C02 not an issue in local schools
Airqualityinclassroomsdeemedfineforlessons
Classrooms in South Lanarkshire are not among those with too much CO2 circulating in them.
South Lanarkshire Council has also confirmed that there are no plans to look into cutting the bottom sections off doors inside any buildings, after a political row over ventilation in schools broke out recently.
Around 2000 rooms in Scottish schools were found to have C02 levels considered too high, with the lack of ventilation believed to help the spread of Covid-19.
In response, the Scottish Government’s Education secretary Shirley-anne Somerville unveiled plans to improve air quality, including spending £1.6million on air filters, £2.4m for mechanical fans and £300,000 for doors to be “undercut to increase air flow”.
The last of those suggestions prompted mockery and criticism from other parties, after it emerged that the Scottish Government had not consulted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding the suggestion.
They stated it was local councils’ responsibility to speak to the fire service regarding the safety of the proposal.
South Lanarkshire Council has confirmed that it will not be putting the suggestion into practice.
The local authority is, however, currently installing C02 monitors.
Head of housing and technical resources, Daniel Lowe, told us: “South Lanarkshire schools have not reported any classrooms with persistently high CO2 levels to Scottish Government.
“South Lanarkshire Council is committed to providing a CO2 monitor for each learning space and we are currently preparing to start a programme of installation as these become available. I can advise that we have been contacted by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and we are grateful for the advice they offered on this matter.”
And he added: “However, we have no plans to cut the bottoms from any doors.”
An SFRS spokeswoman said: “Internal doors play a key role in preventing smoke and fire from spreading within buildings.
“As such the SFRS would strongly advise duty holders to make contact with our fire safety enforcement teams before undertaking any actions which would have an impact on the fire safety arrangements within their premises.”