Toward a more comfortable and healthful school building

THIS POST UPDATES one that I wrote in September. I'm still trying to arrange for improvements to be done in late December, during the preschool break. The present focus is on improving the HVAC system’s air flow throughout the building.…

Improving the air flow throughout the building

Because the building’s HVAC system works properly only when the hallways doors are left ajar, and because that condition is not compatible with the present building uses, I have been planning to install return air pathways in the doors that connect to the hallway. These vents would enable purified air to flow freely through the building—while also reducing overheating, overcooling, and stuffiness in individual rooms.

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

However, last month, a contractor whom I consulted mentioned three potential problems with that plan:

1. Fire regulations might require that the doors to our hallway be kept solid — without vents.
2. The doors involved might be “fire doors” — a special type that prevents the spread of fire — and in 1960 when the school was built, such doors typically had an asbestos core (which would preclude cutting a hole in them).
3. This model of vent (which is inexpensive and yet contains baffles that block sound and light) might not actually fit our doors.

Within the next few days, I hope to find out whether or not these conditions pertain to our situation.