Heating, Ventilation & Air Quality Helping Scotland towards net zero public buildings standard F


ife Council’s new Dunfermline Learning Campus is setting the path for the nation’s Net Zero Public Building Standard, using Passivhaus Classic as a baseline. Gilberts Blackpool has played a pivotal background role in turning the objective into a reality.


Core objectives in the building services design has been low carbon consumption, internal comfort and good indoor air quality supplied by mechanical ventilation with heat recovery contributing towards energy consumption of <58kWh/m2/annum.


To ensure the correct air quality and levels of air movement- in line with BB101- whilst taking into account idiosyncrasies of the building design, Gilberts’ grilles and diffusers have been used throughout the Campus’ two new schools- Woodmill and St Columba’s.


Across the learning spaces and breakout zones, Gilberts’ fixed (GD) and adjustable (GSJA) high capacity omni-directional swirl diffusers plus linear bar grilles (LG) maintain the compliant indoor air quality. Their designs mean fresh incoming air is rapidly mixed without excess noise nor draughts and used air extracted in line with each zone’s specific air change and heat loading requirements.


The swirls have all been strategically installed into the suspended ceilings of the learning spaces whilst the linear bar grilles are sited in bulkheads to provide air distribution into and out of the space.


The gymnasiums are covered by drum louvres. The drum louvres were chosen for their ease of installation into the non-standard ceiling tiles used and their ability to deliver the high capacity and long throw necessary for such large spaces.


The Campus has been designed by AHR Architects. Project architect Jamie Gregory observed:


“Following the Scottish Funding Trust’s Energy in Use requirements, the building was designed to a stringent set of criteria to ensure maximum comfort with minimum overall energy consumption. Designing to the Passivhaus standard guaranteed we met the Energy in Use criteria. We were confident that the choice of Gilberts’ air movement units would deliver in terms of achieving and maintaining the indoor comfort levels demanded.”


The Dunfermline Learning Campus represents a continuation of Gilberts’ reputation as the leader for air movement, building on a track record that includes Edinburgh’s Learning Estate investment Programme.


Founded 60 years ago, and still family-owned, Gilberts is the UK’s leading independent air movement engineer. It offers a comprehensive range of factory- and site-assembled louvres for screening, weather and noise protection: its acoustic louvres are BSRIA (Building Services Research and Information Association) validated.


Gilberts is unique in its ability to design, manufacture and test all products- including bespoke fabrications- in-house, to the extent it even designs and manufactures its own tools at its 140,000 sq ft head office and production facility.


gilbertsblackpool.com Breathing Buildings Showcases Entire School Ventilation Solutions B


reathing Buildings is set to showcase its complete ventilation solution of natural, hybrid, and mechanical ventilation for schools, colleges, and universities on stand 208 at the Education Estates Exhibition and Conference.


Taking place at the Manchester Central venue on 14-15 October 2025, the event combines a two-day conference with an exhibition displaying innovative solutions for the education sector. The focus of the integrated event is on educational infrastructure: the funding, design, build, maintenance, and management of schools, colleges, and universities.


This exhibition is timely since it follows the Government’s Spending Review announcement, which included extra school funding. Within the funding is £2.4 billion in each of the next four years to rebuild over 500 schools. This is the ideal time to add low-carbon, high-efficiency ventilation solutions into both new and refurbished education buildings. Installing this ventilation will ensure that increasingly airtight buildings maintain a healthy and comfortable learning environment for students


In addition to supplying award-winning, energy-efficient ventilation systems, Breathing Buildings also offers a range of service and maintenance options to keep ventilation systems running efficiently, quietly, and reliably for longer. This ensures that optimum performance is maintained, utilising minimum energy and therefore providing cost savings for longer. It also provides a healthier and more productive environment for students and staff.


www.breathingbuildings.com 22 Autumn 2025 issue 4181


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