Education Business

HEAT, GLARE AND NOISE in schools reduce the attention levels of pupils in the classroom. You can significantly improve children’s results by controlling heat, light and noise in the classroom environment.
     
“(Research) findings indicate that moderately raised classroom temperatures that occur during warm weather make the process of educating children less efficient, as additional effort must be used to overcome the lethargy induced by raised classroom temperatures and the distraction of thermal discomfort rather than to perform more and more difficult, schoolwork. This is especially the case for those children who find schoolwork to be difficult and thus unable to exert additional effort.” Wargocki and Wyon
    
High temperatures are common in classrooms. The main reason for high temperature is from solar heat entering through the windows. Classroom windows were traditionally designed to let in as much daylight as possible, with large glazed areas that face the sun.

How can you stop the heat?
Solar control window film filters up to 80 per cent of transmitted heat and glare from the sun, creating a cooler and more productive environment for students. The latest window films are virtually undetectable to the human eye and do not change the appearance of the building. Solar control window film represents a cost-effective solution, which can be installed immediately with minimal disruption and a ten year manufacture-backed warranty. Major energy savings can be achieved in air conditioned schools by installing window film. The Carbon Trust states: “Avoiding air conditioning altogether can reduce your energy costs by 50 per cent.”

How can you stop distracting noise?
Noise from traffic, aircraft, trains or other people's work and leisure activities can badly affect our living or working environment leading to disturbance in concentration and build up of stress. There is possibly nothing worse for a learning environment than distracting noises in and around the classroom.
    
The Code of Practice covering sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings, BS8233:1999, identifies reasonable noise levels for classrooms at 35-40dB. The solution is in secondary glazing.     

The cavity or gap between an existing primary window and the secondary unit makes a significant difference to the level of noise insulation. Unlike sealed double-glazing units where the two pieces of glass are rigidly coupled together, the primary and secondary windows act as independent barriers to the transmission of noise. The greater the cavity between them, the better the dampening effect of the combined window.
    
GP Systems offers low-e glass on its leading secondary glazing. What low-e means to you is reduced winter heat loss and performance exceeding those required by building regulations.

Save energy with natural daylight
It is widely recognised that people work better in natural light rather than artificial light. An essential component of a good daylighting  strategy is to eliminate direct, uncontrolled light which can cause uncomfortable glare in pupil’s eyes. Reflections on interactive whiteboards and monitors should also be avoided. Daylighting blinds use mirrored slats to reflect natural sunlight back onto the ceiling and deep into the classroom. The result is the elimination of glare, a productive working environment and significant energy savings.

Safety of glass in schools
Accidents involving glass account for 36 per cent of all severe injuries to children below the age of 14. Large expanses of glass can present a danger if not seen. By law it is important to make glass apparent using manifestations.             

Manifestations, like those around the door handles in the photo, are a flexible way to make glass visible in those high risk areas. Any digital image can be applied to glass, so be creative and use the opportunity to enhance the appearance of your building. Safety film should be used in high risk areas on external glazing. It will hold the glass in place in the event of an accidental collision

Security
Four out of ten successful burglars gain access through glazing. Every day, there are more than 1,000 break-ins affecting non-residential buildings. Security window film protects schools from burglars. Even an opportunist break-in is a disruptive and disproportionately costly experience.

Beat graffiti
There is an answer – graffiti film has a wipe-clean scratch resistant coating to shrug off spray, paint and pens using only basic cleaning materials. Graffiti film is suitable for interior and exterior glass, mirrors, marble, stainless steel and many other flat smooth surfaces.
    
GP Systems Ltd are leading experts in upgrading internal glass and external glazing to promote learning, safety and reduce energy. Call Steve Gargett to discuss the measures you can take.

For more information
Tel: 0845 003 7260
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Web: www.gpsystemsltd.co.uk