IN FOCUS


Domus Ventilation’s Solis Air Brick scores an awards hattrick!


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ollowing its success at 2022’s London Construction Awards, the Solis Air Brick™ from Domus Ventilation has added a


further two accolades to its collection having recently won the Best External Product at the Housebuilder Product Awards and Innovation of the Year at the Wales Property Awards. The Solis Air Brick may be


seemingly simple product, but its ability to provide a cost-effective means of compliance with the revised Building Regulations Fire Safety Approved Document B has made it an extremely popular one amongst customers, and award schemes! Prior to the Building Regulations revisions, plastic was the standard material when it came to air


bricks used as part of a domestic ventilation system. With an increased emphasis on the fire integrity of buildings, Building Regulations Fire Safety Approved Document B was reviewed and changes made relating to the combustibility of materials used in external walls to reduce the risk of fire spread over the wall. Now, ductwork penetrating through an external cavity, including termination, must be non- combustible when installed above 18m in England and 11m in Scotland. Made from 1.5mm galvanized steel (fire class A1) non-combustible material, the Solis Air Brick was one


of the first to market that was able to meet these more stringent requirements, and ensure compliance. The Domus Ventilation Solis Air Brick comes in three sizes: 204x60 single metal air brick, and 220x90


and 220x126 double metal air bricks. Bezelled versions, for use with exterior cladding instead of brickwork, have now also been added to the range. Domus Ventilation Solis Air Bricks are suitable for use with all external wall types and are complimented by a wide range of stylish architectural grilles in a choice of colours. They are fully compatible with Domus rigid ducting ranges and Domus Thermal duct insulation, a patented system that significantly improves the thermal insulation of round and rectangular ventilation ducting, thus reducing heat loss and preventing the formation of condensation. The Solis Air Brick is the latest addition to Domus Ventilation’s Building Regulations compliant


ducting fire protection products. The company offers a range of Fire Sleeves and Fire Collars that have been tested to BSEN 1366-3:2009 and classified to EN13501-2 which prevent the spread of fire where ventilation ducting penetrates fire compartment walls. Domus Ventilation has a well-deserved reputation for quality, supported by excellent technical support, from a market leading manufacturer and designer. It is well placed to offer immediate, practical solutions to Building Regulations Parts F & L. For further information on Domus Ventilation, please contact vent.info@domusventilation.co.ukor visit our website.


domusventilation.co.uk L


ow carbon heating and hot water equipment manufacturer Lochinvar has unveiled a new range of high temperature air-to-water heat pumps capable of producing hot water up to 70degC while still achieving high energy efficiencies and reduced environmental impact.


The Amicus Altus is available in three possible configurations: Two-pipe heating only, two-pipe heating


or cooling, and four-pipe simultaneous cooling with heating and heat recovery, making it suitable for most types of commercial project. The high temperatures achieved makes the Amicus Altus especially useful as a direct low carbon replacement for gas boilers in buildings with high hot water demands without requiring a substantial remodelling of the heating and/or hot water systems. This makes the new range a valuable addition for specifiers looking for solutions that support net zero carbon strategies and help to reduce energy bills without major upfront capital costs. The new range also operates with the very low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R290 (propane), which is one of the most climate-friendly refrigerants on the market. It has a GWP of just three compared to the popular traditional alternative R410A which is typically used in this type of application and has a GWP of 2,088. R290 also has an ozone depletion factor (ODP) of zero and, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), its GWP over a 20-year period remains below one – making it more environmentally friendly as a refrigerant than carbon dioxide (CO2). Another benefit is that it does not contain any poly-fluorinated chemicals (PFAS) which are now subject to stricter restrictions in the UK and Europe.


Future proof By going with this non-HFC ‘alternative’ refrigerant, Lochinvar has produced a future-proof solution that is in step with the latest UK regulations which require the industry to move away from higher GWP substances. Under the current phase down timetable, the UK is looking to eliminate fluorinated gases (f-gases)


from most heat pump applications by the end of the decade. This is in line with the European F-Gas Regulation that the UK continues to mirror despite its departure from the European Union. The Altus units are also fully cascadable with outputs from 88 to 880kW and deliver an impressive Coefficient of Performance (CoP) of up to 5.5 – seasonal COP is around 3.95. They can also operate in heating mode down to external air temperatures as low as -20°C. With built in controls and a BMS fault and remote on/off signal that prioritises hot water production


this small footprint unit is easy to install and commission – and is supported by Lochinvar’s offer of free site visits for every installation. “We are delighted to be bringing such an impressive step forward for heat pump technology to the market,” said Lochinvar’s product engineer Steven Hunt. “Air-to-water heat pumps are generally highly energy efficient, but the Altus also delivers hot water temperatures comparable to those end users are used to with conventional gas boilers. “This, allied to the low GWP and zero ODP factors, make them an attractive choice for anyone specifying a retrofit project with high performance and low environmental impact in mind.”


Air-to-water heat pumps can be integrated into a variety of heating systems, which makes them a flexible option for different types of buildings and installations – and although the initial installation cost will be higher than for a gas boiler, the long-term savings are potentially far greater and the building’s carbon footprint substantially reduced. This new product follows last year’s launch by Lochinvar of the UK’s most powerful heat pump water heater the Amicus Aquastore. It has an output of 8kW and


455 litres of hot water storage capacity in a compact monobloc package combining heat pump and storage vessel. It can deliver up to 65degC hot water in both efficiency and hybrid modes and up to 490 litres in a peak hour with a 50degC temperature rise.


Popular The Aquastore and now the Altus are the latest additions to the extensive and popular Amicus range of air source heat pumps (ASHPs) which includes models delivering domestic hot water capacities from 7.7kW up to 210kW for a wide range of projects including large residential; medium and large commercial; and industrial applications. “Heat pumps are playing an increasingly important role in helping the UK transition to low carbon heating and the Amicus Altus is just the latest in a line of innovations designed to make the technology available to the widest possible range of users with minimal disruption to the existing building services,” said Hunt. “As well as our on-site support and technical back-up, another benefit to our customers is that Lochinvar can provide all the components needed to provide a complete low carbon system with heat pump technology at its heart. This considerably simplifies the specification, design, and installation process,” he added.


www.lochinvar.ltd.uk Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2023 35 a


Fusing headline performance with massive running cost savings


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new ventilation with heat recovery option can achieve performance better than anything else on the market, meaning massive savings on energy bills. MFS-HR is the concept of the UK’s leading independent commercial air movement specialist,


Gilberts Blackpool, who was instrumental in pioneering hybrid ventilation with its core MFS unit. The latest evolution achieves up to 75% heat recovery- significantly better than other similar type systems. That outstanding performance means that for a typical school, energy bills could be cut dramatically


by recovering heat that would otherwise be wasted, whilst ensuring a indoor air quality compliant, well- ventilated space. Gilberts’ dynamic MFS-HR will become, the company believes, the ‘go-to’ solution for net zero building services design, especially in educational establishments. The ventilation performance is compliant with BB101 and the DFE Output Specification. Further,


it avoids overheating in the building, being TM52 comfort compliant. And it is quiet- meeting BB93 guidelines even for special educational needs.


How it works A stand-alone unit installed at high level through the building façade, MFS-HR utilises natural air movement to provide airflow to cool in warmer months; a low energy fan boosts supply and exhaust when needed to maintain the temperature and indoor air quality (IAQ). In colder conditions, the exchanger extracts heat from the exhaust air. The heat is transferred to the cooler incoming air via the exchanger. Separate chambers for supply


and return air avoids the risk of cross contamination and ensures the incoming air is COVID safe. An external louvre simultaneously draws fresh air in and exhausts the used air: options include exposed (mounted in the room) or concealed (ducted above the ceiling); louvres either fitted into the brickwork, window frame or glazed into the window. With its heat recovery capability, MFS-HR will provide up to 4kw heating and 2kw cooling capacity whilst still delivering high, compliant airflow rates of up to 378l/s. An optional additional LPHW coil can provide heating, potentially negating the capital expenditure, plant and running costs associated with a separate central heating system. The MFS range attains air leakage better than legislative requirements – 3m3/HR/m2, and a U value of


less than 1W/m2/°C. Being a stand-alone system, MFS-HR is ideal for new build or refurbishment/refit scenarios. The combined benefits of Gilberts’ MFS-HR performance contribute towards low/zero carbon strategies, BREEAM and similar eco credentials. “When we launched the original MFS, there was nothing else like it in terms of performance,” says Gilberts’ Sales Director Ian Rogers. “MFS-HR will build on that, taking hybrid ventilation with heat recovery to new heights in the drive towards energy and carbon reduction, re-affirming Gilberts’ position as a technological leader. “MFS-HR will play a pivotal role in helping reduce the energy we waste and make best use of our available resources. It stacks up, from sustainability and commercial aspects.”.


gilbertsblackpool.com Lochinvar launches high temperature low GWP heat pump


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