Ventilation
Why ventilation is becoming a more strategic category for wholesalers
Changing regulations, heightened awareness of indoor air quality and evolving contractor requirements are reshaping conversations around ventilation at the trade counter, says Lee Stones of Xpelair.
F
or many electrical wholesalers, ventilation has traditionally been a relatively straightforward category. Contractors knew what they wanted, products were oſt en replaced like-for-like and conversations at the trade counter rarely extended beyond extraction rates or stock availability.
Greater awareness around damp, mould and indoor air quality, alongside evolving housing standards and Awaab’s Law, means this is starting to change. Contractors are arriving with more technical questions around ventilation performance, suitability and compliance, asking not just what fi ts, but what works best for the property.
Part of that shift comes down to how homes themselves are changing. With people spending
20 | electrical wholesalerJuly 2026
“To help support the industry as requirements change, manufacturers are investing more heavily in technical guidance and training.”
up to 90% of their time indoors1 , understanding
around the importance of indoor air quality is growing. At the same time, better insulation and energy effi ciency improvements can unintentionally trap moisture and stale air inside properties, particularly where ventilation has not evolved alongside building upgrades. Everyday activities such as cooking, showering and drying clothes release litres of water vapour into the home and without eff ective airfl ow, the result can be condensation, damp and mould.
Awaab’s Law has brought sharper focus to the issue. Following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, Awaab’s Law came into force in social housing in October 2025, placing clear duties on landlords to investigate and resolve hazardous damp and mould issues within strict timeframes. While the legislation currently applies to social housing, the government has committed to extending similar protections to privately rented homes through the Renters’ Rights Act, reinforcing the wider direction of travel around ventilation and indoor air quality.
For wholesalers, the implications are becoming clearer and as conversations around ventilation become more technical, there is a need and opportunity to support contractors with product guidance, specifi cation advice and confi dence around system suitability.
ewnews.co.uk
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