IN FOCUS V


ent-Axia is celebrating its 90th Anniversary this year, nine decades after engineer and inventor Joe Akester brought the company’s first ventilation product to market. Founded in 1936, the British manufacturer began with the Silent 6, the world’s first electrically operated


window ventilator. Early customers included Sir Winston Churchill, who purchased two Silent 6 fans for his Chartwell home in 1945, sending a cheque for £28.18s 9d. As demand for mechanical ventilation grew, Vent-Axia expanded across Britain. Five years of


wartime service demonstrated the reliability and effectiveness of its products, helping establish the company’s reputation for dependable ventilation. In 1946, Vent Axia moved to an 18,000 square foot factory in Putney. Further expansion followed in 1958 when Vent-Axia relocated to Manor Royal in Crawley, West Sussex, where it remains headquartered today, designing and manufacturing ventilation products for residential and commercial applications.


Product Milestones Innovation continued to drive the company’s growth. Launched in 1961, the iconic Standard Range fan became a familiar sight across Britain and internationally, including the Houses of Parliament. By 1970, Vent-Axia had manufactured its one millionth Standard Range fan. The popular T-Series followed in the 1980s, which became the UK’s No. 1 commercial fan and appeared


in the 1986 film Aliens. As building requirements evolved, Vent-Axia continued to respond, introducing the world’s first Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) fan in 1992 to address electrical safety in bathrooms.


Vent-Axia Celebrates 90 Years of Improving Indoor Air Quality Energy efficiency increasingly shaped


ventilation design. In 1997, Vent-Axia launched the LoWatt range for domestic applications, followed in 2002 by LoWatt T Series commercial fans unveiled at Birmingham’s Interbuild exhibition. Their DC motor technology offered significantly more energy efficient ventilation. The Lo-Carbon ranges arrived in 2007 building on this move towards lower-energy ventilation. The next step brought together heat recovery,


and intelligent demand-controlled ventilation. In 2008 Vent-Axia introduced the Sentinel Totus, the UK’s first Demand Energy Recovery Ventilation (D-ERV) system independently tested to EN308, combining demand-controlled ventilation, EC/DC motor technology and up to 90% energy recovery through its counterflow heat exchanger.


Today Today Vent-Axia continues to build on its 90-year heritage of innovation, developing ventilation solutions that respond to changing building requirements and environmental challenges. Recent innovations include the multi-award-winning Sentinel Apex commercial heat recovery range and the award-winning Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) range. Alongside product innovation, Vent-Axia is committed to improving indoor air sustainably and has a


goal to achieve Net-Zero by 2040. Working in partnership with AO, Vent-Axia pioneered using recycled fridge plastic in the manufacture of its ventilation products, reducing reliance on virgin plastics and supporting a more circular economy. This pioneering collaboration was recognised in 2024, with the BEAMA Net Zero Collaboration Award and the H&V News Low Carbon Impact Award, demonstrating Vent-Axia’s commitment to leading positive industry change. From the original Silent 6 to sophisticated heat-recovery systems, Vent-Axia’s products reflect changing expectations for comfort, safety and energy performance. As Vent-Axia celebrates 90 years of British manufacturing, the company remains focused on improving indoor air quality, reducing environmental impact and helping create healthier, more sustainable buildings for future generations. Vent-Axia is also using its anniversary to uncover more of its product history. It is asking contractors to


share photographs and stories of Vent-Axia products, including older fans that may still be in operation and tell them why they are a fan of Vent-Axia. To share a Vent-Axia product and its story visit: vent-axia.com/VA90.


Celebrating 90 years of improving indoor air quality


A 90 Years of British Innovation


For nine decades, Vent-Axia has helped shape the future of ventilation. Combining pioneering engineering, British manufacturing expertise and a commitment to better indoor air quality, we continue to develop high-performance solutions for healthier, more sustainable buildings.


90 Years of Ventilation Expertise


Pioneering British


Engineering Innovation


for Healthier Buildings


Let us know why you’re a fan of Vent-Axia as we celebrate our


90th Anniversary! www.vent-axia.com/VA90 In Need of Lo-Carbon Ventilation Systems? Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk Vent Axia hp BSEE Nov26.indd 1 ● Email: sales@vent-axia.com ● Tel: +44 (0)344 856 0590 29/10/26 08:33 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2026 23


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