air conditioning & ventilation 37


What’s next for our air?


This year is the 60th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, which made a huge impact on smog and air pollution levels in our cities. How will we ensure the air we breathe is clean in the future? Jennifer Quinn of Vortice offers answers, discussing indoor air quality and trends in the ventilation market.


energy-efficient ventilation systems. The knock- on effect of building more airtight buildings can mean a poorer quality of air within the home. Airborne pollutants such as mould spores, pollen, carbon monoxide and chemicals used for cleaning can all contribute to poor indoor air quality and affect human health. All dwellings need a supply of fresh outdoor air to ensure good health and comfort for the occupants and to control condensation.


B Air pollution kills


The recent study by the Royal College of Physicians has served to highlight what those of us in the industry have been talking and writing about (the importance of good indoor air qual- ity) for several years. It claims that around 40,000 deaths in the UK each year are related to air pollution and recognises that as a society we have only just started to recognise the harmful effects of poor indoor air quality. As far as product development is concerned,


much attention has been focused on improving the filtration methods incorporated into fans, in particular heat recovery units. As the importance of better indoor air quality is increasing, and to ensure any incoming air is fully filtered before entering the home, some brands have developed units with 100 per cent fully filtered bypass.


uildings are now becoming more airtight with improved glazing and increased insulation, prompting an increase in


There are many different grades of filters which reduce pollen spores, dust particles and fumes. These products can be within the heat recovery units or separately boxed, which helps if access to the unit is limited. There have been even further developments with improved filtration systems, one in particular with a patented anti-bacterial solution. This filtration system involves an advanced air cleaner which reduces not only the fine particles within the air, but also the bacteria, allowing an even better standard of air quality and a healthier environment for the occupants. The industry has been working on filtration


systems for its ventilation fans for several years in order to help ensure external pollutants are pre- vented from entering the home, but there are still lifestyle issues to consider. This can include the use of cleaning chemicals, the number of people occupying a premises, whether they have pets and the lifestyle of the occupants – all of which can contribute to breathing-related illnesses such as asthma.


Awareness


Of course, ventilation units are only as good as the design and installation of the system and the education of the installers and occupants. Any weak point in these factors could cause a detri- mental effect on the unit’s performance. It is imperative that installers pass on their knowledge of the system to the occupiers by providing homeowner packs and education. Therefore ven- tilation companies need to set a real focus on delivering training, to ensure that the installers are being educated in the installing and commis- sioning of the units, so they perform to the best of their ability.


“Around 40,000 deaths in the UK each year are related to air pollution”


The relationship between external air


pollution and indoor air quality is significant – not only do external pollutants potentially impact on the inside of dwellings, but our homes are generating their own pollutants too. These can be issues like the burning of fuels by our boil- ers, solid fuel fires and cookers, to our use of chemicals such as room sprays, deodorants and cleaning products – without filtration these not only pollute our homes, but they also affect out- door air pollution. As houses are becoming more airtight through efficiency measures, a lack of


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