The Government is currently investing £45 billion in regenerating our schools and a target to re-build or significantly refurbish all secondary schools and 9,000 primary schools by 2016 is well underway. It’s an incredible undertaking and one which will guarantee that our schools can offer a functional, fit for purpose learning environment for our children and a more cost effective, comfortable, secure and environmentally sound building.
Project Type
At a leading West Yorkshire Primary School the local Council had already completed a large-scale refurb programme that modernised the 140-year-old main school building, improving energy efficiency and security for staff and children. A full electrical re-fit also had a critical role to play in achieving the school’s objectives.
Customer Expectations
It was essential we preserved what is a beautiful Victorian building, but at the same time moved the School into the 21st Century and made use of modern building technology. It was agreed very early in the planning stage that the school could achieve our target of vastly improving the buildings electrical services and reducing our energy consumption by incorporating a fully integrated, controllable system. We wanted to ensure that energy’s never wasted, while lighting and heating is of the highest standard in order to provide a pleasant environment for both pupils and staff. The specification for the electrical services goes far beyond what is usually installed into a school, making us a striking example of what can be achieved through ground breaking electrical integration.
Customer Comment
The school is becoming closely aligned to the business world, with smart buildings that are designed to deliver services tailored to meet the needs of the occupant and reduce energy consumption. By integrating our varied electrical systems, we now have total control over the entire school from our main reception office. We’ve also achieved a significant reduction in overall energy consumption, an issue that was imperative in terms of both the environment and our budget.
Top Features
- A fully integrated Building Management System, that utilises the KNX protocol and is future-proofed for flexibility, upgrades and any changes down the line.
- All electrical works were completed during the Easter break without any disruption to the teaching schedule with KNX fast fit ‘plug & play’ technology.
- Jung Door Communication Management system with video feed from main entrance to the reception office.
- Installation of an energy efficient KNX lighting control system that is simple to operate, flexible and provides enhanced security out of school hours/term time.
- The buildings exterior security lights are all controlled by a dual control light sensor and event timer, ensuring that they are only switched on when it becomes dark, and allowing switch on time to change with the weather conditions/time of year.
- An integrated intruder alarm system that ensures all interior lights are switched off as soon as the alarm is set, eliminating the opportunity for lights being accidentally left on when the building is unoccupied.
- Fully integrated HVAC system that is set to turn on and heat or cool to pre-determined temperature one hour before staff and pupils arrive and also ensures that the air con is switched off automatically when the intruder alarm is switched on at the end of the school day.
- Merten System M room temperature controllers are fitted in every classroom/hallway, enabling the school to monitor the temperature of every room on an individual basis and adjust the heating to a preset optimum temperature.
