WindowMaster - WindowMaster develops Natural Ventilation System
to Hadley Learning Community
WindowMaster, Europe's largest provider of natural
ventilation and smoke detection solutions, has designed
and installed a natural ventilation control system at
the pioneering Hadley Learning Community (HLC) in
Telford.
WindowMaster supplied over 600 motors for the windows,
as well as temperature sensors and manual override
switches in rooms - all of which are linked to a central
control system. The system was developed to exploit the
high thermal mass created by the building's structure to
ventilate rooms naturally and maintain a comfortable,
fresh internal environment.
The £65 million HLC is the first of its kind in the UK
to bring together primary, secondary and special needs
school facilities and additional services for the wider
community. The 30,000 m² building is a complex design,
combining single- and two-storey spaces which radiate
from a central open space hub.
The HLC meets the latest government guidelines on
ventilation in schools. During the summer months the
natural ventilation system automatically flushes the
building with air from outside to cool rooms so they are
fresh for pupils in the morning. This also minimises
heat gains during the day so a comfortable climate can
be maintained.
An external weather station fitted to the outside of the
HLC monitors the external conditions around buildings,
including wind direction and speed, temperature and rain
fall. Changes in wind pressure on the facades are also
modelled.
These parameters are programmed into the computer
control system where they are analysed along with
readings taken from the weather station and sensors
fitted internally. Windows around a building are then
precisely controlled and positioned to keep air quality
within rooms fresh and the temperature constant.
Engineering consultant Faber Maunsell Ltd, selected
WindowMaster to develop the system. Will Pitt, principal
design engineer at the company, said: "We needed to
comply with the latest government guidance on
ventilation in schools as well as meet specific
environmental criteria.
"We chose WindowMaster because of the company's
reputation and experience in developing natural
ventilation systems for big, complex buildings."
The system is built on WindowMaster's NV AdvanceT window
automation platform. It is the only system in Europe
that intelligently monitors windows to prevent
entrapment as an integrated function of the motor and
control system. It can provide almost failsafe security
against the possibility of injury while windows are
closing.
If an object, or hands or fingers, becomes trapped in a
window and prevents it from closing, the amount of
current drawn by the motor instantly increases. This is
detected by the microprocessor which immediately
reverses the motor to release the window, therefore
preventing the possibility of serious injury.
The system can be retrofitted on many existing windows
as well as being installed on new buildings. It can
operate on a broad range of window types, including top
and bottom opening, sliding and parallel opening. The
system can also be used on windows for heat and smoke
ventilation.
Email:
geoffj@smye-holland.com
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
News Categories : Smoke detection systems
Room ventilation systems
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Smoke
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