Modern Building Services

MODERN BUILDING SERVICES JULY 2022 15 Current building systems struggle to find the optimum temperature to keep all satisfied. It’s the Goldilocks Principle – finding just the right amount – of heating, cooling, and ventilation. However, there are solutions out there that can be specified for both new and retrofit builds. These solutions, coupled with on-demand ventilation solutions will offer good control over the indoor air quality within a building as well as make them very energy efficient. For future builds, it’s about making this a part of the mandatory checklist at the initial design stage. It will come down to architects and specifiers to advise accordingly to tackle this issue and future-proof building systems to keep properties healthy and habitable going forward. Hybrid wins in popularity It is time for a fresh look at how we ventilate and create an optimal thermal temperature all year round within a building. For residential apartments, with often no option for natural ventilation, mechanical clean air input and extract is a necessity, and therefore a new hybrid heating and cooling system needs to be considered to help with the optimisation of temperatures. Nuaire’s new Hybrid Cooling Module, an ancillary that works with our MRXBOX MVHR to provide a hybrid MVHR/cooling system, is one such solution - delivering clean indoor air and heat recovery while combating overheating in the summer with additional cooling. A cooling module is a self- contained unit, ideal space-saving for retrofit installation above an existing MRXBOX ECO 5. It is an ideal solution for consultants looking for peace of mind in a product that will not only mitigate overheating but retain heat in the colder months, whilst keeping the indoor air quality high all year round. Intelligent controls for greater efficiencies For added efficiencies, solutions work best with a fully on-demand ventilation system control base. Currently, only one in five commercial buildings operate with a basic Building Management System (BMS), despite Europe being the third-largest energy consumer in the world. Moreover, today only 80% of commercial buildings are operating at class C energy efficiency with timer-based programming rather than sensor-based, demand- orientated activation when it comes to ventilation and cooling. These buildings are literally throwing money away with energy wastage. The advanced functionality and expanded solutions when it comes to smart controls, can provide impactful energy efficiency and cost savings with networked connectivity and site-specific controls that monitor trends to adapt to meet site requirements. With the adoption of smart controls for these operations, buildings would see better indoor air quality and greater efficiencies in each season, from summer through to winter, with systems adapting to the need of the occupied space. A new outlook for the future A greater focus needs to be placed on indoor air quality – currently a no man’s land within building regulations with a complete lack of emphasis on ventilation effectiveness. These important considerations within any building, be it for schools, offices, or at home, will be essential for the ongoing protection of the occupants who will be making use of that space. I’d like to see the industry take a different tact with ventilation, heat recovery, and cooling going forward, focusing on the individuals that use the building rather than solely the fabric of the building itself. What may have been an effective method of ventilation when a building was first built may no longer be suitable, whether it be a commercial or a residential building. Most ventilation systems do not have the flexibility to adapt as these buildings’ internal structures and usage change over time. The temptation to go with the most basic solution is an outdated and inefficient approach. A well- being standard must be maintained and education is key. Understanding how the air moves, heats and is then cooled efficiently is vital. As an industry, we need to future-proof our buildings by looking at the way the space is used and how it may need to adapt over time, and only then can efficiencies be maintained. References 1. Cibse.org. (2021). CIBSE - Overheat- ing Position Statement. www.cibse. org/news-and-policy/policy/over- heating-position-statement More information can be found at www.nuaire.co.uk FEATURE INDOOR AIR QUALITY