To combat Covid-19, the French Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has recommended the installation of CO2 sensors in schools. These simply determine how often and for how long classrooms and individual rooms are ventilated. Ready to learn more?
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Why should schools be fitted with CO2 sensors, and how should they be chosen?
When your child is at school, he or she may inhale substances containing SARS-CoV-2. This is one of the three modes of transmission of Covid-19. It should also be noted that this type of inhalation simply occurs in enclosed spaces, such as classrooms. It comes in the form of aerosols, which can be suspended and remain in the air for several hours. They can also be carried over a distance of more than two meters.
Of course, there are various ways of limiting inhalation of these aerosols, such as wearing a mask, ventilating enclosed rooms or reducing the number of people in a room. By the way, Measuring CO2 concentration in air is a simple way of finding out whether or not air renewal is sufficient in closed rooms, for example.
The French High Council for Public Health (Haut Conseil de la Santé Publique) indicates that the ideal level is 600 ppm (parts per million) of CO2 in the air. This measure is suitable for enclosed spaces where masks cannot be worn. In rooms where masks can be worn, the CO2 concentration should not exceed 800 ppm.
So, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in every school, it’s important to install sensors to monitor these different measures. The frequency of ventilation is also necessary in each room. It should also be noted that it is possible to check that the mechanical system is working properly. Not every classroom needs to be equipped with a CO2 sensor. It should also be borne in mind that each classroom can be equipped with mobile sensors, if required.
It’s important that schools don’t opt for just any sensor. In fact, it’s essential to opt for NDIR (Non Dispersive Infrared) elements. These are also known as ” infrared detectors “.) It should also be noted that the devices installed in schools must be factory-calibrated. They must therefore carry a calibration certificate. If not, they must be calibrated by the user.
Who can apply for a grant?
It’s important to note that not just any organization can apply for a grant. It’s only local authorities and public inter-municipal cooperation bodies that are responsible for public schools. Of course, there are certain conditions and documents required before you can apply for this grant. Don’t worry, we’ll give you all the information you need in the next section.
How is the amount of aid calculated?
It should be noted that for this subsidy, a circular was passed on February 4, 2022. The Prime Minister simply challenged to increase and simplify the financial support offered by the State. Thanks to this increase, every commune wishing to invest in CO2 sensors will be perfectly able to do so: indeed, the subsidy has risen from €2 to €8 per school pupil. It’s also important to bear in mind that there is no flat-rate subsidy per sensor.
It should also be noted that the subsidy will continue to be paid. However, an invoice will still be required. This new rule will simply apply retroactively to any grant applications already submitted.
Note also that sensors purchased on or after April 28, 2021 can also be taken into account.
How do I apply?
Do you need to apply for a CO2 capture grant? Not sure how to go about it? This section is for you!
As you can probably imagine, you’ll need to create a file that will group together all the assistance you’re applying for. It should also be noted that when you apply, you must bring all the supporting documents relevant to the file.
It should also be noted that a grant awarded for the same area cannot give rise to two subsidy payments.
When you apply for a grant, you’ll need to send in a number of different documents. To make it easier for you to find your way around, we’ll give you a list of the documents you’ll need to provide:
- The grant application form : this must, of course, be completed in advance before you can receive your grant.
- An invoice: this must include essential information such as the number of CO2 collectors purchased, the corresponding expenditure with a price including VAT, and the dates of emissions. The latter must be after April 28, 2021.
- Please note: this must simply include the number of sensors delivered to each school.
Is there a deadline for this request?
If you need to apply for this subsidy, it will be perfectly possible to do so before April 30, 2022. Once this date has passed, you will no longer be able to apply for your certificate. You should also bear in mind that your application will have to be sent to the budgetary affairs division of your region.
As you can see, this grant application can really be worthwhile. However, you still need to apply for the various CO2 sensors for schools. We hope this article has helped to clarify things for you.
