COURT HEATING AND VENTILATION

Vents

If high level vents have been installed on the play wall, it may be necessary to seal these. This will ensure that the air is drawn across the court from low to high level. Additional ventilation for the viewing gallery area should be installed, the size needed will relate to the volume of the gallery. Extractor fans, when fitted with a speed controller, will enable the fans to be run at low speed when the courts are not in use and manual control to a higher speed when they are in use. Fans should be allowed to run on for 20 minutes after the court has been used.

Over Heating

Where courts become excessively hot it may be necessary to install a larger fan. A speed controller will be required to reduce the extract rate in cold weather.

 

Mould Growth
If there are any signs of mould growth inside the court, this may be the result of a water leakage through the outside structure. If mould appears internally in the corridor, spectator's gallery or changing room, and if a leak in the structure can be discounted, then these growths are usually the result of high humidity which may be caused by poor ventilation. Mould can also appear on an emulsion painted surface, where the paint has been applied to a structure which, although appearing dry on the surface, has not completely dried out. Mould growth is best dealt with by brushing down to remove the loose mould growth and then treating with a proprietary mould inhibitor fungicide or a diluted solution of household bleach, containing chloride. The surface should then be washed down with clear water and left to dry thoroughly.

General

Some courts have their own special problems which may be the result of their location or construction. If effective and efficient use is made of existing heating and ventilation systems, or consideration is given to installing such systems, it should be possible to minimise the risk of condensation.