Over 1,700 metres of SAS International System 600 acoustic lighting rafts, incorporating HCP radiant heating panels, have been specified for the new Trent Valley Academy in Lincolnshire.
SAS International, and specialist heating division HCP, worked closely with multi-disciplinary practice Mouchel to design a solution addressing heating, acoustic and lighting requirements.
Graham Bilton, Engineering team leader at Mouchel commented: “The use of System 600 rafts simplified the provision of lighting to the space, while the integration of radiant heating freed up the limited wall space available.”
“The rafts also provided a route and solution for services to run across the classrooms, including wiring for automatic opening and closing windows, which formed part of the natural ventilation strategy.”
“Suspended directly from the open soffit the rafts allow free air movement to the exposed concrete soffit for thermal mass heating and cooling” added Craig Duncan, Project Architect. “The rafts include sound-absorbing perforated panels, which help to meet acoustic requirements.”
Each room features an air sensor and dual temperature and CO2 monitors, to automatically open windows when it gets too hot or when CO2 levels are raised, allowing fresh air into the occupied space. Sensors are linked to a Building Management System (BMS) allowing individual remote room control and night time cooling for the thermal mass of the building.
Graham Bilton added: “For environmental reasons the school opted for a bio-mass boiler. This proved particularly compatible with the radiant heating system based on 80:60 flow and return temperatures. A biomass boiler provides a base heat load, but this wasn’t a problem here as it is a very big building, which can cope with it. An under-floor heating solution however would have required the lowering of base temperatures to circa 27?C.”
Rafts are used throughout the building in a variety of classroom environments ranging from language and science laboratories to art rooms and the main library.