Education

How a building can impact learning outcomes

Researchers from Australia and overseas have found that the quality of indoor thermal and acoustic comfort and indoor air quality have a direct impact on the health, learning and productivity of students and teachers.

A field study conducted in secondary school classrooms in Sydney during 2018 and 2019 found that both indoor temperature and CO² concentration increases students’ feeling of fatigue and decreases their ability to concentrate.¹

A study performed in Australian primary and secondary school classrooms found that children feel comfortable at cooler temperatures compared to adults.²

Research shows that classrooms with poor acoustics can mean many students are unable to clearly understand speech in the classroom. They lose concentration and become disconnected from their learning environment. Children who continually miss words, phrases and concepts in the classroom are significantly disadvantaged.³

Other research shows that in a noisy environment, teachers’ health and wellbeing may suffer as they need to constantly raise their voice to be heard.⁴

At Fletcher Insulation we’ll help you specify the optimal insulation materials for use in your educational building projects.

Our aim is to support better design of educational facilities by providing solutions that significantly contribute to:

• an optimum environment in which to study and learn
• a healthier indoor environment for all students, teachers and staff
• reduced energy usage to control costs and environmental impact
• higher Green-Star ratings and WELL certification
• safe, fire-resistant construction systems.

A holistic approach to creating positive learning environments

Better building design can lead to improved learning outcomes. We take an integrated approach to building insulation through critical thinking and a technically sound understanding of acoustics, indoor thermal comfort, air quality, and fire safety requirements.

Minimising unwanted noise

Hearing and listening are essential for learning. In primary school, children spend around 45 to 75% of their time in the classroom listening to their teacher and interacting with their classmates.⁵

But noisy classrooms can be a problem for both students and teachers.

One New Zealand survey of teachers found that noise generated within a classroom is a problem.

High ambient noise levels and reverberation can reduce listening comprehension, speech intelligibility, and language development. Children miss out on words, phrases and concepts. This can lead to real disadvantage, particularly where English is a second language. Kids often fall behind. • For older students, where collaborative projects, open-plan classroom layouts, and a high level of interaction is standard, excessive noise can interfere with concentration, learning and academic progress⁵.

And while the National Construction Code (NCC 2019 & 2022) include minimum sound insulation requirements for walls and ceilings, these guidelines do not specify detailed acoustic standards for educational facilities. Designers also need to be mindful that acoustic standards vary between Australian states.

Fletcher Insulation products are designed on the principle that quality acoustic design gives students the best opportunity to listen and learn.

Controlling indoor thermal comfort, air quality and building condensation

Effective learning happens when students and teachers are comfortable with their surroundings.

A classroom environment that’s too hot or cold, has inadequate ventilation and poor air quality is uncomfortable, can interfere with a student’s concentration, cause fatigue, and result in serious damage to their health and wellbeing.

There’s some evidence that, unlike adults, younger children learn better in classrooms with cooler temperatures⁶. According to one UNSW researcher: ‘Improving indoor thermal and environmental quality is as important as improving the teaching material in the classroom⁷.’

We’ll identify which systems work best in different climates, avoiding interstitial condensation – which can damage the building fabric and structure. Fletcher Insulation provides product solutions to optimise your project’s thermal comfort, condensation management, and indoor air quality requirements.

Protecting people and buildings from fire

A building that’s designed to be fire-safe uses passive fire protection strategies to prevent a fire starting and to slow its progress. In case of fire, they’re essential to protect both property and people.

Insulation installed in external and internal walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, and around HVAC applications, is an integral part of fire safety control. Ensuring National Construction Code (NCC 2019 and 2022) compliance is non-negotiable. But building owners also need to consider standards and minimum requirements imposed by insurers. Choosing insulation that fails to fit these specifications could mean higher insurance premiums.

In educational institutions, it is crucial for designs to prioritise insulation made from sustainable, non-combustible or low flammability products that are rigorously tested to keep people and buildings safe.

For the good of the planet

Fletcher Insulation’s commitment to sustainability and protecting the environment does not begin and end with supplying energy efficient products. It begins with our manufacturing processes.

Fletcher Insulation products:

• are ODP-free, in both the finished product and in the manufacturing process
• contain no harmful levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), helping to maintain indoor air quality
• are manufactured using recycled materials wherever possible – up to 80% of the glass used in our glasswool insulation production is recycled, transforming a waste product destined for landfill into an environmental defender!

References are listed in our Education brochure.