Natural ventilation and daylight help primary school meet modern standards
Natural lighting and natural ventilation are used extensively throughout the Seaside Primary School in Lancing, West Sussex, to improve children’s wellbeing. Monodraught SunPipes bring daylight into the building, with Sola-boost systems providing natural ventilation. The school will accommodate up to 420 pupils and has been created by amalgamating two schools.
Roger Carter, senior project manager with WYG Management Services, explains, ‘In conjunction with WYG Engineers, we initially considered the current requirements of the Building Regulations Part L and the various Building Bulletins that apply to the design of schools, which detail the standards that need to be achieved. Both promote the use of natural solutions.
‘Working with the architect RGH Partnership and lead contractor Wilmott Dixon Construction, we chose Monodraught’s Sola-boost because it offers the optimum solution for natural ventilation in the classrooms and other areas.’
The Sola-boost natural-ventilation systems were chosen as part of a thermal model for the building to work with the underfloor heating. If sensors detect that temperatures and/or CO2 levels in the classroom have exceeded maximum predetermined settings, the Sola-boost units automatically bring in fresh air. A Monodraught INvent control system monitors the units, but teachers can manually over-ride the system for 20 minutes via wall controls.
Each classroom has two SunPipes and. Sensors only permit electric lighting to be on when daylight falls to a predetermined level. There are other SunPipes in a small hall, staff room, waiting areas and corridors.
Roger Carter summarises, ‘We were very impressed with the finished project, both with the aesthetics and the performance of the SunPipes and Sola-boost Windcatcher systems.’
M&E Contractor was LJJ Ltd.
