School building construction comes with its own set of obstacles as these buildings tend to experience high traffic, a lot of wear and tear, and must provide a comfortable working environment for long periods of time. Selecting an enclosure system is not a step to be taken lightly but advances in construction materials have simplified the process.
There are three major considerations when it comes to a high-performance enclosure system required by a school:
- Air Quality - Improved air circulation is necessary for better air quality and a reduction in air contaminants. Schools tend to be fairly close quarters when considering the average number of students per room compared to average room size.
- Temperature Control - Proper building insulation is important for two reasons. Firstly, it reduces heating and cooling costs by improving R-value. Secondly, better wall insulation means easier and more consistent temperature control. Feeling too cold or too warm only serves as a distraction, negatively affecting students and staff.
- Sound Reduction - Controlling sound is important for any building, but even more so for schools. Schools tend to be centrally located in cities and are subject to a lot of external noise pollution. Better sound reduction within a school means a quiet, more productive learning environment for students and staff.
An option for school buildings is a systematic replacement of weak walls in place of newer wall systems, such as those that use insulated concrete blocks. Building standards from just 40 years ago have drastically changed compared to today's standards and these new wall systems are worth every penny when comparing exterior wall choices for an enclosed system.
Building Envelopes and Moisture Management
Building envelope has a huge impact on all three factors above. The building envelope encompasses the walls, flooring, roof, windows and essentially any portion of the building which separates inside from outside.
The structure of the envelope will either positively or negatively affect the building's ability to maintain air circulation, balanced temperatures, reduction in outside sound or sound from other classrooms, and more. Air circulation to promote air quality is particularly important in classroom settings, particularly K-12 schools. The goal of a school should be to provide a safe learning environment for its students, and maintaining a comfortable environment inside will promote concentration by reducing distractions and help fight against illness-related absences.
One example of the importance of building envelope in relation to student absence involves asthma. Asthma is present in about 10 percent of the country's population but even more so in children. Poor air quality results to dampness and mildew, which can easily be spread into the air through ducts or the HVAC system. Dampness alone is bad for people just as much as it is detrimental to the building. Improper building envelope that doesn't address moisture management will only lead to eventual structural damage of the building. It could be argued that moisture management is one of the largest factors to keep in mind during the construction of new buildings.
Construction Options for School Buildings
There are many factors in place when constructing or renovating a school building, but the first step is to carefully consider the choice of walls. When it comes to wall construction there are typically three types of enclosure systems:
- Lightweight Building Assemblies
- Mass Wall Assemblies
- Composite Wall Assemblies
LBAs and MWAs perform well under some circumstances but have been surpassed by composite wall assemblies due to advances in insulated concrete wall construction. Wall systems that are built with insulated concrete blocks have better insulation, reduced noise, and overall increased energy performance. Despite offering so many more benefits over the other two wall systems, composite wall assemblies are actually less complex and faster to install.
Another great thing about school buildings constructed with insulated concrete block wall systems is that the wall itself isn't really affected by the performance of exterior finishing materials. A common issue with other wall systems is the complexity, which opens up the possibility for errors. Composite wall assemblies will stand and perform just as you'd expect regardless if you’re installing wood siding or whatever exterior finishing you put on them.
An obstacle for many schools is that the building is in essence structurally sound but they are still struggling with moisture management. This is particularly true of schools in regions that experience 20 inches or more of rain annually. Exterior cladding and/or the installation of a rainscreen is highly recommended and can significantly improve the moisture resistance of the building envelope.
Exterior cladding is a practice that involves applying a new material over an existing layer, i.e. cladding over an exterior wall, in order to control the environment within the building. Typically this is done for weather protection and is often applied when the existing material isn't performing well enough on it's own. Buildings suffering from a lack of insulation against wind, heat or cold or issues with waterproofness but otherwise are structurally sound are good choices for exterior cladding.
Rainscreen is actually placed in the gap between exterior cladding or siding and the exterior wall. It allows for better drainage of water while still protecting the wall. Rainscreen will also improve overall ventilation. Depending upon the individual building and region, the application of rainscreen and new exterior cladding over may be the best choice.
Controlling the inside environment of a school building is first done by addressing the building envelope and improving it structurally. Before investing in expensive HVAC or air circulation systems, consider the physical structure of the school and what can be done. Not only will this nip moisture control and other problems in the bud but also help create a more energy-efficient building, thereby saving maintenance costs in the long run.
