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Extract increased control over ventilation

07/05/2008

The building industry faces a conundrum – to create airtight buildings yet still ensure there is an adequate supply of fresh air within, and simultaneously aim towards a zero carbon footprint. Passivent highlights the solutions

Passivent has increased its product range in response to changing demands for energy efficiency, keeping costs and carbon emissions down.

The systems are suitable for houses, flats, apartments and multi-occupancy buildings, and are designed to achieve effective ventilation whilst minimising energy consumption.

At the heart of the two BRE-approved systems – MEV (Mechanical Extract Ventilation) and iMEV (intelligent Mechanical Extract Ventilation) is a lowwattage central extract DC fan, which uses less energy than a conventional AC fan.

iMEV integrates intelligent extracts and an intelligent fan within a central extract system for the building.

The extracts open and close in response to varying humidity levels. The central fan is constantly monitoring the extracted air and as it detects the humidity content is more than a pre-set level, it boosts the extraction rate. As the extract will be open only in a room with a high level of humidity, boosted extraction will only take place in that room. Other systems would extract from all the wet rooms in the house, which removes warm air from a room unnecessarily.

The system ensures the interior remains fresh, dry and odour-and condensation-free 24/7, even when the building is unoccupied. With no occupier involvement required, the system offers peace of mind to the residents that good air quality will be always maintained without them needing to lift a finger.

Passivent MEV is a system that comprises of extracts sited in wet rooms (bathrooms, kitchens, en-suites), linked by ducting to the continuously-running central extract fan usually located in the loft space. Wall or window vents provide a supply of fresh air. The system maintains a pleasant indoor atmosphere, combating condensation.

The fan is set to operate constantly at a certain level; extraction can be boosted by a control switch. An LED display clearly shows the occupier the level at which the fan is operating and how much more it can be boosted, giving them greater control over their environment.

Both systems are designed so the ventilation cannot be turned offconventionally, an issue with traditional mechanical extraction, where occupants either forget to turn on a fan when a bathroom or kitchen becomes steamy, or are loathe to turn it on because of the noise! The fans are virtually silent and, as they are located away in the roof or a cupboard, create no acoustic disturbance. There is little maintenance, and both systems comply with Building Regulations.

In addition to its mechanical extract ventilation systems, it also supplies whole house natural ventilation solutions and a comprehensive range of background trickle ventilators, the Fresh range of through wall ventilators, with or without acoustic options – all of which contribute towards efficient ventilation of the home with little or no energy consumption. Passivent is part of the Building Product Design Group, which specialises in developing innovative yet practical ventilation and roofing products in line with changing market requirements.

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