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Making school buildings more sustainable pays off. Ventilation plays an essential role in this, according to Marco Scholten, Area Manager North-East at Ned Air. “If you look at the current ERP guideline, a minimum heat recovery efficiency of 80% is now required. This means that an investment in the right ventilation units can be recouped within five years, while students and teachers immediately benefit from all the advantages of fresh air. Think, for example, of optimal concentration, less fatigue, and significantly better learning and work performance.”
“In our country, there are a huge number of school buildings from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s that, although they have an air treatment system (with heat recovery), no longer meet current standards,’ says Scholten. ’Whereas it used to be normal to refresh 15-20 m3/h per child, Frisse Scholen Klasse B now requires 35 m3/h. If you replace the existing air handling unit with one that has a larger air volume, problems are likely to arise. In many cases, the ductwork is too small to transport the new air volumes within the bandwidths of, for example, noise and vibrations. In this case, we often recommend splitting the building in terms of ventilation. For example, by providing central ventilation on the upper floors or in the corridor areas and decentralized ventilation in the other rooms.’
Those who opt for decentralized ventilation can choose between the EduComfort 1000 and EduComfort CM 1100 LN (Low Noise) units from Ned Air, which have been specifically developed for schools and excel in terms of noise, durability, weight, and ease of installation. The decentralized units can be easily installed in any classroom, requiring only two air connections to the outside.
“Many classrooms have suspended ceilings, above which the EduComfort school ventilation units can be perfectly installed,” says Scholten. “Our air diffusers then ensure perfect air distribution in the classroom. However, partial installation or surface mounting is also possible, with installers having the choice of a top or rear connection. Each unit is also available in a mirrored version.”
The EduComfort units are also suitable for making historic school buildings more sustainable and improving them, as these often do not yet have a mechanical ventilation system. And if they do, it often does not (or no longer) meet current ventilation requirements. “Upgrading the existing (often central) system to meet current air quality requirements is often not possible from an architectural point of view,” says Scholten. “Furthermore, the installation of large air handling units on the roof or grilles in the facade is often blocked by the Monument Commission. As a result, teachers are forced to open the windows to ventilate the classroom and reduce CO2 levels. However, with winter approaching and at a time of high(er) energy costs and challenging sustainability targets, this is not desirable. EduComfort also responds to this, because these units allow for almost invisible ventilation. This preserves the unique appearance of the school.”
The EduComfort school ventilation units can be equipped with top cooling and/or heating as desired. Another unique feature is that the units are largely circular in design. “The decentralized units have been developed in accordance with the Class B Fresh Schools Requirements Program and maintain the CO2 level in the classroom at the correct level with 100% fresh outside air,” says Scholten. “This complies with a maximum noise level of 32 dB(A) at 950 m3/h – which is exactly enough for a classroom with thirty students and a teacher. Thanks to the use of EC plug fans, low air velocity, and counterflow heat recovery, an optimal thermal efficiency of 90% is achieved, minimizing energy consumption. Because the heat exchanger has a bypass for summer night ventilation, classrooms can be cooled efficiently at lower outside temperatures.”
In recent years, Ned Air has sold more than 2,500 EduComfort school ventilation units. “Our units have been used in a wide variety of situations. This allows us to provide installers with comprehensive advice,” says Scholten. “What's more, they can rely on fast, just-in-time delivery. For example, we are currently involved in a school project where the ventilation upgrade is being carried out at set times and per classroom, while the school remains in operation.” For schools where this is not possible, the sustainability upgrade can also be scheduled during the holidays. “Anyone who orders their ventilation systems now can get started during the next school vacation.”
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