Why should schools prioritise ventilation?
21 October 2021
Ventilation in schools has never been more relevant. Here are some of the reasons it's so important to maintain good ventilation in schools, and how Prihoda fabric diffusers can help.
At Prihoda, we know that schools juggle a lot of responsibilities, and not all of them are related to the curriculum. Many schools have limited budgets which they must stretch as much as possible to maintain teaching quality.Unfortunately, this means that very often only the most essential expenses are covered day-to-day, and anything not urgent is relegated to some other time. Building upgrades can easily fall into this trap and be postponed to “some other time” which is not guaranteed to ever happen. This is not uncommon for HVAC systems, despite having an outsize effect on student and teaching performance.
Far from just being a nice-to-have, adequate school ventilation is an essential part of school planning and maintenance, even more so during a public health emergency. These are some of the reasons school ventilation should be prioritised.
Better student performance
Ventilation helps students to take in and learn new information. Research shows that air quality has a direct effect on student performance, with a 2015 study showing that the test performance of over 3,000 students increased with more airflow and lower temperatures within a 20-25°C range. These improvements were a direct result of lower CO2 concentrations and more comfortable temperatures.Increased focus
Poor ventilation leads to reduced attention span, a recognised problem for both students and teachers. Like student performance, teaching quality also decreases as CO2 concentrations get higher. This happens even at relatively low concentrations, before the air in the classroom is noticeably stuffy and unpleasant. With both students and teachers getting distracted, teaching becomes much less effective, which impacts the school’s overall performance and quality.Reduced absenteeism
Indoor air quality is vital to respiratory health. Schools now use carbon dioxide monitors to ensure safe ventilation levels in classrooms, but most wait to take action at 1,500ppm and above. Yet by 800ppm, up to 1% of the indoor air you breathe in has been exhaled by someone else. More rebreathed air means a higher chance of catching respiratory infections such as a cold or a flu, leading in turn to higher absenteeism rates and lower educational attainment. In conclusion, school ventilation must be prioritised if we want to protect school students’ health and wellbeing.How to ensure schools have good ventilation?
The above are well known factors, but with ever tightening budgets and lower funding, how can adequate ventilation be delivered? The cliché is true: prevention is better than cure. Scheduled maintenance will prolong the life of the equipment and cost less overall than only fixing it when something breaks down.With up to date maintenance, HVAC equipment performance is preserved, enabling efficient operation throughout its usable life. Using reputable and professional vendors to design and install any new equipment can go a long way when it comes to getting value for money in ventilation projects for schools. Better to do it once and do it right, than having to fix issues after the fact. At Prihoda, we have designed and installed fabric ducting at schools and academies throughout the UK and Ireland, so we are very familiar with the particulars involved.
For example, we know that great school ventilation isn’t just about supplying enough fresh air into each classroom: the air distribution, where it hits, and at what velocity, are also critical to a successful design. That’s why all our ducting is designed bespoke for each and every application. No two systems are the same. And because we use our specialist textile material rather than galvanised steel, our fabric ducts are more affordable than an equivalent rigid duct system, with savings of up to 65%. Our most popular materials come in 9 stock colours at no extra cost, and a 10-year warranty.
For more information please contact us on 0121 320 2496 or visit or website.
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