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Ventilation for Modular Classrooms
Reading time: 3 minutes
Modular construction is a popular choice for school districts dealing with overcrowding or a need for rapid expansion. Along with allowing a school to grow its footprint faster and more affordably than physically adding on to the original building, modular classrooms offer the advantages of factory-built construction and efficient erection once on site that reduces time by as much as 60%.
And modular buildings are no longer just the typical “portables” of old. Designs have improved, as has attention to providing ample daylight, ventilation, and comfort. Along with singular classrooms, modular-to-permanent multi-classroom structures, such as PortaPaks in Canada, join multiple units together, with four to six classrooms sharing a common hallway.
Like any building, ventilation is key to preserving indoor air quality in modular structures. In-unit air handlers make it simple, offering opportunities for increased efficiency as well as more individual control.
External vs. Internal Classroom Ventilation
In general, there are two options for decentralized ventilation for modular classrooms: External-mounted units or in-room floor units. External units may offer a small cost savings, but they come with several drawbacks that give pause and reduce return on investment. Most notably, an outside wall-hung unit doesn’t have as long of a lifespan; because they’re wall-mounted, they vibrate more, which takes a toll on longevity. In-classroom units are installed on the floor, resulting in less vibration; this, combined with no exposure to outside elements, provides for a much more durable option, often outlasting the modular building itself to be repurposed into other projects.
For exterior HVAC systems, more vibration also means more noise, so much so that some facility managers report complaints from neighbors. During the pandemic, when ventilation was quickly added to portable classrooms lacking existing infrastructure, many parents and trustees also complained about the unattractive look of external units.
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Systemair’s Changeair Vertical Unit Ventilators offer heating, cooling, ventilation, filtration, and economizer all in one, and are sized for each specific classroom and dialed-in for the ideal air exchanges per hour. At 91” tall, the units are appropriately sized for the typical 8’ high ceilings of modular classrooms; they can be ducted above a false ceiling. Designs are unobtrusive—there are options for color to help blend or coordinate with each room’s aesthetic, and unit fronts resemble those of cabinets holding school supplies. Perhaps most important, Changeair units offer quiet operation as low as <NC35.
Changeair units allow maintenance personnel to control temperature and ventilation, helpful for days when scheduled activities may generate more heat. They are fitted with occupied and unoccupied modes for increased efficiency.
In modular-to-permanent projects, one Changeair classroom unit with an extra diffuser can provide enough fresh air to ventilate the central hallway. These types of structures often lend themselves well to school districts with remote locations, where weather windows might be small, budgets particularly tight, and local construction workers in short supply. Once the building is online, Changeair’s networking capabilities allow centralized district managers to monitor systems remotely.
Find the System to Meet Your Project Specs
Changeair systems have long been a go-to option for traditional classroom settings; as the need and demand for modular classrooms and structures continues to grow, that same reliability and performance is an ideal option to ensure optimal indoor air quality for students and teachers, no matter their location.
Ready to get started? Reach out to our team today.
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