Bulletin 101 (BB101). The document’s last revision, the 2018 edition of BB101: ‘Guidelines on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools’ looks at the key design elements of modern ventilation systems in schools. The document sets out requirements for schools to improve ventilation to help create a healthy and comfortable environment that will help improve children’s learning outcomes. Breathing Buildings is now hoping to offer its help to improve learning environments in Ireland too by enhancing IAQ.

 

“It is exciting times at Breathing Buildings at the moment. Not only did we win the ‘Commercial/Industrial Ventilation Product of the Year’ category with our NVHRe at the prestigious HVR Awards 2024 but we have been shortlisted for the H&V News Awards’ ‘Commercial HVAC Product of the Year – Ventilation’ category too, and we are looking forward to the event that will be held on 28th November.

We also welcome our new Business Development Director, Matthew Cooper who has joined the team with 15 years of industry experience and is focussed on helping grow the Breathing Buildings brand,” said Alexis Roberts, Brand Manager at Breathing Buildings.

 

 

The company’s award-winning NVHRe offers the lowest energy consumption for a hybrid heat recovery ventilation unit in the industry, the NVHRe combines 46% heat recovery efficiency with low Specific Fan Power (SFP) of 0.075 W/l/s to help maximise a building’s energy savings. In addition, the NVHRe has several different operating modes to minimise energy use, enhance IAQ and improve occupant comfort. An intelligent hybrid system, the unit automatically decides when and if mechanical operation is required, ensuring it only operates when absolutely necessary.

 

Providing excellent thermal comfort and enhanced IAQ, the NVHRe is designed to suit a diverse range of commercial and public buildings with high heat gains, such as schools, colleges, leisure centres, offices, theatres and even churches. The inclusion of the low resistant aluminium cross plate heat exchanger to the unit lowers energy costs by reducing the reliance on space heating to maintain thermal comfort in a room. It operates during colder external temperatures, typically below 7ºC when mixing recycled air alone is not enough to maintain the desired temperature for occupants.

 

The range also includes units that can be the primary source of heat; needing no radiators, as well as a system that can offer further cooling. The British designed and manufactured units come in three models with product variations to suit every need with the standard NVHRe 1100 an NVHRe+ 1100 which includes a heating coil and is ideal for buildings in cooler areas; and an NVHRe C+ 1100 which features a heating and cooling coil for year-round comfort and full temperature control.

 

The NVHRe hybrid ventilation system’s ultra-efficient facade-based mixing ventilation allows single-sided, enhanced natural and hybrid ventilation in deep plan spaces whilst making the most of internal heat gains, with the addition of heat recovery to deliver superb thermal comfort and IAQ. Hybrid ventilation focuses on the vital balance of IAQ, thermal comfort, and efficiency by choosing the most appropriate mode of ventilation based on the internal and external conditions, allowing the NVHRe to be in the most energy efficient mode possible at all stages.

 

Allowing low-energy hybrid natural ventilation, even in buildings with limited facade and roof space, highly efficient mixing fans mitigate cold draughts in winter and provide a ventilation boost in summer, with the addition of heat recovery to bolster winter thermal comfort, minimising the need for a primary source of heating for the space, in return reducing energy costs. Supplied with an external temperature sensor, and an internal temperature and CO2 sensor, as well as an intelligent controller the system monitors conditions to create an ideal indoor environment, boosting both productivity and wellbeing.

 

Breathing Buildings’ multi-award-winning natural ventilation with heat recycling (NVHR®) range won the Energy Efficient Product of the Year Award at the prestigious Energy Awards, and also recently won three awards for providing ventilation to the East Anglian Air Ambulance project with the Breathing Buildings’ NVHR® range.

CLICK HERE

For further information on NVHR®, NVHRe and E-stack ventilation,

as well as other products and services offered by Breathing Buildings

or call us on 01223 450 060

 

 

 

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How Energy-Efficient School Buildings Improve Student Performance

By Olivier Blum, EVP of Energy Management, Schneider Electric

The Green Classroom Revolution: How Energy-Efficient School Buildings Improve Student Performance

With new technology already transforming our world and job markets, the importance of education has never been greater. It’s no wonder that high-quality education — whether preschool or high school, university or vocational — is a fixed priority for governments, parents, and students alike. But beyond the curriculum and teaching methods, what other factors affect student performance?

 

Creating a conducive space to learn

A productive learning environment is more than just walls and a roof; it’s a space that also supports the physical and mental well-being of a student and faculty population. In some countries, extreme heat and other climate-related events have caused major disruptions to education.  For instance, extreme heat and extreme cold have been linked to reduced cognitive abilities. Beyond performance, severe heat and air quality conditions can also prevent students from even attending school.

As such, the quality and design of school environments, including factors like noise and natural light, are now widely recognized as a critical factor in student success. By prioritizing energy efficiency and improving indoor environmental quality (IEQ), schools can create healthier, more comfortable learning spaces that enhance student performance, while also minimizing their environmental impact.

Ways to improve energy efficiency in schools

  • Lighting: Natural light and energy-efficient LED lighting are proven to boost concentration and cognitive performance. Schools that invest in these lighting solutions can create environments where students are more engaged whilst saving money on energy bills.
  • Ventilation: Studies have shown that improved ventilation led to an increase of up to 14% in student performance on standardized tests. Reducing pollutants and controlling humidity can improve energy efficiency by helping classrooms remain cooler in hot climates and limiting heat loss in colder months – all whilst maintaining comfort and health for students and teachers.

 

These outcomes can be achieved with digital tools like room sensors paired with room ventilation technology such as constant air volume and demand controlled ventilation systems which can gather data and insights to optimize ventilation and improve efficiency.

  • Temperature: According to a study in India by Research Gate, the optimal temperature range for classrooms is between 20-26°C, but this does differ slightly based on region and climate. Energy-efficient buildings equipped with advanced HVAC systems and proper insulation can ensure that classrooms stay within the ideal temperature range, which may lead to better academic outcomes.

 

Technology, such as smart thermostats, enable users to easily automate and control temperatures with the touch of a button. Schools can set the desired temperatures at specific times based on classroom schedules, holidays, and seasonal variations. This not only fosters a more optimal learning environment but also reduces energy wastage by using energy only as necessary.

 

The technology for this already exists. Schneider Electric’s connected room solutions take the complexity out of installation and operation, offering flexible, scalable, and modular tools that provide greater control and automation of room environments, while providing insights into energy consumption. These can make a deep environmental impact, reducing operational energy and carbon emissions by as much as 39%.

 

Reinvesting savings to unlock student potential

Energy-efficient buildings return heavy financial benefits. For example, The Carbon Trust saves up to 30% of heating costs just by preventing cold air from entering the building. Energy-efficient systems reduce overall consumption, which lowers utility bills and shields against future energy price increases. These systems also require less frequent maintenance, reducing repair and replacement expenses. Finally, by lowering energy use, institutions can reduce their carbon footprint.

In the United States alone, K-12 schools (primary and secondary schools) spend approximately US$8 billion annually on energy, with improved energy efficiency, they could lower operating costs by up to 30%.

Around the world, public sector budgets are increasingly stretched. Energy efficiency can provide valuable relief, freeing up funds for other things: learning materials, or investment in students’ academic or personal growth.

 

Making green schools a reality

While the benefits of energy-efficient school buildings are clear, the opportunity lies in implementing these solutions at scale. Retrofitting existing school buildings may be challenging due to long project approvals, costs, and lack of knowledge. However, considering 50% of buildings that will exist in 2050 already exist today,  there’s a big opportunity to make impactful improvements.

In our collective journey to Electricity 4.0 – a more digital and electric future – energy efficiency is the quickest most impactful path to reducing emissions while also delivering cost savings. As such, policymakers and decision-makers in education should be prioritizing energy efficiency in the design and renovation of school buildings. This can be achieved by promoting sustainable design practices, integrating digital energy management systems, and ensuring that there is continued investment in the right infrastructure needed to create optimal learning environments.

Investing in energy efficiency isn’t just about protecting the environment and protecting the well-being of our planet; it’s also about investing in the next generation. With students spending a significant portion of their lives in school buildings, it’s crucial that these spaces are safe, healthy, and they’re set up for success for the rest of their lives. By prioritizing energy efficiency, we not only defend our planet but the young minds who will eventually decide our future.

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FUNDING ON HOLD: Schools Told ‘Get Legal Advice’

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Several schools have been told by the Department for Education that building repair funding they had won approval for will now be put on hold, Tes has learned.

An academy trust that had two bids for Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) cash approved in March this year has now been told by the DfE that this funding has been put on hold while a “due diligence process” is carried out.

The trust, which preferred not to be named, said the call came from the DfE today – just days before contracted work was due to begin on its school site.

Staff said contractors has been lined up to start work on their projects this weekend. These projects were said to be fully funded by CIF money totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Tes understands that several other academy trusts have received similar calls from the DfE’s capital team.

The Confederation of School Trusts (CST) said that it was aware the issue had affected several trusts and has raised concerns at “the highest levels of the DfE”.

School told to ‘get legal advice’ on building work

An executive at the trust that did not want to be named said: “We’re waiting for confirmation to see if the contractors have already bought the materials and therefore have made a financial commitment.

“I asked the person I spoke to over the phone [at the DfE] what I should do if they have made a financial commitment and he said, ‘I suggest you get legal advice.’”

The trust executive told Tes they asked the DfE if it would be contacting the third-party company that wrote the bid for the trust, and were told that it would not.

Academy funding consultant Tim Warneford told Tes: “I have been contacted by several fellow consultants whose schools have received similar phone calls from the DfE telling them the release of their funding has been put on hold.

“This has left those academies who had had accepted the terms and conditions of their CIF award, and who had subsequently entered into contracts with appointed contractors, feeling very vulnerable, especially where surveys and works have commenced or were due to start during next week’s half-term.”

A spokesperson for the CST said: “The CST has heard from several trusts that the timing of these decisions to put CIF funding on hold is causing them significant issues, including some projects where work was scheduled to start in just a few days’ time. This work had already been approved and trusts need urgent details on the reasons for this change.

“We have raised these concerns at the highest levels within the DfE and will continue pressing them for a swift resolution so trusts can get on with this desperately needed work, and for reassurance that trusts will not be left out of pocket through no fault of their own.”

A consultant at a company that puts CIF bids together for trusts said “quite a few clients” had contacted the company having received calls from the DfE – though not all of the trusts it had bid for.

“They are being told this is an additional due diligence step,” the consultant said.

He added that some school trusts are being asked how far along they are in terms of the process and to send details to the DfE about what work they have committed to having done through CIF funding.

The consultant added that some of the company’s clients had been told they would receive a letter tomorrow with further details.

“They’re being told any costs that have been incurred will be covered but they should stop anything further.”

He added that some clients had reported now being told to apply to the Urgent Capital Fund if they have work that needs to be done urgently.

Mr Warneford said one of his clients has been told by the DfE that its funding is still proceeding.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Where the department requires further information about an application or delivery of a project, the department may put projects on hold whilst further due diligence is conducted.

“We are in touch with the affected responsible bodies to discuss next steps and will provide a further update to them by the end of June.”

The DfE declined to say how many bids have been put on hold.

The Condition Improvement Fund

CIF is a pot of money for capital works that smaller academy trusts, voluntary aided bodies and colleges are able to bid for.

The DfE publishes a list of successful projects each year. Projects approved range from urgent roof repairs and electricity works to asbestos removal and boiler replacement.

For 2024-25, 866 projects were successful across 733 schools and colleges. This was a 16 per cent reduction on the number of projects funded the year before.

The number of projects in 2023-24 was also less than the number the year before, which funding consultants said was “devastating”.

 

Source: TES

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Architects Studio Anyo’s offsite panelised system specified for academy horticultural project

A new offsite panelised system designed by architects Studio Anyo’s has been specified for the construction of a new horticultural education project.

Part funded by a Sir Roger De Haan charity, the initiative will see a new all-weather classroom constructed at Folkestone Academy for Key Stage 3 pupils, who will use the facility to participate in weekly horticultural and environmental science lessons as part of their regular studies.

The building, specifically created to support the education of horticulture in an eco-friendly low impact design, will be constructed from timber and pre-fabricated off site in panelised sections to minimise disruption at the academy and increase the speed of the final build.

Designed to industrial agricultural warehouse standards with the capacity for classroom growing stations to provide hands-on experience for pupils, the building supports the three strands of the Academy’s Green Plan: carbon reduction, re-wilding and climate education.

Also featuring photovoltaic roof installations to enable the classroom to be self-powered as well as demonstrate climate reduction strategies, the project will be a critical element in Folkestone Academy becoming a flagship eco-school and leading on local educational initiatives.

Studio Anyo has created an ambitious, contemporary building that will also provide new opportunities for engagement with the local community as well as mental health and wellbeing groups.

During school holidays, it will serve as a base for horticulture themed holiday clubs for children from disadvantaged backgrounds – children who become more vulnerable during holiday periods will be targeted together with those who are least likely to have access to outdoor space when at home.

CEO of Studio Anyo, James Walsh, who has overseen the design and development of the new classroom, said: “We are delighted to be working on this unique project, which sees the benefits that offsite and MMC can bring to education buildings. It shows how we can keep our carbon footprint as small as possible and work with subcontractors to deliver advanced construction projects.

Studio Anyo has been commissioned to design a new horticultural education project at Folkestone Academy

 

“As architects, we always want to see the creation of ground-breaking developments that will leave a long-lasting legacy. This project will undoubtedly have a big impact and contribute to a positive change for Folkestone Academy.”

 

Pupils in Key Stage 4 and 5 will also access accredited qualifications in a range of horticultural disciplines in partnership with local agri-businesses and college partners, the EKC group.

 

Turner Schools CEO, Seamus Murphy, who commissioned the project to bring environmental science and horticulture to life in Folkestone, said: “During lockdown I had time to reflect on the challenges facing our pupils in the 21st century and identified a significant gap in their learning- having a practical understanding of the environment around them. Hence the commission from Studio Anyo to design a 21st century flexible and sustainable learning space for our pupils.”

 

Steve Shaw, head of school at Folkestone Academy, added: “The new building will prove hugely beneficial to our plans to offer a great range of practical outdoor learning for our pupils. We also see this becoming a flagship building for promoting environmental issues and highlighting careers and progression opportunities in the horticulture and environmental science industries.”

 

www.studioanyo.com

 

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Promote Hand Hygiene in School Washrooms with the Modern XLERATORsync® System

As anyone who has stepped into a school washroom knows, students can leave quite the mess—leaving paper towels on the floors and standing water pooled on the counter. At Excel Dryer UK, we have worked hard to combat unsanitary conditions like these by providing touchless, high-speed and hygienic hand dryers to all types of facilities. But we don’t just stop at wall-mounted hand dryers: we’ve combined one of our innovative hand dryers along with soap and water in a single washbasin for a hygienic, intuitive and unified experience with the new XLERATORsync® system.

 

An all-encompassing hand hygiene solution with a cutting-edge design, the XLERATORsync system features our touchless XLERATORsync® Hand Dryer along with a motion-activated faucet and soap dispenser on a custom washbasin manufactured from HI-MACS® Natural Acrylic Stone. This sink system is the product of modern design innovation that will lead to cleaner and more hygienic washrooms, as users wash and dry their hands all in one location without ever having to touch the system.

 

Working behind the scenes in the sink system is a HEPA filtration system that is proven to eliminate 99.999% of viruses and 99.97% of potentially present bacteria at 0.3 microns from the airstream. That means that the XLERATORsync system is not only promoting proper hand hygiene but is also actively creating a cleaner restroom environment.

 

The XLERATORsync system comes equipped with adjustable speed and sound controls, adjustable heat settings and a patent-pending sound suppression and air delivery system.

 

There is no such thing as a standard system size, as everything is manufactured to order. In addition, the XLERATORsync Hand Dryer can be coloured and branded however you want—even the natural stone washbasin can be finished in 112 different colours.

If you are a school facilities manager who is looking to elevate your school’s restroom

by retrofitting it with our hygienic XLERATORsync system,

CLICK HERE and reach out to us today

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F.H. Brundle: the UK’s leading Betafence distributor

Betafence is one of Europe’s top suppliers of quality fences, gates, gabions and more – and buying them from long-standing F.H. Brundle comes with a whole range of benefits.

Branches all around the UK allow for nationwide coverage, with large stocks for immediate delivery, while a fleet of over 60 vehicles gives the company the capability to transport even the largest panels. What’s more, all orders over £150 come with free delivery.

F.H. Brundle is able to offer an extensive array of quality Betafence products.

Betafence Nylofor mesh panel fencing is designed for rapid and efficient installation. Nylofor 2D is made from heavy gauge Weldmesh panels, with twin horizontal wires for increased rigidity and cutting resistance, and offers excellent through vision.

Nylofor 3M (also known as Nylofor 3D PRO XL) comes in large three metre panels, and requires 20% less posts, 20% less concrete and 20% less installation time compared to other systems available.

Nylofor 3D features V-shaped panels at the top, centre and bottom edges, both to provide extra strength and improve the overall aesthetics, while Betafence Paladin fencing is an ever popular part of the company’s Weldmesh range due to its unique mesh pattern, which allows for clear through visibility.

Paladin FX offers the same benefits, but with more rigid panels, and a universal fixing bracket system for easier assembly.

Securifor 358 excels in contexts where security is a priority, thanks to its toe and finger-proof mesh aperture and resistance to vandalism.

Zenturo is a range of versatile gabion fencing, that’s an excellent way to create a closed partition, or a natural alternative to a fence or wall in a garden.

The panels can be filled with a variety of natural materials to create boundaries, and are available in a contemporary anthracite RAL 7016.

F.H. Brundle also stocks Roll Top fencing, suitable for areas where safety is a consideration, because of its lack of sharp or raw edges.

The above products and other Betafence offerings are used extensively in the industrial, commercial, energy, public and other sectors.

If you’d like to learn more about these products

please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01708 398048

or visit www.fhbrundle.co.uk

 

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Learning environments are some of the most important places, and the way they function is just as important as how they look. Mark Johnstone, Head of Commercial – UK, Middle East and Ireland, at Altro, considers the key criteria when specifying for primary schools.

When it comes to specifying for education environments, there is a greater need than ever for durable, easy to clean, comfortable and attractive surfaces – and thankfully plenty of smart solutions to meet those demands. We have worked through the decades to develop solutions to age-old issues; safety floors to prevent slips; sustainable adhesive-free floors to reduce downtime; shoe and barefoot flooring for safer changing rooms; floors that reduce impact sound reduction for quieter working spaces; and walls and doors that impress, yet don’t compromise on hygiene and easy-maintenance.

Specifiers have a lot to balance. We’re aware of the changing views on learning spaces, for example the positive impact that biophilia – using natural shades, including wood-look options, and images of nature – has on learning. We’re aware of the benefits that adaptable learning spaces and effective way-finding solutions, among other design concepts, have for those with autism or Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) needs – and that, actually, these should not only be considered for specialist spaces, as the same things hugely benefit all children.

We understand the challenges of complying with regulations designed to keep our children safe, whether finding solutions that have the required 30-point light reflectance value difference between floors and walls, installing safe disability access ramps, or giving reassurance that our doors and walls meet the required standards for fire resistance.

We appreciate that education buildings are among the busiest public spaces, meaning durability and easy maintenance are essential. We know specifiers must also meet sustainability requirements – there is a lot to take into consideration.

 

 

Entrance and reception areas

In primary schools, this area has a variety of functions: it’s an office space, a waiting room and, as the first area of the school that parents and visitors see, a room that represents the school’s ethos. First impressions count here and, as a work space, it needs to be a calm oasis in the surrounding bustle. For ultimate design freedom, consider options such as Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) for walls and Altro Orchestra Custom floors to make your individual mark.

As most people in this area will be coming in from outside, the risk of walked in rainwater, and therefore a slip, is high, so a safety floor will protect students, staff and visitors from slips. There are plenty of great options, including sustainable adhesive-free floors which can halve installation time, and are 100% recyclable pre- and post-installation.

Corridors

Constantly in use by both little and large feet plus equipment trollies, floors for corridors and general circulation areas need to be tough while looking good. These spaces can be noisy as pupils move from one space to another, so impact sound reduction is welcome here, reducing distraction for those still concentrating.

Ease of cleaning is an important consideration, as is downtime in an area that’s in constant use. Ranges such as Altro Operetta, Altro Orchestra and Altro Serenade offer multiple attractive, natural colours and finishes that are robust and easy to clean, with a custom option for a bespoke approach too. Consider adhesive-free options with installation time halve that of a traditionally adhered floor: you can weld and walk the same day, even over fresh concrete. There are no rucks or movement when down, and at the end of its life the entire floor can be uplifted and reused or recycled.

For walls, consider systems such as Altro Fortis wall sheet combined with corner protection – dense, impervious and resistant to bumps, it is ideal for use in these busy, vulnerable areas.

Classrooms

Primary school classrooms go from calm to chaos and back again throughout the day. The floor you choose contends with constant use from 30-plus pairs of feet, activity debris and chair-scraping. It needs to support quiet learning, tired feet, act as the occasional seat and play its part in creating an inspiring space to work and learn in.

A good option here is a vinyl floor with acoustic properties for impact sound reduction and comfort, as well as ease of cleaning and durability.

With a wide variety of activities taking place in the classroom, a sink is a common feature, making splashes and spills and therefore slips, likely. With so much going on, it’s not always possible for teaching staff to spot or wipe spills straight away.

You probably won’t need to install a safety floor for the whole room; you can install just around the sink. Altro safety floors mean you can reduce the risk of a slip to one in a million in that space. You can choose to match the shade to the rest of the floor, or deliberately create a contrast to remind pupils that it’s an area they need to be careful in.

Kitchens

Prepping and cooking hundreds of meals, all to be served within an hour, or less, means school kitchens must operate efficiently and quickly, without compromising on safety. As staff work to get multiple dishes ready, there’s no time to worry about oil splashes or food debris on the floor, which increase the risk of a slip accident. Once prep and service are over, clean-up and next day prep mean there’s no rest for staff feet, so a floor solution that can take the burden of a day spent standing will be welcomed.

Kitchens need a specialist safety floor such as Altro Stronghold 30, designed specifically to deal with these challenges. They also benefit from hygienic wall systems – grout-free, easy to clean and impact-resistant.

Multi-purpose halls/canteens

A primary school hall masquerades as gym, restaurant and conference room. A versatile space needs a versatile floor that can handle changing needs, looks good and provides a comfy seat. This key area for a school can’t be out of action for long, so is an ideal area to opt for our sustainable adhesive-free floors with quick and straight-forward installation over an existing floor, or over new concrete.

An option such as Altro Wood adhesive-free meets each need: a slip risk of one in a million for those lunchtime water spills; 14dB impact sound reduction to help keep outside noise out, inside noise in, and to lessen foot and chair noise within the room; comfort underfoot to go easy on jumping and dancing feet, and on little bottoms; shades to create a warm, comfy look; and no adhesive, halving installation time, with no associated adhesive odours. What’s more, you can reuse it elsewhere or recycle i: the perfect sustainable solution.

For walls, Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) enables a school to put its own stamp on its main space, with durable and scratch resistant properties to look good long-term. Choose from the school logo or photographic images of the children playing sport, or of local landmarks, to inspire knowledge and pride: the possibilities are endless. In addition to photos or art, this walls system can be used to support wayfinding, featuring signage or instructions.

Libraries

Primary school libraries are no longer the intimidating, quiet rooms they once were but, as a space where story-telling comes to life or a pupil curls up to enjoy their first novel, there’s a need to reduce noise distractions, so an acoustic floor that’s thick enough for comfort underfoot is a good option here.

Staff rooms

Staff areas are well used; lots of feet, chairs, desks so the floor needs to be durable. As a space used for work, meetings and well-earned breaks, it needs to look homely and feel comfortable: the floor plays a central part in creating a space where staff are happy to be. With staff areas in constant use, installation or refurbishment needs to be quick and easy, so this is another area where adhesive-free floors can be used to great effect.

Toilets

With no time for staff to constantly monitor the state of the toilets, the floor needs to prevent slips from sink splashes, walked in water and any little accidents, so safety floor is ideal here. It has to be easy to clean, whether a quick wipe or the thorough end-of-the-day clean. Look for slip resistance that lasts the lifetime of the product, to give peace of mind that pupils will be as safe from slips when they leave school as when they started. There is a huge range of colours now available, so it’s possible to make the bathroom more fun, theming the space, or using different colours for each cubicle and the hand wash area.

Hand hygiene is more important than ever, and can be a challenge at primary school age. When it comes to school toilet walls, they can play a role in reducing the number of places bacteria can lurk. Walls need to be easy to clean. Tiled walls are popular, but problematic – with grout present and cracks common, tiles will not support effective hygiene and maintenance. Look to a hygienic walls system, such as Altro Whiterock, that can be wiped clean. Grout-free, impact-resistant, quick to install and backed up by lengthy guarantees. And plenty of colour and design options on offer too.

 

CLICK HERE for a wide range of tools and resources for specifying in education.

About Altro – www.altro.co.uk

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Helping school design reduce carbon emissions

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With heating being a school’s primary use of energy, leading independent building services specialist Gilberts is taking steps to help the educational estate optimise its carbon footprint.

 

The move coincides with updates to the required technical standards and performance criteria for schools’ mechanical services, within the Department for Education’s Facilities Output Specification(1). The updates are encouraging specifiers to consider utilisation of heat pumps as the most efficient way of warming, ventilating and cooling the building. When powered by electricity from a renewable source, with their high COP verses oil, gas or direct electrical options, heat pumps offer the school long-term benefits and lower energy bills.

However, it is important to ensure the heat pumps are installed with support building services systems that can work efficiently with them, so the school has a healthy internal environment for the pupils and staff.

Gilberts’ MFS hybrid ventilation units do just that.

Integrated into the heat pump system, Gilberts’ MFS can utilise the warmth brought into the school from the ground or air to maintain a comfortable internal environment in each individual classroom, year round, appropriately balancing warmth and ventilation as needed.

Typically, LTHW (low temperature hot water) is circulated around the school from system boilers at mean temperatures around 50-60°C. With heat pumps, the water is cooler at around 35°c for heating but there is also the option of 9°C for “free cooling”. Gilberts’ MFS has been designed such that these options can be used to heat the classroom during the cold weather or temper it during the warmer months.

Gilberts’ MFS hybrid, stand-alone ventilation system is recognised as being fully compliant with Environmental Funding Agency, Facilities Output Specification and BB101 requirements for school ventilation.

Strategically located at high level through the external façade, the unit efficiently ventilates each individual space with no need for ductwork, plant, fire dampers, associated penetrations into adjoining spaces (a growing consideration for schools to minimise Covid) and building work. The core MFS appliance provides natural ventilation and uniquely blends the incoming fresh air with the warmth from the exhaust air.

MFS can also be configured to run on 100% fresh air, using the coil to temper the air to provide Covid compliant ventilation without compromising the internal temperature.

Just 2 Mistrale MFS128’s or 1 MFS256 single-sided units will ventilate a standard 32 person classroom, achieving the 8 litres/sec/person fresh air required and within the particulant levels for Covid currently set by the Department of Education Building Bulletin (BB101) and PBSP guidelines. It brings compliant control over temperature, pollutants and CO2 levels and maintenance of a comfortable internal environment for occupants.

There is no need for radiators nor all their associated ancillary capital expenditure, installation, operating and maintenance cost. As the heat is supplied at high level, the risk of low surface temperature (LST) issues is also eliminated.

As a solus ventilation unit, MFS costs as little as £5/classroom/year(*) to operate. Using it as the means of classroom heating adds just £2.19/ classroom/year(*). Energy consumption and thus energy costs are reduced. Schools account for around 2% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, roughly the same as all the energy and transport emissions of Manchester, Newcastle and Bristol combined; this is equivalent to 15% of the country’s public sector emissions(2). Energy is also a school’s second biggest expenditure (after salaries) according to the Institute of School Business Learning(3): improving energy efficiency helps deliver best value against budgetary considerations.

 

Roy Jones, Technical Director @ Gilberts, observes, “Throughout our 60 year history, we have been at the forefront of innovative ways to make a positive difference to our use of energy while creating the best internal environment for building occupants. Evolving our MFS unit to include capability to work with heat pumps is a natural step on that path. It’s a win-win for any school in making a positive contribution towards reducing its carbon footprint.”

 

MFS is just part of Gilberts’ diverse range of ventilation systems, grilles, louvres and diffusers which, coupled with its in-house expertise, have established it as the leading independent supplier of air movement solutions in the UK. Family-owned, Gilberts is unique in the sector in its ability to design, engineer and supply its products with all processes undertaken in-house at its 85,000ft2 head office and manufacturing facility in Blackpool. Its Technical Director Roy Jones is also a member of TAPAS (Tackling air pollution at school).

 

www.gilbertsblackpool.com

 

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Zumtobel and Thorn provide ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’ for St. Patrick’s Special School  

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Working on a brief to deliver a first-class facility for students and teachers at St. Patrick’s Special School in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Zumtobel Group brands Zumtobel and Thorn have supplied a number of luminaires throughout the €14 million project.

In conjunction with building engineers Semple and McKillop Ltd, the project involved the supply of custom made linear SLOTLIGHT infinity light lines that had to be the exact size of the radiant panels and be able to incorporate 3rd party lighting control sensors. The lighting installation was carried out by electrical contractor, Ronan Burke Electrical Ltd.

Designed for students with special educational needs, the 5,940m2 building, mainly single-storey and part three-storey, consists of 20 classrooms with ensuite toilets, junior and senior dining areas, a general-purpose hall, specialist teaching rooms, and clinician facilities. The school provides a much needed, high quality facility for 400 students from Enniscorthy and the surrounding areas. In addition, the building incorporates a hydrotherapy pool with an extensive range of support facilities onsite, including a fully equipped speech and language suite, horticulture room, ICT suite, home economics room, and physio services.

To achieve the required light levels and customised client requirements, Zumtobel’s SLOTLIGHT infinity has been installed extensively throughout the facility – custom versions for the main classrooms, corridors, and the GP Hall. The SLOTLGHT infinity modular light line offers practically unlimited options, with freedom and flexibility of design, not just in straight lines but even around corners. The unmatched, consistent light quality with virtually end-to-end illumination is available in runs of up to 20 metres in length without any joins to fulfil every lighting requirement. An unusual and eye-catching, customised SLOTLIGHT infinity ‘ring’ was created primarily to illuminate the main foyer.

Zumtobel’s CLEAN recessed linear luminaires have been installed in the swimming pool area to meet the exact specification requirements of swimming pool and clean area lighting, using the latest lighting technology with a three-level luminaire concept. An important feature of CLEAN is the cover which has a high-quality anodised aluminium frame and toughened glass to ensure maximum safety for pool users. Zumtobel’s versatile CAELA illuminates the changing rooms, with a depth of only 55 mm and a diffuse cover that delivers the perfect light distribution.

Thorn’s Beta 2 LED luminaires have been used to illuminate the office spaces, providing low glare (UGR 19<) and ensuring a comfortable ambient light.

Other luminaires installed in the interior of St. Patrick’s include Zumtobel’s HELISSA in the toilet and stairwells, Thorn’s Duoproof LED in the kitchens, ForceLED in the plant rooms, and Linn modular, wall recessed luminaires in the interconnecting space. Thorn’s long life and low maintenance Voyager Star provides the addressable emergency lighting throughout the school, thanks to its specialised optics, Voyager Star sends light exactly where it is needed in the event of an emergency. Its wide spacing values reduces the number of luminaires required compared to other solutions and therefore reduces the costs involved.

External illumination is provided by Thorn’s Isaro Pro robust and high-performance LED street luminaires, D-CO LED Bollards offer comfortable visual guidance, and square recessed Linn LED luminaires the pathway lighting. Thorn’s Eyekon energy efficient, robust, and impact resistant LED bulkheads and Olysys LED floodlights with asymmetric distribution have also been incorporated into the exterior lighting design, including illumination of the amphitheatre space.

“From start to finish, we partnered with ZG Lighting Ireland, as we have done for many of our educational projects in Ireland. The brief was complex, and we needed to ensure that we delivered a state-of-the-art lighting solution for a state-of-the-art school, and ZG Lighting Ireland did not disappoint. The bespoke circular fitting that greets you when you enter the school is a testament of the hard work undertaking by all parties involved. I very much look forward to working with Niall and his team on future projects in Ireland,” comments Declan Smyth, Senior Associate and Project Engineer at Semple & McKillop Ltd.

Zumtobel and Thorn have delivered a flexible and adaptable energy efficient, low maintenance solution to create a 21st Century learning environment for the pupils of St Patrick’s Special School. Principal Lee Rogers commented, “Because of the difficult year that everyone has had in terms of activities and outings being curtailed by COVID 19 restrictions within the school, the new campus is effectively ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’”.

For more information on Zumtobel, please visit the website https://z.lighting/en/zumtobel/ and for Thorn www.thornlighting.co.uk

 

 

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