Technology:Layout 1 01/07/2009 16:26 Page 56
technology
classroom CD Box, it is a simple matter
to configure the lighting to take into
account the position of luminaires and
the rows, or zones, in which the students
rows of luminaires
nearest the windows
automatically dim or
switch off
Optimising lighting needs are working in the classroom and all
absence detection and presence
detection needs.
C
LASSROOM SIZE, occupancy connection centre has been developed by
patterns, the increasing use of lighting management company Ex-Or to
For example, it can be configured to
interactive whiteboards and meet the needs of the modern classroom.
reap the maximum benefit from levels of
projection equipment as teaching aids, The new CDW12U5-C CD (Connect Digital)
natural light by ensuring the rows of
and the balance of natural and artificial Box is a plug-in installation offering time
luminaires nearest the windows
light, all need to be taken into account in and cost-saving advantages. Because the
automatically dim or switch off when
the lighting design for schools. intelligence is in the CD Box itself, it is very
artificial light is not necessary. Or, it can
Delivering this level of sophistication flexible. Outputs can be ‘bound together’
be configured so that all classroom lights
can be a wiring nightmare in terms of in any combination of dimming and switching
are automatically dimmed or disabled
installation and pose complications to the configurations – all via the software without
except for whiteboard illumination. As
end user who subsequently wants to any hard-wiring choices needing to be made.
classroom layouts and configurations can
reconfigure it to best suit their preferred A hand-held infrared programmer is
change, it is a simple process to
classroom environment. used to set up the system and there are
reconfigure the lighting setup.
pre-set programming patterns to suit
Combinations typical classroom requirements available
www.ex-or.com
An intelligent, programmable lighting control as templates. By using the school
Automated measures protect from fire
T
HE MODERN taste for schools to be Trenton created a model of how smoke when the local temperature around them
designed more like shopping malls or would travel and fire spread under reaches a certain point, ensuring only the
hospital foyers is posing considerable different scenarios to work out how to minimum number of sprinklers needed to
challenges when it comes to fire safety. ensure people can escape from the quell a fire will be set off at any one time.
Open-plan designs where classrooms are building in safety within predetermined To deter false alarms, the fire alarms are
arranged around a central ‘street’ in time limits. One of the biggest hazards in also covered by CCTV which is triggered to
which students can gather, sit or study any fire is the toxic smoke which can record if anyone tampers with the alarms.
bring particular risks. quickly accumulate, choking people and
Especially when there are balconies disorientating them as they try to
www.byl.co.uk
around the central street, careful escape. The open areas in the school
attention needs to be paid to the risk of would allow smoke to spread far more
smoke spreading quickly in the event of a quickly than would a traditional corridor
fire. There is an added fire hazard when and staircase design.
chairs, desks and computers are placed in
parts of the street for students to use Fire curtains
as extensions of their classrooms. Trenton proposed that fire curtains
The new £23.6m Allerton High School in should be installed in the open atrium
Leeds (edb, April 2009), is a striking areas which in the event of a fire would
example of a central building with four drop down from the ceiling to each
wings and spacious streets with balconies balcony below, effectively sealing those
above. The developers wanted to keep the off from the atrium space to form
integrity of the architect’s design, while enclosed corridors along which people
ensuring hundreds of pupils and teachers could safely be evacuated from the upper
could be evacuated safely from the floors in plenty time.
school in the event of a fire. Additionally, vents on the glass ceilings
A Fire Engineered solution was would open automatically, drawing hot
approved by Butler & Young, which acted smoke out, while fans on the ground floor
as the Approved Building Control would draw in fresh air to blow the smoke
Inspectors for the project, while group upwards and out of the building. Hidden
company Trenton Consultants acted as sprinklers were also fitted across the
Safety solutions retain the integrity of the
fire engineering consultants. school. These are designed to activate architect’s design.
56 edbmagazine.co.uk
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