Controlled mechanical ventilation system in the Nursery school ‘A.Moro’ of Torella del Sannio

By project ZEROCO2

Published on 28 September 2022

Italy

Molise

Torella del Sannio (CB)

About this good practice

The ventilation system is intended as a safety measure:
- to reduce the risk of the spread of SARS-CoV-2
- to improve the air quality of school environments.
The ventilation system is an air intake and extraction system made with 3 enthalpy heat recovery units (average efficiency: 60% in summer and 75% in winter), equipped with two electric fans interiors with an air flow rate of 500 mc / h each with air filters with an average efficiency of 90% respecting the three-month cleaning and regeneration and annual replacement options, capable of ensuring a minimum air exchange of 2 times the cubic volume of the rooms and guarantee 40 cubic meters / h per person for a maximum of 30 people present at the same time in the premises.
Air distribution is ensured by aeraulic ducts made of hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, class 01 fire reaction, of the micro-perforated type.
The renewal air is taken from the outside after a filtration treatment. The recovered air is expelled outside the building, at least 60 cm away from the fresh air intake. The areas identified for air exchange are those most used for teaching and the areas used for canteen activities.
The ventilation system can be activated via a remote control panel.

Resources needed

The municipality of Torella del Sannio used for the installation of this system € 25.000 allocated from “Regione Molise”.
The human resources needed for this good practice are a technician for the design phase of the system and then a specialized company for its maintenance

Evidence of success

This practice:
●creates a comfortable microclimate, with stable temperature and humidity
●Reduces excess CO2
●Evacuates and dilutes VOCs, fine dust and biological pollutants such as mold reduces the risk of allergies and respiratory problems
●prevents the entry of pollen, dust, smog and PM10 and PM2.5 particulate pollution
●Reduces coronavirus infection
●avoids thermal changes and dispersions due to the opening of the windows to ventilate the rooms that allows constant thermal efficiency values

Potential for learning or transfer

One of the places of major spread of the Covid-19 virus infection is the school environment. This factor is particularly valid in an environment such as that of the kindergarten, where attending students, due to their age, are exempt from wearing a mask. Therefore, considering this, the installation of such a system significantly reduces the number of infections at the regional level, as it also involves the families of those who attend school environments. Energy saving is also noteworthy, which would bring benefits to the management of energy resources.
The potential for learning and transfer relies also on synergies with projects dealing with green public procurement and energy efficiency.