There’s no doubt that a classroom that is either too hot or too cold is likely to be detrimental in some way to teaching and learning. Making sure you have the perfect air conditioning system installed is vital if you want to maintain standards and look after the comfort of both pupils and teachers at all times.
It’s not just classrooms where adequate heating and cooling is needed, however. There are corridors, assembly halls, libraries and computer facilities that will all have different considerations that need to be taken into account.
With many heating and cooling systems, it is difficult to get the appropriate coverage, particularly in areas like classrooms. The efficiency of any system is likely to be affected by the size and the layout of the room. For example, if you have traditional radiators, you might end up with one area of the classroom being too warm around the walls while the centre is a lot cooler.
Here we take a closer look at the factors you need to consider when installing air conditioning in school environments.
The Cost of Air Conditioning
Most schools have a fairly tight budget with which they need to operate. Finding the most cost-effective air conditioning solution, therefore, is almost always a top priority. The good news is there are plenty of options when it comes to HVAC systems.
Wall-mounted air conditioning is one that can both be retrofitted without too much disruption to the school and comes at a relatively competitive cost. The positioning of these products, however, is extremely important.
Ceiling Mounted and Under Ceiling Air Conditioning
While a little more expensive than wall mounted air conditioning, if you are looking for full coverage that works for any classroom size, installing your HVAC in the ceiling is one option to seriously consider. Compared to wall air conditioning, these provide a four-way airflow that can be adjusted to maintain comfort levels whether in summer or winter.
One issue that schools need to consider is the ceiling and whether it is appropriate for installation in the first place. Most work better with a suspended ceiling.
If you have larger areas or longer rooms such as cafeterias, another option is to go for an under-ceiling system. These provide a strong airflow which means you can work with fewer units. They are not the best option for smaller rooms but if you have a large hall or other location, they are the most cost-effective option.
Duct Units
A more expensive option is to go for a full duct system where the operating units are properly hidden away. This kind of installation takes more work to put in place and is often the first choice nowadays when building a new school. They can be retrofitted into existing buildings, especially classrooms that have suspended ceilings.
The key when choosing to update the air conditioning for your school is to understand the design of each room and which system will work best. It’s important to have a full site survey that takes into account the variety of rooms you may have and your budget. A large hall or sports area will undoubtedly have different requirements to a computer room or small classroom.