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Ventilation systems & technology
Latest advances in the selection of grilles and diff users
Mike Gosling, technical director at TROX UK explains how to speed up the selection process of air terminal devices whilst ensuring technical accuracy
Left: Mike Gosling, technical director at TROX UK
Right: X-Grille Basic
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ff ective selection of air terminal devices is crucial to avoid complaints from building occupants. Choosing the wrong models can
lead to problems such as ‘dumping’ of cold air, draughty zones, or stuffi ness due to inadequate circulation. To add to this, air distribution requirements are likely to vary signifi cantly across the site as a whole. This means that, for a single new-build project or refurbishment, a large number of grilles and diff users of diff erent designs may need to be selected as quickly and eff ectively as possible.
Air should be added to the room in an individually regulated, precisely dosed manner. The objective is to obtain the best possible air quality in the occupied zone, and stable, homogeneous ambient temperatures. A number of factors need to be considered. For example, does the installation position require a ceiling, wall, staircase or fl oor diff user? And what air distribution technology does it need to support? Many applications will require mixed air distribution. In these systems, the air (for either heating or cooling) is delivered at relatively high velocity from diff users at ceiling level. As it moves along the ceiling due to coanda eff ect, it reduces in velocity before entering the occupied zone. This is necessary to prevent problems such as draughts, or ‘dumping’ of cool air (if the velocity is too low). Increasingly, however, air distribution systems (for example underfl oor applications) employ a displacement air movement strategy. Cool air is delivered at reduced velocity into the room from the fl oor void, through specially- designed fl oor grilles. When the cooler air comes
Air should be added to the room in an individually regulated, precisely dosed manner. The objective is to obtain the best possible air quality in the occupied zone, and stable, homogeneous ambient temperatures.
into contact with a heat load, such as a room occupant, it rises towards the ceiling, where the system will include equipment for extraction. Once these major factors are decided, a number of technical criteria need to be considered to determine the correct models. For example, what are the number of air changes? And what distance does the air need to travel to reach the occupied zone? Lastly, but importantly, what aesthetic ambitions does the architect or interior designer have for the space? This will have a signifi cant impact on the grille fascia designs required. With so many factors to be considered, it is no surprise that product selection is time-consuming and painstaking. That doesn’t mean, however, that specifi ers and purchasing professionals are unable to speed up the process. TROX UK, for example, has launched a new air terminal concept, called X-GRILLE-Modular, which off ers over 3,000 variants from a single ventilation grille. X-GRILLE-Modular incorporates a number of advantages over standard models, as you might
expect from a newly-designed product, with reduced pressure losses improving the energy effi ciency of an overall system design, and new fi xing variants to simplify assembly. Importantly though, there is an easy-to-use product selection option on the X-GRILLE Intuitive 3D Online Confi gurator, which enables the customer to specify exactly the right model for the application, out of over 3000 variants, with datasets available for BIM-based project processing. The grilles are confi gurable, at selection stage, based on a range of technical criteria to ensure the correct fi xed fl ow air distribution characteristics for the air terminal device with directed supply air discharge. Customers can choose from fi xed or adjustable blades, and sheet fronts with diff erent round hole or square lattice perforation grid designs. This facilitates adaptation to meet diff erent local requirements for variable and constant volume fl ows, with variants available to manage supply air to room air temperature diff erences from -12 – +15 K. Importantly though, the huge range of attractive grille fascia designs available from the 3D Online Confi gurator can also address the aesthetic requirements for the space. The customer can pin down the exact air distribution performance required for the project, whilst satisfying ambitious interior décor objectives of architects and building owners. Specifi ers or buyers still need to obtain all the information needed on the site’s air distribution requirements, but when it comes to selecting and ordering the grilles and diff users, the process can be accelerated and products procured with greater levels of accuracy.
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February 2025 11
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