SB 4150 Web

Heating & Ventilation
Innovation helps create an ‘outstanding’
sustainable learning environment
The eight schools that comprise the Midlands batch of construction under the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP) will
deliver ‘state of the art’ facilities- right through to their ventilation.
Carillion has secured the contract to
design, construct and maintain the
schools for the Education Funding
Agency (EFA), using M&E consultant
Aecom and contractor Dodd Group to
address the building services. Engineering
expertise from leading air movement
specialist Gilberts Blackpool has enabled
the team to deliver a bespoke strategy that
addresses the issues and considerations
raised in the EFA’s ventilation specification
for PSBP.
Thus, Gilberts’ innovative roof-mounted
hybrid Mistrale Fusion System (MFS-VN) has
been integrated into specially-designed
roof turrets, to provide stack ventilation to
the open areas (sports hall, dining area) of
each of the schools. Each turret comprises
2 x MFS128 fusion units, topped with
mechanically-operated intake and extract
louvres, with airflow regulated by integrated
dampers.
Explained a spokesman for Aecom,“The EFA
ventilation specification for the PSBP now
precludes the use of purely natural roof
turrets, because of the need to avoid
draughts in winter. This meant we felt a
hybrid system was required. Dodd Group,
BSD and Gilberts worked together to
develop the final solution, which balances
thermal comfort with air quality and energy
efficiency, in a roof turret.”
Adds James Gordon, Gilberts’ natural
ventilation sales director, “Our MFS is
unique in that, in one box, without
additional ducting, wiring etc, we deliver a
hybrid natural ventilation-based solution for
multi-occupancy rooms. Because we are
unique in having the in-house capability to
design and test bespoke solutions, we were
able develop a tailored answer for the
Midlands PSBP that would meet all the
ventilation requirements, and be efficient
and simple to install, and cost-effective to
run.”
Gilberts MFS is available in standard
through-wall and through-window
solution, with a VN turret version suitable
for roof-mounting. The single-sided
through-structure unit provides a one box,
stand-alone solution, requiring no
additional ductwork or plant.
MFS mixes internal and external air to
ventilate the internal space. A mixing
damper within modulates airflow to allow
the new, fresh air to mix with the warm
exhaust air, thus extracting its heat without
the need for an exchanger. The integrated
low energy fan energises to blend the
internal air, ensuring an even distribution of
airflow, with control over temperature and
CO2 levels within, and maintenance of a
comfortable internal environment for
occupants.
Just 2 no Mistrale MFS128 single-sided units
will ventilate a standard 32 person
classroom, achieving the 8litres/sec/person
fresh air required by current Department of
Education Building Bulletin (BB101) and
PBSP guidelines- all for less than
£5/room/annum (fan costs at current 2016
electricity rates).
MFS derivations include a 256 version
(delivering the ventilation requirement for a
single classroom in just one unit), or a high
boost version providing 550 l/sec to enable
excess heat and pollution purging in high
heat zones such as IT Suites, and a heat
boost that potentially can eliminate the
need for supplementary heating eg
radiators.
Each unit also achieves relevant acoustic
considerations: its operational ‘noise’ is less
than 30dbA, and it has been engineered to
absorb external noise to keep within the
classroom criteria required by BB93.
Gilberts has further taken care to attain
compliance with Building Regulations
Approved Document L: MFS attains air
leakage better than legislative
requirements- 5m3/HR/m2, and a U value
of 1W/m2/°C.
Founded 50+ years ago, privately owned
Gilberts is unique in having its own, on-site
(85,000ft2) manufacturing facility,
producing engineered solutions, with an inhouse
test centre. Technical expertise is
supported by full in-house testing, and CFD
(computational fluid dynamics) simulation
capability.
www.gilbertsblackpool.com
Summer 2O17 4150 27