04 February 2021
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The Southwark Inclusive Learning Service (SILS) school in south London is the latest school in the UK to install Ventive’s natural ventilation system. The Windhive® ventilation system has been installed in the school to provide a cleaner and healthier indoor environment, helping to reduce the risk from Covid-19.
The SILS school works in partnership with the London Borough of Southwark, mainstream schools, education professionals and parents to achieve successful outcomes for their students, which may be reintegration to mainstream schools, re-engagement with learning or achievement of 5 or more GCSEs at the end of year 11. The natural ventilation system for the SILS school comprises 13 Windhive units, designed and manufactured in the UK by Ventive. Each unit provides 100% fresh air, is low-cost, and low-carbon.
Ventive worked closely on the project with the London firm of architects, Tim Ronalds Architects, and the main building contractor, Gilbert-Ash. Each Windhive unit combines passive ventilation, heat recovery and system intelligence to supply up to 200 litres of fresh air every second. The unit adapts to real-time conditions to deliver an optimal balance of ventilation and comfortable temperatures, whatever the weather. The system offers passive cooling at night, which reduces daytime starting temperatures and purges heat from the building for free during the hotter summer months.
In addition, Ventive’s systems are Cloud-connected and “smart”, autonomously reacting to their environment and transmitting data, allowing remote monitoring and remote upgrades to optimise performance. The systems are said to be cheaper to install, operate and maintain than full mechanical air conditioning plants.
Rob Morrison, Managing Director of Ventive Ltd, said: “In the current “Post-Covid” climate, concerns have increased over traditional air conditioning units and recirculating systems redistributing contaminated air within rooms. Consequently, the importance and interest in Natural Ventilation are growing as we look to provide healthier environments that are less “virus friendly” and more human friendly.”
A spokesperson for Tim Ronalds Architects said: “With building services and systems getting increasingly complicated, Ventive’s simple, low-energy, low-carbon system of natural ventilation with heat recovery was an attractive option for the project. Its flexibility meant we were able to thoroughly integrate the system into the design of the interior spaces, and its minimal maintenance and operational requirements provide comfortable easy-to-use teaching spaces.”
With local authorities, the Government, architects, building engineers and others looking at ways to improve ventilation in schools, Ventive has published a Ventilation Guide for Schools: Coronavirus mitigation.
