ACR-News

THE design of three BSF schools in Bradford using natural and mechanical ventilation to minimise environmental impact have come in for criticism after pupils were reported to have collapsed during the recent heatwave.
According to the Bradford Telegraph & Argus, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) reported temperatures as high as 38ºC at three schools in the area:­ Tong High, Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College and Titus Salt School.

All three schools were built as part of Bradford Council's £400m Building Schools for the Future (BSF)programme under a PFI contract.

Miriam Murch, health and safety advisor to the Bradford branch of the NUT told the Bradford Telegraph & Argus: 'We have heard reports that three children have collapsed, one at each school'.

Stuart Davies of the NUT told ACR News that the schools mainly rely on natural and mechanical ventilation. 'The problem is there is a lot of glass and not many opening windows,' he said.

A spokesman for Shepherd Engineering Services (SES), the m&e contractor at the Tong school confirmed that there was no comfort cooling in the building but that there were opening windows in all of the classrooms.

In a statement to ACR News, Integrated Bradford, the consortium behind the schools' construction, said: 'The Bradford schools are designed to be energy efficient with a combination of natural and mechanical ventilation, to minimise environmental impact. The schools are fully compliant with Building Bulletin guidance and in line with the design criteria. Air conditioning is fitted in the schools in the appropriate places, ie server rooms.'

The Integrated Bradford consortium comprises Amey, Costain, Ferrovial Agroman, Sun Microsystems and HSBC Infrastructure.