HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES FOCUS 55


HOW TO SPOT A QUALITY VENTILATION SYSTEM WHEN YOU SEE IT


Paul Williams of Domus Ventilation looks at why quality is more crucial than ever in specifying whole ventilation systems for domestic schemes, and how to identify it.


T


he word ‘quality’ gets bandied about all over the place. Let’s face it, no sane company is going to say their products and services aren’t good quality. When it comes to ventilation, it’s no different: everyone seemingly makes good quality ventilation products and systems. But how do you defi ne quality, and is it actually important?


QUALITY MATTERS


In the world of ventilation, quality really does matter. Using poor quality products will most likely result in a ventilation system that is unable to deliver the air fl ow required to comply with Building Regulations, and make for an uncomfortable environment in which to live. But that’s not all; it could also make for a noisy system and one that leaks condensation onto walls and ceilings, leading to the formation of mould which is not only unsightly but can be hazardous to health.


PRODUCT: MAKE OR BREAK With whole house ventilation systems featuring Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) as the main means of meeting the revised Part F Ventilation of Building Regulations, the quality of these units can make or break a system.


A good quality unit will have a low


Specifi c Fan ower (SF), which reduces energy consumption and directly impacts on a property’s Dwelling Emission Rate (DER). In the case of MVHRs, the heat exchanger is a key component so be sure to check its profi ciency. The heat exchangers featured within our Domus HRXE range of MVHRs enable up to 95% of waste heat to be recovered, making it highly effi cient.


Important features to look for in MVHR units are a thermal bypass which automatically activates when the air temperature reaches a pre-set


QUALITY DOES COME AT A COST AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A BALANCE BETWEEN THESE TWO FACTORS


level, allowing in cooler, fresh, fi ltered air without warming it through the heat exchanger; and integral humidity sensors which automatically changes the extract speed from background to boost as the level of humidity increases. The units must be listed on the SAP Product Characteristics Database (PCDB). If MEV and MVHR units are seen as the heart of the ventilation system, they can only function effi ciently if the arteries – the ducting – is of a similarly good standard. Unfortunately, this is where the majority of problems arise, as ducting quality is often forsaken on the grounds of price. If you want your mechanical ventilation system to function correctly, it’s imperative to invest in quality ducting


that has been designed to work in harmony as part of a system and has been third party tested for end-to-end system performance. A good quality ducting system will have exacting tolerances and push fi ts together for minimal air and moisture loss and maximum system effi ciency. Its easy to spot poor quality ducting as the channel or pipe bows, or looks like it is concave, or the wall thickness appears uneven. And remember, never use fl exible duct work in place of rigid ducting as it causes a lot more air resistance and can be crushed easily.


A quality ducting system will also come with a range of useful accessories to help you meet site circumstances, such


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