School ventilation retrofits: meeting new air quality standards 

Air quality plays an important role in learning and health outcomes across all educational settings, from nurseries to universities. As research highlights the impacts of poor ventilation on learning environments, policymakers have placed greater emphasis on creating safe, well-ventilated spaces for students. What has driven this regulatory change? And how can we expect standards to evolve in the coming years? 

Read on to find out more about how ventilation and air quality standards in school and university buildings have changed, and discover how to future-proof your developments using school ventilation solutions to meet and exceed the highest standards of air quality. 

 

The turning point in school building safety

Safety in school buildings should always have been the priority. However, recent studies have exposed the poor condition of many school properties, highlighting serious failures in design- particularly when it comes to air quality and ventilation.

The National Audit Office (NAO) report: Key findings on the condition of school buildings

The National Audit Office (NAO) report (2023) highlighted significant concerns about the condition of school buildings, with many facing urgent structural and maintenance challenges. As part of the report, ventilation and air quality were identified as key shortfalls, raising serious questions about the standards of health, safety, and wellbeing for pupils and staff. The shortcomings exposed in the report spurred a pressing need to reinvest in effective ventilation solutions for education, introducing them as part of building retrofits or including them as standard in new school developments. 

The scale of the problem

The NAO report underlined the widespread extent of the challenges facing the education sector: 

• 700,000 pupils were learning in schools that required major rebuilding or refurbishment: this includes buildings that are too hot or too cold, with “insufficient ventilation” 
•  38% of schools were beyond their estimated design life 
•  Over 24,000 school buildings were at risk of significant structural issues

For developers and consultants, the short-term implications included urgent retrofit projects, while long-term pressures highlighted the need for strategic planning and sustainable design solutions.

Immediate policy responses

Following the NAO report, government and local authorities prioritised addressing urgent risks in school buildings. Initial measures included targeted local funding for essential repairs,  with short-term maintenance grants and updated guidance on improving classroom ventilation. Schools were also advised to adopt low-cost interventions to enhance natural ventilation in school buildings, while longer-term investment strategies were developed to address broader structural challenges. 

How has ventilation and air quality regulation in schools changed since 2023?

Since 2023, ventilation and air quality regulations in schools have become more stringent, with increased emphasis on indoor air quality monitoring and minimum ventilation standards. Schools are now required to prioritise upgrading outdated systems with commercial MVHR.

These implementations are combined with a greater drive for energy efficiency, with funding allocated to help schools and universities prioritise sustainable solutions that combine energy efficiency with effective airflow. The changes continue to reflect a growing recognition of ventilation’s role in pupil wellbeing and academic outcomes, placing greater pressure on contractors and consultants to stay alert and proactively introduce future-ready solutions into their planning. 

School retrofit projects

 Whilst integrating ventilation solutions into new education developments is now standard practice in modern school building design, school building retrofits can be significantly more complex.

What are the retrofit challenges?

Retrofitting school buildings presents significant challenges, particularly when managing the careful balance of cost, disruption to pupils and staff, and regulatory compliance. Contractors must navigate structural limitations in buildings that have not been designed to maximise airflow, integrating new systems within existing layouts. Consultants will need to ensure that work meets ventilation and air quality standards, such as Part F of the Building Standards, all while keeping projects cost-effective and minimally disruptive for staff and pupils.

Retrofit school ventilation solutions 

Effective retrofit strategies for schools and universities focus on upgrading school ventilation systems to meet modern air quality standards while minimising disruption: 

• Installing energy-efficient MVHR systems ensures consistent airflow throughout classrooms and communal areas
• Integrating CO2 monitoring and automated controls allows ongoing compliance and helps maintain optimal indoor environments for staff and pupils

With further emphasis on improving building standards in the upcoming budget announcement, there’s no better time for consultants to plan and implement effective ventilation in school developments. 

How Airflow can support school retrofit projects

Our selection software helps consultants to visualise their solutions and integrate them into their planning process, making retrofit projects easier to complete. Each solution is tailored to the unique needs of educational settings, with space-saving solutions that maximise usable learning areas.

 Our school ventilation solutions deliver consistent airflow and measurable air quality improvements across all spaces - from classrooms to communal spaces. By combining expert design with innovative technology, we support consultants to deliver retrofit projects that create healthier, safer, and more productive learning environments for all.

Looking for the right ventilation solutions for your education project? Get in touch with the team at Airflow today. 

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