Ventilation & Heat Recovery Ticking all the boxes

Energy efficiency and low operational noise were just two of the reasons why Vent-Axia’s Multivent MVDC-MSH units proved ideal for providing a ventilation solution for new student accommodation in Manchester.

Low energy and noise levels were key factors in the decision to install over 60 VentAxia Lo-Carbon Multivent MVDC-MSH units at a new nine-storey student accommodation scheme in Manchester. Church Inn, on Higher Cambridge Street, has 62 studio apartments with a VentAxia ventilation unit installed in each flat.

The Multivent MEV unit proved to be the ideal solution for the BREEAM VG scheme, with energy efficiency and sound levels very important in achieving this credit. The accommodation also meets Manchester City Council’s zerocarbon ambitions by establishing student accommodation close to educational establishments, reducing the need for travel and minimising emissions.

Built in the south of the city centre on a site previously occupied by the disused Church Inn public house, the nine-storey building will provide much needed new accommodation for Manchester’s growing student community. Watt Energy & Consulting Engineers were the consultants on the project, and the ventilation was installed by

Whole Ventilation Services Ltd.

“We found Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon MVDC-MSH MEV installed neatly and easily and operates extremely quietly with best-in-class SFP,” says Alan Johnson, director of Whole Ventilation Services. “They also provide simple and accurate commissioning thanks to the built-in fully variable digital screen, so we’re really impressed with them.”

Accurate control

The Multivent MVDC-MSH unit features three fully variable speeds – normal, boost and purge – and can extract up to 118 l/s. The digital display allows installers to accurately set airflow, ensuring exactly the right ventilation rate, while accurate speed control helps minimise noise and energy consumption, which made the Multivent MVDC-MSH ideal for the Church Inn project. It also features a built-in humidity sensor so that the unit boosts when humidity reaches a certain threshold, combatting excess moisture and thus helping provide good indoor air quality.

The unit is part of VentAxia’s Multivent MEV family, a new range of mechanical extract ventilation (MEV) and decentralised MEV (dMEV). With a choice of nine MEV and eight dMEV models, both the MEV and dMEV units are said to offer an easy-to-operate control platform and extremely low operating noise. Additional benefits include increased ventilation rates, compact design, easy installation, as well as simple and accurate commissioning.

With a common digital control platform throughout the range and smart accessories for use in the home, the MEV and dMEV range are claimed to be a breeze to install, commission and control. They also come with a number of control and switching options across the range, providing a solution for any newbuild scenario.

Multiple solutions

Designed for the simultaneous ventilation of separate areas in the home, the Multivent MEV units can service a kitchen and up to six wetrooms. With nine models to choose from, installers can select the model to meet the needs of each home, with airflows from 118 to 159 l/s and demand control. To further improve IAQ, the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Multivent models are available with integral and adjustable CO2 and humidity sensors, which increase ventilation rates in proportion to pollutant levels.

The units are available with (model dependent): demand control to set precise ventilation rate; app enabled for easy commissioning and monitoring; an integral LCD display to select appropriate speed to meet demand; manual and automatic control options; plug-n-play automatic sensor detection; switched live and SELV connections; and optional wired or wireless controllers.

Continuous operation

The other half of the Multivent family is the Lo-Carbon NBR dMEV range of continuous running, constant volume units, designed to deliver a specific fan power of 0.12 W/l/s.

Installation is made easier by a digital display and UKAS calibrated airflow sensor, plus an in-built spirit and fault light for any trouble-shooting. In addition, the range’s IPX5 rating allows for siting flexibility.

The NBR dMEV is available in both 100 and 125mm options. The larger surface area of the 125mm model allows more airflow through the fan and there are almost no restrictions in terms of duct lengths and bends used in the system. This means fewer fans are required to achieve whole house ventilation rates.

The NBR dMEV range includes both fixed and variable speed models, with the humidity control units incorporating an adjustable (40% - 90%) ambient response humidistat.

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Meeting the latest regulations in style

Described as efficient and stylish ventilation solutions for the modern home, the iCON and QuietAir from Airflow provide installers with an effective way to meet the latest requirements of the Building Regulations (as illustrated above).

Part F Volume 1 of the Building Regulations, updated in June last year, stipulates the regulations for ventilation rates in dwellings. If a kitchen has a cooker hood over the hob, a separate extractor fan is not a necessity when this is extracting a minimum of 30 l/s. However, the change in regulations means that when a kitchen is fitted with a recirculating cooker hood, or does not have a cooker hood, an extractor fan is now required with an extraction rate of a minimum of 60 l/s.