VENTILATION & AIR MOVEMENT W
hilst economic growth overall, and particularly in the construction industry, is modest, our sector of building services
seems to be bucking the trend. How do we stay ahead of the game? Leading researchers claim the factors behind
the growth in ventilation systems – predicted to be 8+% over the next few years – are the drive towards sustainability and a health-centric emphasis on indoor air quality (IAQ)(1
). It’s not just our clients’ desire to help the planet,
it’s also the rising cost of energy and appreciation of the impact of IAQ on the health & wellbeing of the occupants- be they human or machine. It is essential therefore that as an industry we
deliver what the end client wants- good ventilation that is cost-effective to operate. The challenge is where we put our effort. Inevitably, centralised systems are still holding
strong, largely because in so many commercial buildings every space is occupied and therefore requires ventilation. One system gives greater control over the air throughout the building whilst strategic choice of the air distribution units- the grilles and diffusers- can further enhance the energy efficiency and air quality. That is leading to increasing specification of temperature-sensitive units, which react to fluctuations in warmth and adjust airflow direction accordingly- all within seconds and without any electrical input. Because it is so immediate, there is no triggering of demand on the main HVAC and associated increase in energy consumption- and cost. Occupant comfort and indoor air quality is not disrupted. The factors mentioned above- of sustainability
and IAQ- are prompting a growth in decentralised ventilation. Decentralised systems reduce ductwork
www.heatingandventilating.net
Air movement, on the up
Ian Rogers, Gilberts Blackpool sales director, looks at trends in ventilation and air movement
and therefore have an associated reduction in build costs and the carbon footprint. They give the control to ventilate only occupied spaces reducing energy wastage. They can be tailored to the exact requirements of each space and reduce the risk of cross-contamination as air moves within the building. The increasing choice of hybrid ventilation is a
case in point, to which we can attest. Our Mistral Fusion Deo MFS-HR system out-performs anything else similar combining hybrid ventilation and a market-leading 65% heat recovery with the result that it has smashed our sales predictions by 250%. Hybrid ventilation with heat recovery is popular
for various reasons. Because it predominantly uses natural air movement to work, switching to mechanical ventilation only as and when needed, it is highly energy efficient. As it transfers the existing internal warmth to the cooler incoming air, heating requirements are reduced. It costs literally pence to run each day. In one system, you combine the benefits of natural ventilation with the controllably of mechanical air movement. Hybrid and natural ventilation require a supply of
fresh air, usually through a façade louvre. Designers are increasingly including louvres in the façade- partly because of the need to cut energy consumption, be it from an ethical or financial motive, and partly because of our global reliance on the internet and thus the need to cool either dedicated data centres or the server room(s) within commercial buildings. They do also bring an aesthetic consideration to the building envelope. Louvres are often not given due consideration but
22 October 2025
are a useful tool in the drive towards sustainability and IAQ in ventilation. They are after all the essence of a natural ventilation system whether it be all or part of the HVAC strategy for the building. They generally require no energy to generate
air movement into and out of the building, only, if required, to modulate any additional dampers to control airflow. Louvres reduce transfer of outside pollutants- dust and insects- to the interior. They can be acoustically treated to modulate noise penetrating the building thus contributing beyond IAQ to IEQ (indoor environment quality). Whatever aspect of the HVAC we are involved in, be it design, installation, manufacture, supply, we can always test and refine, tweak as necessary, to ensure we are responding to the drivers in the market and delivering air movement that satisfies everyone’s objectives. As importantly, we use the knowledge gained to learn and educate. That way we continue to thrive and prosper and
stay ahead in the market: it may be growing, but we still need to be market-savvy. (1)
https://constructuk.com/ ventilation-and-air-conditioning-market-report-uk- 2023-2027-new-from-ama/
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