Passivent helps new school design in Derby

Passivent has supplied 95 Aircool window ventilator units, seven roof-mounted Airscoop units and three Airstract terminals to maintain effective natural ventilation throughout the school building.

The GBP8million Village Primary School in Normanton replaces three others in the area and brings educational unity through a single environment for up to 600 children aged from 4 -11, with an additional 75 part-time nursery children in one, environmentally-friendly building.

In line with Derby City Council's policy of optimising sustainability, the new establishment incorporates innovative design features such as a biomass boiler, rainwater recycling and Passivent natural ventilation.

Passivent has supplied 95 Aircool window ventilator units, seven roof-mounted Airscoop units and three Airstract terminals, all linked to a temperature and CO2 control panel, to maintain effective ventilation throughout the school building.

Passivent natural ventilation operates by harnessing principles of physics, in which natural variations in air temperature and pressure cause air movement i.e warm air rises (convection), and air naturally moves from higher pressure (e.g ground level) to lower air pressure areas (e.g roof level).

At Village Primary School, the high level Aircool units, which form part of the window, draw fresh air into the classrooms.

Low pressure acoustic transfer grilles at the back of each room ensure the fresh air circulates across the teaching spaces, out into the corridor beyond, with the now used, warm air being extracted out of the building by additional Aircool units above the corridor.

The same principles are applied in the reception and nursery areas, with extraction being achieved using the Airstract terminals on the roof (in essence, chimney stacks).

In the larger reception area, library/ICT suite, dance studio and dining hall, Passivent's award-winning roof-mounted Airscoop units simultaneously draws fresh air into the space below and extract the 'used' air.

Ventilation flow is controlled via a central panel, which monitors air temperature and CO2 levels within each zone and opens or closes the ventilation louvres in the Aircool, Airstract and Airscoop units to adjust airflow as required, to maintain airflow rates as designated by the DCSF to achieve a comfortable ambient temperature within.

The only elements of the entire system to use any electricity are the control panel, and the louvres, the latter drawing energy only when opening or closing.

Jenny Cole, Derby City Council architect in charge of the project, observed, "It is Council policy to be as sustainable as possible; to me, it makes sense to use the building and air movement that occurs naturally to facilitate people's health and prevent a stuffy environment, rather than use energy-consuming mechanical extraction/ air conditioning equipment".

Added head teacher at Village Primary School Jane Green, "The ventilation gives us the flexibility to set each classroom to our individual preference, yet will over-ride after a pre-set time to ensure the right temperature and CO2 level is maintained".

Natural ventilation reduces energy consumption over air conditioned buildings by up to 50%, yields 15% savings on capital costs, 75% savings on maintenance costs, and eliminates the need for a separate plant room.

Passivent 'commercial' natural ventilation systems are proven in real life to be one of the strategies to attain up to an A rating under the new Energy Performance Certificate.

Their performance enables their qualification for credits under the BREEAM verification system (often helping buildings to achieve at least a 'very good' rating) and towards achievement of Building Regulations Approved Document L(Conservation of Fuel and Power).

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