ACR Journal

07 NEWS CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk EnviroVent delivers PassivHaus solutions Two new social housing developments in Mid Wales are set to benefit from PassivHaus-compliant mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems supplied by EnviroVent. Croft Court is a new complex of 17 energy-efficient apartments, while William Ainge Court is an existing residential block which is being extended to offer a further 16 dwellings. Both of the affordable developments are situated in Welshpool, a market town close to Newtown, Powys, in Mid Wales. Two of EnviroVent’s PassivHaus certified ventilation solutions were specified by the main contractor, Mid Wales Properties, working on behalf of Barcud, an organisation recently formed following the merger of Tai Ceredigion and Mid-Wales Housing association (MWHA). SL300 slimline units were specified for the Croft Court development, while energiSava 300 units were installed at William Ainge Court. The units were chosen because they achieved PassivHaus certification, as well as offering exceptionally low energy consumption, reduced noise levels and a range of innovative features. The SL300 features ‘constant flow’ technology and wireless, remote-control options, as well as having a low profile and compact design. With a height of just 310mm, the SL300 is ideally suited to installations where space is at a premium. The energiSava 300 comes with summer bypass and preheater as standard. The bypass contributes to an improved comfort level in the warmer months and is controlled automatically by measuring indoor and outdoor temperatures. Its intelligent frost protection system with preheater guarantees high efficiency, even at extremely low temperatures. The units ensure that there is a supply of fresh, clean air, providing a healthier living environment for occupants of the new developments and preventing issues with condensation and mould growth. Ellab helping to preserve V&A collections Ellab is again providing crucial environmental monitoring systems for the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A). The upgrade of the V&A system has been implemented across four of the museum family’s UK sites. New base stations are being installed at the V&A in South Kensington, Young V&A in Bethnal Green, V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse, both of which are part of East Bank, located near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. The new base stations co-ordinate flood and other sensors as well as monitoring the relative humidity and temperature of the rooms they are placed in. With training from Ellab, V&A conservation experts are also able to complete regular tests of the sensors using a signal strength meter. The scalable setup now provides 24/7 monitoring of the four museums and will help preserve national collections for years to come. Having worked together since the late 1980s, Ellab ensures that the collections of art, design and performance on display and in storage are protected. Ellab Monitoring Solutions, previously known as Hanwell Solutions, installed the museum’s original data loggers and the partnership was further strengthened in the early 2000s when the museum installed a new Ocean ‘RadioLog’ system. In 2018 the V&A looked to upgrade and refurbish its environmental monitoring system to ensure its collections continue to be protected by equipment of the highest standard. Richard Manning, regional sales manager for Ellab , explained: “After decades of working with such a prestigious partner as the V&A, we were delighted to once again be tasked with the huge responsibility of protecting some of our nation’s most valued (and priceless) heritage. It’s a big commitment to heritage protection from the V&A and it’s taken some considerable time to complete this massive project across all four sites, involving some very careful co-ordination and co-operation with the V&A team to ensure the best possible outcome.” Pedro Gaspar, head of conservation at the V&A, added: “We’ve got a strong relationship with Ellab. The latest monitoring technology is so simple to use and my colleagues can easily oversee and maintain its accuracy across all our sites. I’m confident our collections couldn’t be in better hands.”