Lee Stones, Category Manager at Xpelair, considers how constant volume fans can help create a healthy indoor environment.
It will come as no surprise to electrical contractors that installing a good ventilation system has become as prevalent to landlords as efficient home heating.
With increasingly stringent Building Regulations, a drive towards energy efficiency and increased insulation options for existing properties, homes have become more ‘wrapped up’ than ever before. Whilst these measures are ideal for reducing monthly heating bills, the lack of adequate ventilation can increase the presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), mould and damp within the home, contributing to poor IAQ.
Couple this with many homeowners keeping their windows closed to avoid additional heating costs, security issues or road noise and it’s clear to see why the quality of air in our own homes is becoming an increasingly important health consideration throughout the UK.
“With increasingly stringent Building Regulations, a drive towards energy efficiency and increased insulation options for existing properties, homes have become more ‘wrapped up’ than ever before.”
Together with a growing understanding of the importance of indoor air quality, this trend presents a huge opportunity for installers to take advantage.
Constant Volume
Constant Volume (CV) extraction fans like the Xpelair Simply Silent Contour CV offer decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV) to meet System 3 of the Building Regulations, Part F. They operate 24/7 to constantly ventilate the property and ensure effective control of humidity, odours and mould growth. For landlords it provides the assurance that tenants can’t disable the appliance, reducing the risk of damage through condensation or mould growth, and gives homeowners one less thing to think about.
In most cases, a CV fan will calibrate once it is switched on and the humidistat will recognise changes to this initial calibration. Xpelair’s Simply Silent Contour CV, however, represents a step change in CV technology. As the result of years of extensive product research and development, it is a highly intelligent solution which recognises its surroundings thanks to a smart technology called Intelligent Adaptiflow Sensing.
Intelligent Adaptiflow Sensing uses an integral sensor located in the fan duct to sense changes in airflow, and adapts the fan speed intuitively to maintain a constant volume of extracted air.
Unlike other models which operate based on conditions at 
the time of installation, this sensor calculates and records the flow rate continuously, making hundreds of calculations each second to recognise consistent changes in airflow and adapt performance accordingly.
All the time, an integral datalogger also records the fan’s daily use so that data can be gathered and interpreted by a technician in case of dispute between tenant and housing provider.
All of this means a true constant volume solution for life. And of course, with such innovation comes added value for installers.
