Item 9 - Ventilation in Learning Establishments
West Dunbartonshire Council · 31 August 2022
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officer: Supply, Distribution and Property Council 31 August 2022 Subject: Ventilation in Learning Establishments 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides an update for members on indicative costs in relation to ventilation across our learning estate. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Council: 2.1.1 notes the contents of the report and agrees no further action required at present. 3. Background 3.1 At Council on 22 December 2021, Councillor Mooney moved the following Motion: Council agrees:- (a) to note the types of ventilation systems across the Council’s learning estate; (b) to note the processes in place for monitoring levels of CO2 present in learning and teaching spaces across the learning estate and with our partner providers; (c) to note that processes in place to escalate any area of concern and steps taken to improve ventilation; and (d) that a further report would come to Council with more detail on the adequacy of ventilation systems in schools and the costs of improving these. 3.2 The Motion was agreed by Council and a subsequent paper was submitted to Council on 23 March 2022. 3.3 At Council on 23 March 2022 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Supply, Distribution and Property providing an update on the approaches taken to ensure adequate ventilation across our learning estate. After discussion and Item 9
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having heard the Chief Officer in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Council agreed to note the contents of the report and that a further report should be submitted to a future meeting of the Council detailing the measures carried out to ensure adequate ventilation of classrooms in winter, and the costs relating to these. 4 Main Issues 4.2 Following Council on 22 December 2021 officers were asked to provide updated report detailing the adequacy of ventilation systems in schools and any costs of improving the systems. 4.3 Throughout the Council’s Learning Estate there is a variety of natural and mechanical ventilation systems. This depends on when the building was constructed and whether there has been any changes to the use of spaces since construction and examples of this have been previously provided. 4.4 Our newer constructed buildings have a mix of both mechanical and natural ventilation throughout the building in teaching spaces, gym halls, kitchen and toilet areas. 4.5 Our older more traditional buildings are predominately natural ventilation with window vents and mechanical ventilation is mostly confined to kitchen areas or areas, which may have been refurbished since the original construction. Examples of where buildings may have been refurbished are as follows:- o where an internal room not previously used as teaching space changes to form a teaching space due to an increase in the school roll and requires mechanical ventilation to be installed. o refurbishment of toilets and a mechanical ventilation is installed as a requirement for building standards purposes. 4.6 The Council were proactive in measuring the levels of CO2 prior to the HSE guidance. Towards the end of session 2020/21 the Council started a process of measuring levels of CO2 present in teaching and learning spaces across the learning estate. This activity ran until November 2021 and gave base readings across all of our establishments. 4.7 By December 2021 following Scottish Government funding CO2 monitoring devices were installed in all our buildings across the learning estate to cover learning and teaching spaces and other areas such as offices and staff rooms. In addition devices were distributed to partners providers. 4.8 As previously advised to Council in December 2021 our baseline readings showed that all of our learning and teaching spaces fell within an acceptable range of 400 -1,000 ppm levels of CO2 concentration and therefore indicating that the current ventilation within the learning estate
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was more than adequate. 4.9 As previously advised a working group has been established and this working group will continue to meet and monitor levels across the learning estate ensuring comfortable learning and teaching conditions. 4.10 All future new builds and refurbishments across the learning estate will include ventilation systems if required in line with the current building standards at the time of the build. 4.11 It is the conclusion following review of the learning estate that there are no issues with the current ventilation within the learning estate and this is demonstrated in the collected data to date. 4.12 Following Council on 23 March 2022 where an indicative cost of retrospectively installing mechanical ventilation a further detailed review was carried out as requested by Council on each establishment across the learning estate and can be found in Appendix 1. This appendix details indicative costs per establishment to retrospectively install mechanical ventilation but the collected data does not support this as a requirement. 5 People Implications 5.1 There are no people implications arising from this report. 6 Financial and Procurement Implications 6.1 Appendix 1 sets out the financial implications should Council decide to retrospectively install mechanical ventilation in each establishment. 6.2 It should be noted that there is currently no budget allocation to fund any future retrospective works. 6.3 There are no Procurement implications because of this report. 7 Risk Analysis 7.1 Should Council not agree with the recommendations there are additional costs of approximately £8.3m which would require capital funding to be allocated. 7.2 Current ventilation systems within the school estate do not pose any significant risk to staff and pupils. 8 Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 An equalities screening has been carried out for this report and there are no equality issues identified.
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9 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) A Strategic Environmental Assessment is not required for the purposes of this report 10 Consultation 10.1 Consultation was undertaken with various officers across a number of services including Resources, Education Services, Corporate Health & Safety and Corporate Asset Management. 11 Strategic Assessment 11.1 The provision of adequate ventilation in learning and teaching spaces ensures healthy working and learning environments for our staff and children, assisting us in delivering the strategic priority of efficient and effective frontline services that improve the everyday lives of residents. Angela Wilson Chief Officer, Supply, Distribution and Property Date: 24 May 2022 Person to Contact: Michelle Lynn, Assets Co-ordinator Email: michelle.lynn@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix 1 Background Papers: Council – 22 December 2021. Motion by Councillor John Mooney. Council – 22 December 2021. Ventilation in Learning Establishments. Council – 23 March 2022. Ventilation in Learning Establishments. Wards Affected: All wards