Design Intent does not equal Ventilation Performance: IAQ Lessons from Education Estates February 2026
Adam Taylor, CEO of ARM Environments, took to the stage at the Education Estates Sustainability & SEND Conference in February 2026. Speaking alongside Professor Dejan Mumovic and Professor Anna Mavrogianni of UCL, and Vince Ruane of RCDC, Adam focused on a familiar but uncomfortable truth: buildings rarely perform exactly as they were designed to — and the technicians and engineers trusted to keep systems operational are partly to blame.
His core message was simple, but pointed: design intent is not performance. A specification might promise fresh air rates, thermal stability, and energy efficiency, yet what pupils and staff experience day-to-day depends on commissioning, controls, maintenance, and human behaviour. In other words, the drawing board is only the beginning.
This performance gap is well documented. Studies from UCL’s IEQ research group and CIBSE have repeatedly shown discrepancies between predicted and measured ventilation rates in occupied buildings. In schools, reliance on manual window opening, poorly configured BMS systems, and uncalibrated sensors can all undermine otherwise solid design strategies. Adam’s point was that these issues are rarely down to bad technology. They are process failures: unclear accountability, limited training, or systems that are too complex for stretched teams to manage confidently.
He illustrated this with examples that resonated across the room, including ventilation units signed off as commissioned while still partially wrapped in protective film. It raised laughter, but it underscored something serious. If commissioning is rushed, if overrides are left permanently engaged, or if filters are not maintained, even the best-specified equipment will not deliver healthy air and fail sooner than predicted by the design documents.
Most performance failures are not dramatic; they creep in gradually. Missed checks, poor commissioning, neglected maintenance, and unclear responsibilities slowly undermine even the most robust and well-designed systems. Ventilation and monitoring equipment will not sustain performance without oversight. If no one is accountable, standards slip. Clear processes and defined responsibility are what keep systems working properly and, ultimately, what keep people safe.
If it's time to get your filters changed or you're concerned that your airflow isn't quite as powerful as it used to be, get in touch with ARM Environments for professional ventilation validation or AHU Refurbishment services to ensure the air you breathe is as clean as it's supposed to be. For any queries, click here to speak to a certified air quality expert.
