School heating: timetabled zones and half-term savings
School heating is a scheduling problem dressed up as a plant problem. Occupancy is known months in advance, so the money is made by heating only the rooms on the timetable — something a single wet circuit cannot do, and per-room electric radiant can.
What temperature should a classroom be?
UK school premises guidance sets a minimum of 18°C for normal teaching spaces, 21°C where pupils are seated and less active, and 15°C for gyms and sports halls.
The problem with school heating
A school is empty most of the hours it is heated. Boiler-led systems warm the whole site to suit one occupied hall, and mobile classrooms sit outside the wet circuit entirely.
Zoning strategy: Zone per classroom on the timetable, with halls and mobiles on separate independent control.
Options compared
| System | Verdict | Upfront | Running |
|---|---|---|---|
Infrared / radiant panels Ceiling panels per classroom, out of reach of pupils, with timetable scheduling. | Best fit | Low | Medium |
Gas boiler and radiators Cheap fuel, but whole-site zoning is coarse and ageing plant risks mid-term failure. | Viable | High | Low fuel cost |
Air-source heat pump Cheapest per kWh delivered (COP ~3.2) but needs good insulation and capital budget. | Viable | High | Lowest |
Portable fan heaters A trip hazard, noisy in a classroom and the most expensive heat per useful kWh. | Poor fit | Low | Very high |
Indicative annual heating cost — 60 m², average / part-insulated
Degree-day method at UK average 2000 HDD, Ofgem price cap (indicative, 2026). Whole-space figures — zoning typically cuts these substantially.
- Infrared panels£936/yr
- Air-source heat pump£375/yr
- Gas central heating£337/yr
- Old electric / storage heaters£1,200/yr
What school heating costs to install
- Single classroom£900 – £2,200
Ceiling panels plus scheduled thermostat.
- Mobile / modular classroom£1,200 – £3,000
Independent of the main plant, so no boiler works required.
- Hall or sports space£4,000 – £12,000
High-output radiant on occupancy control.
School heating: FAQs
Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Open-Meteo, Ofgem, Energy Saving Trust