News
May 2009
Colt International Launches Dedicated Website for Schools
The new website showcases Colt's specialist design advice service and broad offering of ventilation, smoke control and solar shading systems for educational facilities. It can be found at www.designguidanceforschools.co.uk. Here can be found some examples of relevant Caloris projects: Ramada Heathrow Hotel, Middlesex University.
Expert advice and design guidance for schools
Colt experts have the capability to design integrated smoke control, ventilation and solar shading systems that meet the very specific requirements of buildings used for educational purposes in terms of fire safety, temperature, lighting quality, ventilation, heating, carbon dioxide concentration and noise levels. The six factors governing comfort - air temperature, heat radiation, humidity, air movement, noise and odour - have a direct effect on the pupils' health and absenteeism, their efficiency, capacity for concentration and productivity.
Colt experts will develop solutions that take into consideration all the elements in the building?s structure and position that can influence these factors, such as positioning of vents away from busy roads to avoid noise and pollution, security considerations for night cooling, weatherproof ventilation to allow for wet days, or heating and ventilation systems that avoid cold draughts in winter. They will also consider the ventilation system's potential for dual purpose including smoke control.
School fires put lives at stake and disrupt education of tens of thousands of pupils across the UK every year. They are also expensive - school fires in 2006 cost £74 million. Colt experts will integrate in the building smoke control systems to provide a safe escape route for immediate evacuation in case of fire. These systems also ensure firefighters have a safe and clear access route, enabling them to take control of the fire faster, reducing damages to the school.
Unique offering across 3 areas of expertise: ventilation, solar shading and smoke control
Colt experts are in the unique position of having the design experience and the product offering to take full design responsibility across three very different systems. This enables them to develop integrated solutions to create a healthy, comfortable and safe internal climate, as well as an energy-efficient building.
Colt's natural ventilation systems harness the natural elements of wind and heat to move air through the building, automatically opening and closing windows and rooflights in a controlled manner. They can be integrated with sun tracking solar shading systems that reduce solar heat gain and allow the ideal intensity of sunlight inside the building.
They can also be combined with its WRF Caloris heat pump system to top up the cooling requirement in the summer and supply heating in the winter. This mixed mode ventilation system offers a highly energy-efficient and financially sound solution in buildings where a full mechanical ventilation system is not sufficient or too expensive to operate and maintain.
Colts smoke control systems include natural and powered smoke extract systems, which can also be integrated in the natural ventilation schemes, and smoke containment systems such as fire curtains and pressurisation systems.
The Colt systems can be linked together into a fully integrated energy management system, which can include carbon dioxide measuring, internal and external temperature measuring, and external weather and smoke sensors, and can be interfaced with the building's management systems.
Impressive track record in the Schools sector
Colt International's impressive track record in the educational facilities sector is testament to the company?s ability to understand its specific requirements and translate them into design solutions that create a comfortable and healthy teaching environment. The company's involvement in this sector dates back to the 50?s and 60?s, and in 2008 alone Colt has completed over 40 projects in schools, colleges and universities in the UK. Colt experts have designed and installed in these facilities solutions combining natural ventilation, performance louvres and dampers, solar shading, heat pump air conditioning and smoke control systems.
Colt Service Limited is on hand to provide customers with a tailored maintenance regime to ensure optimum product performance, whilst ensuring that legislative obligations are met. In the event of equipment malfunction, Colt service provides a fast and efficient call-out and repair process.
