PHAM NEWS | APRIL 2024 38 Ventilation& Heat Recovery
Improving comfort levels in homes now and in the future
The Future Homes Standard is set to bring big changes to new build developments, with ventilation playing a crucial role in maintaining good air quality in increasingly air tight buildings. Steve Pearce from Vent-Axia argues that it’s a good time for installers to get up to speed with the latest advances in MVHR technology.
H
eat recovery ventilation is the future for UK homes. The government may
have slowed down on its route to net zero but the UK still has the legal target to meet by 2050. It is therefore important to make changes now to ensure we meet this goal. Buildings account for 40%
of energy use in Europe and approximately 35% of emissions. To meet the net zero target, buildings therefore need to decarbonise. This will involve the wide-scale electrifi cation of heating, a move away from fossil fuels, and signifi cant improvements to air tightness and building insulation. Heat recovery ventilation will be an important technology to help deliver another means of carbon avoidance by preventing heat loss, so as a technology it is set for signifi cant growth, which is an opportunity for contractors. The government has already
been taking steps to reduce building carbon emissions. In 2021 it amended Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) and Part F (Means of Ventilation) of the Building Regulations, reducing
Steve Pearce Product manager at Vent-Axia
carbon emissions from new build homes by 30%. With housebuilders keen to cut carbon emissions in line with the Building Regulations, there has been a signifi cant trend towards developers specifying a combination of centralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) in combination with decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV). However, MEV is very much an interim stage on the journey as we move towards net zero and more advanced ventilation systems.
Energy efficient heat recovery ventilation
supplies a solution that provides healthy filtered air while recovering heat that would be otherwise lost
Future homes The next step will be the introduction of the Future Homes Standard in 2025 which is currently under consultation. This aims to ensure that new homes will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes built under the current Building Regulations. To meet the necessary
The heat-cell inside Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq
carbon reductions buildings are becoming more thermally effi cient as their air tightness is increased to avoid heat loss, along with better insulation. But without considering ventilation alongside these measures a building can end up with condensation, mould and poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Energy effi cient heat recovery ventilation supplies a solution that provides healthy fi ltered air while recovering heat that would be otherwise lost. Contractors will be pleased to know that our latest MVHR solution, the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq, has been designed to be highly energy effi cient. With best-in-class specifi c fan powers (SFP) as low as 0.39w/l/s and low embodied carbon, this ensures the occupants’ comfort is a priority by operating quietly and eff ectively improving IAQ. Recovering as much as 93% heat, this type of unit saves huge amounts of energy that would be
Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq is able to recover up to 93% of heat that would otherwise be wasted
otherwise wasted, good news for carbon reductions. Occupant comfort is vital
so the Sentinel Econiq range provides near silent operation with sound levels as low as 15.5 dB(A) (independently tested by SRL). It is designed and developed in the UK to off er the highest levels of comfort and functionality, and a wireless control platform delivers complete control of the home environment.
Making it easy MVHR units are also becoming easier to install and commission. Designed to make it easy for contractors and to maximise space, the Sentinel Econiq range includes a horizontal duct option for space-saving installations. Plus, the range also includes left or right-handed options via the app rather than separate L/H and R/H units. This makes specifi cation easier in mirrored properties or large new build developments. In addition, the range includes acoustic enclosures and top box options to further lower noise levels, which are useful in apartment projects.
Commissioning To ensure a building operates as designed it is vital to ensure it is commissioned accurately. To simplify commissioning the
latest heat recovery units feature advanced control systems either built-in, in-room or app- based, where full functionality, commissioning and monitoring is provided as standard. This ensures a unit meets its energy effi ciency targets as designed. To help housebuilders
comply with Part F of the Building Regulations, we have developed the Commissioning Wizard. Available online and via a smartphone app, the Commissioning Wizard makes it very simple to comply with Part F, allowing the ventilation installer to input all the necessary information that Part F requires for compliance. It will then output a complete detailed report for building control to sign off . Far easier than fi lling in a paper commissioning document on site, it is easy to use and saves time, giving peace of mind that all the necessary questions have been answered to comply. With the Future Homes
Standard 2025 deadline becoming ever closer, now is the time to make the change to MVHR to help reduce carbon. As the government continues to try to lower the carbon emissions generated from the built environment, the drive for greater energy effi ciency will continue. As a result, heat recovery will become more popular and contractors that are able to fi t the technology competently will be in high demand. ◼
phamnews.co.uk/424/58
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 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
