How to Choose Air Conditioning for Schools, Colleges and Universities
Choosing air conditioning for a school, college or university depends on the rooms being cooled and how they are used. A busy classroom, IT suite, lecture theatre and science lab can all have different requirements for temperature control, ventilation and noise levels. This guide explains which school air conditioning systems are commonly used in education settings and what to consider before installation.
Is Air Conditioning a Legal Requirement in Schools?
No. There is no law requiring air conditioning in schools, colleges or universities in the UK. However, employers and schools have a legal responsibility to provide a reasonable workplace temperature and maintain a safe and comfortable environment.
Temperature and air quality can also have a direct impact on learning. When a classroom becomes too warm, students may find it harder to concentrate and stay focused. Air conditioning is therefore not a legal requirement, but it can help schools maintain a more comfortable learning environment in classrooms with a large number of students.
How to Choose Air Conditioning for Schools, Colleges and Universities
A school, college or university campus contains a range of spaces, from busy classrooms and lecture theatres to IT suites, staff rooms and laboratories. Each space has different levels of occupancy, equipment and heat gain, so the air conditioning system needs to be chosen accordingly.
| Space | What to Consider | Suitable Air Conditioning Options |
| Classrooms | Systems need to be quiet enough for teaching and provide comfortable temperatures throughout the year. | Wall-mounted units and ceiling cassettes are common choices, with mechanical ventilation or heat recovery providing fresh air where required. |
| Science labs | Laboratories may need higher levels of fresh air and dedicated extract ventilation, depending on the activities taking place. | Mechanical ventilation and extract systems are often the priority, with air conditioning added to manage temperatures. |
| IT suites and server rooms | Computers and equipment can generate significant heat, often requiring cooling. | Dedicated split systems or close control units can provide independent, reliable cooling. |
| Lecture theatres | Large numbers of students can quickly raise room temperatures and CO2 levels, so both cooling and ventilation need to be considered. | Ducted systems or ceiling cassettes combined with a mechanical fresh air supply are often suitable. |
| Halls, canteens and gyms | These larger spaces can have big changes in occupancy and temperature throughout the day. | Ceiling cassettes, ducted systems or air handling units can be used depending on the size and layout of the space. |
| Libraries and study spaces | Quiet operation is particularly important, alongside maintaining a comfortable and consistent temperature. | Concealed ducted units and low-noise ceiling cassettes can provide cooling without causing disruption. |
| Admin offices and staff rooms | Staff may need individual control over their own working environment, particularly where rooms have different levels of use or sun exposure. | Split and multi-split systems can provide independent temperature control for individual rooms. |
| Multi-room teaching blocks | Colleges and universities may need to cool and heat a large number of rooms while allowing different areas to be controlled separately. | VRF systems can serve multiple rooms from a central system while allowing individual temperature control. |
The Air Conditioning Systems Chillaire Installs for Education Settings
Chillaire designs and installs the following air conditioning systems for schools, colleges and universities across the Midlands. We install equipment by Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, Panasonic, LG, Toshiba, Samsung and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. We also use inverter-driven heat pump systems, which means they heat in winter and cool in summer using the same equipment.
Wall-Mounted Split Systems
Wall-mounted split systems are a straightforward option for classroom air conditioning. It uses one outdoor unit and one indoor unit, making it a good choice where a single classroom, office or small study space needs its own temperature control.
Chillaire has installed this type of system in a new school classroom, using a Toshiba air source heat pump to provide heating and cooling throughout the year.
Best suited to: Individual classrooms, offices and smaller rooms.
Multi-Split Systems
Multi-split systems allow several indoor units to be connected to one outdoor unit, typically two to eight. Each room can still have its own temperature control, which is useful when different spaces are used at different times or have different cooling requirements. They can work well in smaller teaching blocks, office areas or groups of nearby rooms where having separate outdoor units would take up too much external space.
Best suited to: Small teaching blocks, groups of classrooms and office suites.
VRF Systems
VRF systems are designed for larger buildings with multiple rooms. A single outdoor unit can serve up to 64 indoor units, with each room able to control its own temperature.
Heat recovery systems can also transfer heat around the building. For example, heat removed from one area can be used to warm another, allowing some rooms to be cooled while others are heated at the same time.
Best suited to: Colleges, universities and larger teaching blocks with multiple rooms.
Read more: What is the Difference Between Split, Multi-Split and VRF AC Systems?
Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV)
Heat recovery ventilation brings fresh air into a classroom while removing stale air. Instead of losing all of the heat from the extracted air, the system recovers much of it to help warm the incoming fresh air. This can help schools improve ventilation and manage CO2 levels without unnecessarily increasing heating demand. Chillaire installed a Daikin VAM heat recovery system in a ground-floor classroom to provide fresh air while recovering heat from the extracted air.
Best suited to: Classrooms and education spaces where improved ventilation and fresh air are required.
Ceiling Cassettes and Ducted Systems
Ceiling cassettes are fitted into suspended ceilings and distribute air across the room, which is practical for halls, canteens, libraries and larger classrooms. Ducted systems hide the unit above the ceiling entirely, leaving only grilles visible. They are often used in lecture theatres, libraries and other spaces where a quieter system is needed without wall-mounted units taking up space.
Best suited to: Halls, lecture theatres, libraries and larger classrooms.
Maintenance, Warranties and F-Gas Compliance
Choosing an air conditioning system is only part of the decision. Schools, colleges and universities also need to consider how the system will be maintained, when servicing can take place and what is included after installation.
Plan Maintenance Around the School Year
Air conditioning is most likely to be needed during the summer term, so an annual service in spring means the system goes into the summer term checked and ready. Systems that are used heavily throughout the year benefit from a second visit in autumn before the heating season begins.
Our guides on how often to service air conditioning and the signs an air conditioning system needs professional attention cover this in more detail.
F-Gas Compliance
Some air conditioning systems are subject to F-Gas regulations and may require regular leak checks, depending on the type and quantity of refrigerant they contain. These checks must be carried out by a certified engineer, and the required records must be kept. Chillaire’s engineers are F-Gas certified and can include the necessary checks and documentation as part of a planned maintenance agreement.
Warranties and Ongoing Support
Chillaire installations include a 12-month parts and labour warranty once the system has been commissioned. A further four-year manufacturer’s extended parts warranty is also available, subject to a service agreement with a minimum of two visits per year. Contract customers can also access Chillaire’s 24-hour emergency breakdown service if an urgent issue.
Get a Free Survey for Your School, College or University
Chillaire designs, installs and maintains commercial air conditioning and ventilation systems for schools, colleges and universities across the Midlands. We offer free site surveys and quotations to help you identify the right system for your building and the rooms that need cooling or ventilation.
From the initial survey and system design through to installation, commissioning and our planned preventative maintenance contracts, Chillaire provides support throughout the life of your system. Our engineers are qualified and F-Gas certified, with experience installing and maintaining systems ranging from single split units to larger VRF and ventilation systems.
To discuss air conditioning or ventilation for your school, college or university, contact the Chillaire team to arrange a free survey and quotation.
