air conditioning & ventilation 29
Choosing ventilation systems demands consideration of all the facts
Chris Yates, managing director of Johnson & Starley Limited explains what housebuilders need to look at when planning for ventilation in a development
could be considered, “dealt with.” If there was any mechanical ventilation, it may well have been no more than a simple mechanical extract fan inset into a kitchen window and operated by a pull cord. Later, electronically operated extract fans demonstrated a higher level of sophistication – but not much serious thought was given to the most appropriate form of ventilation for the dwelling. How things have changed. The need to provide proper and fit for
F
purpose ventilation has been brought about by changes and advances in the new build market and in building refurb. Not only have construc- tion methods improved, but materials have
build up. This can lead to longer term problems of mould and spores leading to potential health risks to occupiers caused by stale and air contam- ination. In the longer term, there is also a risk not just of damage to furnishings but to the struc- tural elements of the house itself. How to balance any requirements for
or years ventilation was a topic not worthy of too much discussion – as long as a win- dow could be opened wide, then the issue
become more technically advanced, so the new home has become a far more tightly sealed unit. Alongside this change, there has been the never ending drive towards greater energy efficiency spurred on by global environmental concerns. Homes now have much higher levels of insulation both in the loft and between the walls with grants readily available. Furthermore, Parts F and L of the Building Regulations have demanded additional responsibilities and the drive is to develop properties where carbon emis- sions are controlled and energy consumption is reduced – all within a comfortable and healthy living environment. But tighter buildings where air cannot
circulate has potential detrimental side effects, not least of which is the risk of condensation
ventilation with the more traditional need for a highly efficient heating system is a challenge that housebuilders are now having to consider – and indeed are already doing so. The advent of renewable heating technology alongside tradi- tional fossil fuels and how best to ventilate throws another factor into the equation. There- fore, heating and ventilation can no longer be considered separately and a ventilation strategy is needed that is based upon a number of factors. These include the house type and structure, its specification and price, levels of accommodation, lifestyle of the potential occupants, its heating requirements and its running costs.
“Heating and ventilation can no longer be considered separately and a ventilation strategy is needed that is based upon a number of factors”
The easiest option when specifying ventilation
for residential properties – forgetting just open- ing the windows and letting heat out/noise and pollution in – remains the installation of extract fans in bathrooms, kitchens, en-suites and utility rooms. While certainly an advantage in terms of upfront costs, this type of solution simply does not provide the sophistication of ventilation that can be achieved in the 21st century and does not take advantage of the benefits of the technology that is now available. Today the emphasis is very much on
recovering heat energy used in the home and recirculating it. Therefore a system that actually takes indoor stale out and replaces it with outdoor air, then cleans it and pre-warms it before recirculating it within the property is very attractive. These latest state of the art MVHR systems will significantly reduce energy consumption/ carbon emissions and are Continued overleaf...
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