Fans E
ven before the pandemic, we were spending the overwhelming majority of our time indoors. And it’s understandable – rapidly-
advancing technology means we can do almost everything from the comfort and safety of an indoor space. However, as we’re spending more time indoors,
we’re becoming much more aware of our indoor environment. We all want peaceful and pleasant surroundings in which to live and work but everything from temperature levels to lighting can have an impact on our wellbeing. Let’s focus on sound which, because it is invisible,
can be easily overlooked. Acoustic levels can have a profound effect on our wellbeing, as well as the physical rhythms of our bodies, hormones, heart rate and even brainwaves. Sound can also have transformative effects on our ability to think and act clearly.
Modern innovations
We have fast-paced lifestyles with growing technology at our fingertips whenever we want it, but this needs to be balanced with some peace and quiet.
So when societal trends evolve and end user
expectations change, it is incumbent upon the HVAC industry to respond accordingly. We can’t put our fingers in our ears. From design and manufacturing to specification and installation, we need to collaborate and innovate to create sound-conscious spaces in commercial, leisure and residential settings.
Demand for and benefits of quieter fans
Noise is becoming a top priority among consulting engineers when it comes to product specification in 2022. They are recognising that noise pollution affects concentration, productivity and wellbeing and can’t be ignored. But the same problem still exists: if a fan is too
loud, then people – employees, employers – will switch them off. It’s as simple as that. This has the knock-on effect of reducing the ventilation benefits that it was installed to provide. Not only does this affect your health, but it risks long-term mould build-up and structural damage. We need to avoid this cycle – break this cycle –
and awareness-raising initiatives across the built environment such as the new International WELL
Making a sound plan
Lee Page, sales director at S&P UK examines the demand and benefits of quieter operating fans
Building Standard are welcome. Sound features prominently under Comfort, one
of seven categories in the holistic standard. “Built environments can harbour sounds that are
distracting and disruptive to work or relaxation,” it notes. “While noise is ubiquitous, we are able to adopt
policies, technologies and practices that ensure quieter acoustical environments and minimize our exposure to harmful and unnecessary sound.”
How the industry is responding – meet Mellizo
In addition to standards, regulations and policies, manufacturers can lead by example by creating better standards in noise abatement. The promising news is that the HVAC industry is beginning to respond to market demands by creating quieter fans. For example, we’ve just launched Mellizo, a twin fan designed for commercial bathrooms and changing rooms, following years of extensive
development at our Spanish headquarters. Spanish for ‘twin’, Mellizo is the quietest and most efficient twin fan we have ever made. And Mellizo has been designed with sound in
mind. It features a flame-retardant V0 acoustically lined outer case to reduce sound breakout, and a silent elastic block to reduce the motor’s vibrations, along with an optional silencer. The acoustic twin cabinet fan is designed for indoor and external installation with horizontal and vertical mounting. It features multiple sensor inputs, demand ventilation, and Building Management System connectivity. This is the type of innovation that our consultants want. It has the lowest possible Specific Fan Power (SFP) in the UK currently, according to our thorough research. For example, the Mellizo 400 EcoWatt, the smallest unit, produces an overall Db(A) of 18 at three metres under a Static Pressure (Pa) of 100, whilst delivering 0.08 m3/s, with an SFP of 0.32 W/L/S.
A sound plan
It’s this type of performance data that makes the meticulous research worthwhile, and hopefully leads to healthy competition and higher standards. From sound zones to spatial layouts, we need to
appreciate the role that sound plays in our lives. We need to rise to the challenge of mitigating noise in a way that doesn’t compromise on efficiency, quality, or sustainability. Our acoustics strategies must align with the latest end user needs. S&P UK Ventilation Systems is the UK subsidiary of leading global manufacturer Soler and Palau, and is the sole UK distributor of commercial, industrial and residential fans and ventilation systems.
16 December 2022
www.heatingandventilating.net
DOWNLOAD THE HVR APP NOW
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
