BSEE-MAY21-P33 Vent Axia_Layout 1 11/04/2021 09:22 Page 33


VENTILATION


The COVID­19 pandemic has further highlighted the issue of indoor air quality (IAQ) and the vital importance of effective ventilation, two areas that were already being raised pre­


pandemic with a raft of research on IAQ. Now, with us all spending more time at home, and with homes more likely to feature as at least part­time offices in the future, house buyers are focusing more closely on aspects like space, ventilation and layout. For consultants specifying ventilation in new build homes, Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) is an effective way to provide good IAQ around the home. Katie Sweeney, Product Manager at Vent­ Axia, explains more.


D


uring the last year the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely


highlighted the importance of


indoor air quality and ventilation in buildings due to the airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus. It has made the invisible, visible to the public. However, although it appears that this focus on indoor air quality has appeared from nowhere, along with COVID-19, this increased awareness is the culmination of a number of factors.


For the best part of the last 20 years, since Kyoto, we have tried to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This has led to a focus in our homes on energy and warmth, reducing energy use and providing warmth. However, over the last 5 years we have all witnessed the real consequences of sealing up homes and insulating them to make them more energy efficient. It has resulted in indoor air pollution. The most visible sign of this have been condensation and mould but this is only the tip of the iceberg since homes with indoor air pollution can contain over 900 chemical and biological contaminants in the air we breathe, including viruses. The RCP and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report ‘Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution’ published in 2016 was a landmark report. It estimated that ambient air pollution causes approximately 40,000 premature deaths, over 6 million sick days and an estimated total social cost of £22.6 billion per year in the UK. Since then momentum has continued to grow regarding air pollution and IAQ awareness following the publication of a number of key pieces of research and documents.


In January 2020, just ahead of the pandemic, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance ‘Indoor Air Quality at Home’, provided detailed information and advice on how to reduce exposure to indoor pollutants and so help protect health. The publication of this guidance set in stone the importance of good IAQ,


highlighting the significant part effective ventilation plays in helping combat indoor air pollution in the home. The guidance highlighted the negative impact of activities such as cooking, cleaning, showering, drying clothes and burning candles - which all significantly decrease IAQ. To combat this, NICE advises the use of mechanical ventilation, in addition to natural background ventilation, to improve air quality and fight against condensation and mould.


Carbon Dioxide


So, whilst it’s clear that households can make lifestyle adjustments to combat many sources of pollution, one cause of poor IAQ that is often overlooked but can’t be avoided is the simple act of breathing. Every time we breathe out we release approximately 40,000ppm of CO2. Added to this, there are other sources of this gas such as gas burning appliances, carbonated drinks and clothes dryers. This naturally occurring gas is well known for its impact on the environment but its impact on human health is less well known. At low levels of 400- 1000ppm we experience fatigue rising to headaches, nausea and complaints of drowsiness at medium levels of 1000-2000ppm. And if CO2 levels rise above this it can cause worsening headaches, sleepiness, poor concentration and lack of attention, increased heartrate and sickness. The air also feels stale, stagnant and stuffy. High levels of CO2 in the home are particularly prevalent at night when


unventilated bedrooms can fill with CO2 to dangerous levels of around 2400ppm.


So, what’s the solution to controlling CO2 levels and other pollutants that lead to poor IAQ and the subsequent health impacts? MEV units provide simultaneous ventilation of separate areas in the home, with units able to service a kitchen and multiple wet rooms. And now there are new sensor developments that help safeguard air quality in the home, including CO2 sensors to combat poor IAQ. The latest MEV units offer integral and adjustable CO2 and humidity sensors which increase ventilation rates in proportion to relative levels


BSEE Healthier Homes in a Changing World


of dwelling pollutants, helping protect inhabitants from harmful pollutants improving IAQ, safety and build quality. For example, models within Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon Multivent MEV range will boost when CO2 levels reach 1000ppm (adjustable) or purge when levels reach 1500ppm to ensure a constant good indoor air environment, free from excess CO2 levels.


With a net-zero target set for 2050 and the Future Homes Standard set to further lower Dwelling Emission Rates (DER), housebuilders are looking for solutions that answer sustainability and air quality challenges. Add to that forthcoming amendments to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations set to raise efficiency levels and airflow targets, and it’s clear that only the best performing ventilation should be specified. MEV offers a high efficiency, compact solution for continuous whole house mechanical extract ventilation. This makes it a simple and effective solution to help consultants help housebuilders meet these challenges. Things to look out for when specifying MEV are market- leading efficiency to allow DER to be kept to minimum; low specific fan power – there are units available with an SFP as low as 0.14w/l/s; and demand control to enable precise ventilation thereby avoiding over ventilation and energy wastage. Another good option is to look for one made in the UK from recyclable materials.


On top of sustainability benefits it’s important to look for an MEV which includes features aimed at cutting down installation time, improving IAQ and guaranteeing end-user comfort. Flexibility is key, Vent-Axia’s MEV range has digital controls and switching options to give a flexible solution for many New-Build scenarios. Manual and automatic control options; Plug-n-Play automatic sensor detection; switched live and SELV connections,


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and optional wired or wireless controllers are all great features to look for.


Meanwhile ease of install offers time and so cost savings on site. Advanced control options offer speedy installation and


commissioning with digital displays on a unit or even App control to help ensure commissioning accuracy. App control allows users to effortlessly commission and monitor a system on a smartphone or tablet from anywhere in the dwelling. Furthermore, compact and lightweight options make a unit easier to site and install without taking up valuable real estate. MEV also makes a great selling point for households with attractive options including offering good IAQ and a healthy indoor environment, both which have risen up the agenda for house buyers since the pandemic. Sensors that react to rising CO2 and humidity levels are therefore set to prove popular since they ensure adequate ventilation, even for the smallest wet room. Add to this an ambient response humidity feature that suppresses nuisance tripping as humidity gradually increases with falling temperatures and house buyers will appreciate not being woken in the night. The latest MEV units also offer ultra-low noise levels again ensuring they won’t disturb households. Plus, the units have incredibly low running costs too of just £6 a year thanks to high- efficiency motors paired with CFD designed internal mouldings. It is also easy to for households to monitor ventilation with App-enabled models.


COVID-19 and air pollution have driven consumer awareness of IAQ, making MEV an attractive option for housebuilders and house buyers alike. Consultants working in the new build sector can therefore offer great value and a wide range of benefits when specifying the latest MEV units.


BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2021 33


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