Architect: David J Higgins
Contractor: Etec Group
Ventive units installed: 8 PVHR units used in the main hall, sensory rooms, therapy rooms
The average school in
London has an external
noise level of 57dB, while
the BB93 guidelines for
school buildings suggest an
internal acoustic limit of
40dB in an empty classroom
with natural ventilation. For
Petra’s Place centre in
Fulham, keeping noise
levels to a minimum was a
key requirement when
considering their ventilation
strategy. Embarking on a
refurbishment plan, they
were also keen to keep
operating costs and
maintenance to a minimum.
The National Autistic Society recommends
schools use appropriate materials, lighting
and building services for students. Ventilation
strategy is critical for creating a comfortable
learning environment by reducing noise.
Unwanted noise in schools leads to lower
attention spans and decreased academic
performance, with only a 5dB increase
delaying the average reading age by up to
two months.
For its new pre-school learning centre in Fulham, Petra’s
Place wanted to minimise the disruption to children. Lots
of air movement, noise or flashing lights would be
distracting, and discouraged.
Noise reduction ruled out loud fan-operated ventilation or
an open-window strategy. Working as a refurbishment
from an old scout hall meant that the design strategy
needed to work with the existing structure and power
supply. This required a close collaboration between
architect, contractor and Ventive as the building services
provider.
Working with David Higgins (architect), we specified and
installed 8 Ventive PVHR (Passive Ventilation with Heat
Recovery) units to be used in the main hall, sensory
rooms, therapy rooms and classrooms. Our naturally
intelligent ventilation systems dramatically reduced
external noise, keeping maintenance and operating costs
to a minimum while complementing the building design.
Built-in sensors help Ventive products adapt the air
supply to the internal environment.
Extensive testing on
Ventive products at
BSRIA reveals a
system that
significantly reduces
the level of
environmental noise
for teachers and
students alike.
This level of acoustic cover alongside a constant supply of fresh air,
passive heat recovery and cloud intelligence is what makes Ventive the
most innovative ventilation supplier in the UK.
Additionally, we added actuated louvres to pre-existing roof windows in
order to increase air supply without sacrificing the key acoustic
requirement. The combination of roof-mounted systems and windowintegrated louvres means the centre can now engage purge ventilation
overnight to dramatically reduce temperatures and keep classrooms cool
during warmer conditions, at zero energy
cost. We agreed on galvanised ducting for
the systems for better visual aesthetics than
flexi ducting, which would sag. Additionally,
the frictionless nature of galvanised ducting
increases the incoming air flow to the
building.
The centre is due to open in early 2019, and
already has a waiting list of students to
welcome. Learn more about how Ventive
systems provide the ideal learning
environment at www.ventive.co.uk
Learn More:
Email us at
contact@ventive.co.uk to
get a free consultation on
your next project. We offer
a full design package that
includes IES report, thermal
performance and BIM
objects that provide precise
modelling data.
