Education

Two schools being constructed by the Newham Learning Partnership (NLP) will feature natural ventilation systems from WindowMaster.

NLP is a consortium selected by Newham Council to deliver its Building Schools for the Future programme.

WindowMaster worked closely with the design team in conjunction with M&E consultants Hoare Lea and architects Scott Brownrigg to produce bespoke schemes for two schools based on the NV Advance control system.

Rokeby School is being rebuilt on a new site, while Lister School is being rebuilt on its existing site. Both schools, along with six others in the first phase of the construction programme, are due for completion in 2011. Because both schools are in urban areas, noise entering classrooms through open windows was a major issue.

WindowMaster undertook acoustics studies to determine the optimum times for opening and closing the windows. Sales manager Carl Sutterby said: “The issue with noise was dealt with by allowing the windows to be opened between lessons and at class changeovers, negating the need for opening windows during lesson time in the classrooms where noise could be a problem.”

WindowMaster is working with M&E contractor Cofely to install the system in the two schools. Both schools use a hybrid solution combining natural ventilation through façade windows, roof windows and clerestory glazing to the upper floors, and natural ventilation with mechanical assistance on the ground floors.

The control system calculates how wind speed and direction on all façades will influence the airflow through the windows, and WindowMaster has determined the pressure coefficients (Cp) values individually for each window by calculating the relevant air pressures from different wind speeds and directions.

Each zone operates independently of the others according to the specific external conditions and the internal environment.

www.windowmaster.co.uk
www.hoarelea.com
www.scottbrownrigg.com
www.cofely-gdfsuez.co.uk