VENT-AXIA WELCOMES CHANGES TO BUILDING REGULATIONS
Vent-Axia, the leaders in energy efficient ventilation technology, has hailed “ground-breaking” proposed changes to Part F and Part L of the Building Regulations as “hugely significant” in driving the uptake of low-carbon ventilation to become the industry standard for all projects. Released on 18th June 2009, the new Building Regulation consultations set out the proposed changes to Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) and Part F (Means of Ventilation) that are planned to come into force in 2010, with the consultation closing on 17 September 2009.
The Part L and F consultation documents include a number of major revisions which underpin compliance with stated minimum energy efficiency levels for all ventilation systems. For the first time, and as part of a new Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide introduced in Part L, a specific fan power requirement of less than 0.5 watt/sec is included for intermittent fans used in both refurbishment and new build developments. Meanwhile, new Target Emission Rates (TER’s) also in Part L are set to deliver a 25% saving over the previous regulations in line with achieving Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3.
New proposed inclusions in Part F involve the establishment of guidelines for airtight properties with infiltration rates tighter than 5m3h/m2 at 50pa. For Intermittent System 1 and Passive Stack System 2 approaches, in airtight dwellings the guidance increases background ventilation rates by 50%. This would undoubtedly cause some developers to re-evaluate their designs as the current provisions in Approved Document F 2006 have already been difficult to achieve when using trickle ventilators in windows. Meanwhile, for Continuous Mechanical Extract, System 3 approaches, the guidance removes the requirement for background ventilation in dwellings designed with infiltration rates above 5m3h/m2. It is likely that these factors, along with the Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) benefits of SAP Appendix Q will combine to boost the adoption of whole house Mechanical Extract Ventilation systems (MEV and dMEV) and Mechanical Extract Ventilation systems with Heat Recovery (MVHR). Also in Part F, a new Domestic Ventilation Installation and Commissioning Compliance Guide has been proposed to ensure that ventilation not only delivers the required airflow, but does it efficiently and quietly.
“These ground-breaking new proposed inclusions to the Building Regulations look set to transform the ventilation sector” explains Ronnie George, Managing Director at Vent-Axia. ”They recognise the contribution that ventilation equipment with energy efficient, Lo-Carbon™ DC motors can make in reducing fuel consumption, both in new, airtight properties and in retrofit projects. As such, they are hugely significant. They will reward those forward-thinking companies who are already ahead of the game in developing technologies that meet or exceed these new demands and help reduce a building’s carbon footprint”.
Vent-Axia is the only ventilation company offering a full range of Lo-Carbon™ fans which will meet the revised consultations’ specific fan power requirement of less than 0.5 watt/sec for all applications. A Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon™ DC motor extract fan can replace an ordinary fan and achieve energy savings of up to 90%. Proposed changes to Part F would result in the ventilation rate of a given property being calculated dependant on the designed infiltration rates. This would eliminate the need for background ventilators in habitable rooms when specifying MEV or dMEV systems for applications at 5m3h/m2 or above. So, dMEV systems, like Centra from Vent-Axia, would prove a simple and scalable solution which, because it is also the best performing dMEV unit on SAP Appendix Q, would result in DER reductions too.
“Historically, low energy DC motors, especially in residential extract fans, have been available at a high premium with many models being over twice the price as the equivalent AC versions” adds Ronnie George. “However, because we have invested in our UK manufacturing base we are now able to offer our extended and extensive Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon™ range at a lower price point. Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon is not just the energy efficient option but the Building Regs compliant option as well as the best value for money option.”
Vent-Axia provides a comprehensive range of ventilation products under its Lo-Carbon™ umbrella, each featuring the latest in LoWatt DC motor technology. The range includes SAP Appendix Q eligible products such as: the Sentinel Kinetic Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system; the Sentinel Multivent on-demand MEV ventilation system; the versatile, multi-purpose Quadra domestic fan; and the latest addition, the new Lo-Carbon™ Centra as a discreet, near silent, dMEV solution with the lowest specific fan power on SAP Appendix Q. All of these solutions now offer energy benefits in SAP and Part F. The range also includes Lo-Carbon™ versions of Silhouette, the market leading low profile axial fan as well as the VA100, Minivent, Vent-a-light and Solo+, the most comprehensive range complying to the new proposed building regulations.
Vent-Axia’s on-going strategy is to ensure that all products and systems will, over time, fall under its Lo-Carbon™ banner. This commitment places Vent-Axia at the forefront of the drive for low energy HEVAC products. For more information on Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon™ please email info@vent-axia.com or call 0844 856 0590.