The Big Picture |
The mantra of the Energy Savings Trust is 'build tight - ventilate right'. For ventilation MVHR is their 'best practice'. The fundemental principles of the Passive House Institute are airtightness, low u-values and high-performance MVHR. For maximum energy efficiency a property must be airtight and fitted with balanced supply and extract ventilation capable of recovering energy. That's why Solarcrest employ certified Passivhaus designers with expertise in both key areas, airtight insulation and heat recovery ventilation.
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Lots of people advertise free MVHR designs, from budget wholesalers to the manufacturers. Just about anyone with a red and blue pen and a basic understanding of domestic ventilation seems happy to have a go. So if you can get it for free, why consider paying for it?
When MVHR ducting is installed in the building fabric, it becomes part of the building fabric. Potentially hundreds of metres of hidden pipes penetrating dozens of walls to connect every room to a central ventilation unit. Potentially more than one unit in a large property. It has to work correctly for the life of the building, because rectifying acoustic or condensation issues, which only materialise after people move in, can mean returning to first fix. Not easy in an occupied property. The NHBC class ventilation problems as serious defects, which means if you're a registered builder you could be liable for repair costs for ten years. As retrofit experts we fix poorly designed systems on a weekly basis, so we know the true cost of a free design can be more than you think.
Considering the risks, ask yourself if a free designer will..
A 'free design' generally means a 20 minute Autocad session adding supply and extract pipes to your drawings. You get a quick 'proposed design' rather than a workable plan. Try following a free design when you install the system and you'll soon discover the shortcomings. Every project has site specific challenges, including pinch points, limited plant room space or a tricky ceiling datum defined by window heights. Solving these challenges without ugly boxing-in takes extensive product knowledge and construction experience, neither of which comes for free.
Solarcrest employ a qualified architect with over 1000 successful designs completed to date, utilising the latest 75mm, 90mm or oval radial ducting rather than the noisy old branch pipes. He works alongside an install manager with over 30 years construction experience, including hundreds of successful MVHR installs. Both know MVHR like the back of their hand, are certified by the NICEIC and trained by the Passivhaus institute, which means they can review or assist with your insulation and airtightness strategy too. It's why we confidently guarantee our work and enjoy preferred partner status with the top manufacturers like Airflow, Zehnder and Vent Axia.