For many years, it has been more common than not to have a disjointed ordering process for fans, associated products, and ancillaries. This means that different parts of a ventilation system would be ordered and delivered from different suppliers, often causing site delays due to incompatible components arriving on site.

This method of working has caused a multitude of headaches for mechanical and electrical services contractors, project, and site managers due to a variety of factors. One of the biggest issues facing the construction industry in recent times is the skilled labour shortage, and this has resulted in potentially not having the right personnel available at the right time on site to assemble the fans and ancillaries.

By using prefabricated ventilation systems, you will significantly reduce the headaches caused by using multiple suppliers, in addition to strengthening on site health and safety, and reducing site costs. The benefits are substantial, and here are just 20 of the top reasons why you should make the switch.

1. Prefabrication is by no means new to the market, however by applying it to construction projects, we are able to better embrace new technology. This is due to the involvement of trained professionals in the installation and assembly of the components, which enables the integration of more complex elements within the unit.
2. Having compliance and performance critical components for your ventilation system assembled offsite means that onsite health and safety is immediately increased.
3. Site time is reduced due to eliminating an entire assembly process, in addition to substantially reduced deliveries needing to take place.
4. In-house manufacturing and assembly provides a safer and more controlled process from start to finish.
5. More cost effective by using controlled manufacturing. This is down to reducing mistakes by the assembly occurring in a professional and monitored environment.
6. Brings a collaborative and team-working culture to project stakeholders ensuring that customer requirements are fully considered in the provided solution.
7. Helps manufacturers become closer to their customer’s real requirements. It’s not uncommon for customers to simplify their requirements for an easier installation process, however by using offsite construction, this is not necessary.
8. Encourages a refinement to product development through front line interactions.
9. Allows earlier interaction within the project between collaborators. This includes the client, designers, fire safety compliance, local authority regulators, contractors and subcontractors, installers, and commissioning agents.
10. Minimises unnecessary site-based supplier queries and streamlines supplier interactions later down the line with significantly less issues arising onsite.
11. Reduces waste onsite due to all components being pre-assembled, allowing for less packaging, and no need for pallets.
12. Onsite delivery congestion is greatly reduced. Your prefabricated ventilation solution will be made from one order, and will arrive onsite in one frame, in one delivery.
13. Significant efficiency gained in every step of the process from quotation, to supply, through to project sign off.
14. Project coordination is immediately more efficient as a result of minimal suppliers and less deliveries.
15. Comprehensive cross engagement between sales, engineering, production and operations to reach the right customer solution.
16. Increased industry recognition for manufacturers and constructors by supplying a complete solution rather than completing small orders.
17. Allows for factory testing and pre-commissioning, ensuring that the unit or system is performing as it should be before being delivered to site. Acoustic equipment can also be tested prior to site installation, ensuring best results.
18. Facilitates simpler compliance with Golden Thread requirements for both manufacturer and project managers.
19. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements for the supply chain is clearly structured and easily met.
20. It is much easier to ensure compliance pre-delivery for smoke and other sensitive elements.

It is clear that as a whole, the industry is embracing changes such as the implementation of offsite construction and ultimately reaping the benefits of enhancing safety and site efficiency. At Elta, our overall goal is to be an extension of a contractor’s team, so helping deploy modern methods of construction like prefabricated ventilation solutions is the right step forward. Since launching our prefabricated range, we have seen an exponential growth rate, and it won’t be a surprise if offsite construction, especially for ventilation equipment, becomes the standard.

In the interest of fire safety innovation, Elta emerges with a new pioneering solution for smoke fans with its certified prefabricated smoke range. This comes as an add on solution to Elta’s fans for both general and emergency situations.

Engineered to streamline installation processes, these prefabricated units mark a significant shift in the industry’s approach to designing and implementing smoke ventilation systems. We aim to redefine standards by simplifying complexity and reducing project timelines with prefabricated solutions, to ultimately ensure on-site safety and compliance.

Elta offers a range of car park fans that operate on well-proven tunnel ventilation principles, producing a high velocity jet that, as it diffuses, imparts thrust to the surrounding air through mixing and entrainment. The range includes both induction and impulse ventilation models, specifically designed to serve as both general ventilation systems and for one-time emergency extraction of smoke during fire incidents, and are able to operate at temperatures up to 400°C. The product design eliminates the requirement for ducted systems, making efficient use of the limited space of enclosed car parks, in addition to reducing power consumption and associated running costs.

Recognising the critical nature of rapid smoke extraction in fire incidents, our emergency smoke extract fans are specifically engineered for high performance, and high temperatures. These fans are designed to efficiently remove smoke from affected areas, contributing to a safer environment for building occupants and emergency responders. We can offer F200, F300 and F400 models with a range of motor mounting arrangements, as well as both 50hz and 60hz versions available across the different models.

Complementing the comprehensive range of smoke ventilation solutions, we also offer advanced bespoke control systems designed to provide real-time monitoring and response capabilities. Seamlessly integrated within smoke ventilation systems, these intelligent controls provide building managers with precise and automated smoke extraction management. From emergency scenarios to routine maintenance,  control systems play a pivotal role in enhancing overall system reliability and effectiveness.

The fundamentals of the Elta product range are quality, performance and integrity. Our quality procedures comply with the requirements of ISO 9001, and all smoke fans are certified to EN 12101-3. We also have our own dedicated test laboratory facilities which are AMCA accredited, with products sound tested to BS EN ISO 5136:2009 and BS ISO 13347-2:2004, and air performance tested to BS EN ISO5801:2007.

Elta’s commitment to fire safety goes beyond complying with industry standards. We adopt an innovative approach, ensuring our solutions not only meet regulations, but also exceed expectations. Through ongoing research and development, Elta continually pushes the boundaries of what’s achievable in smoke ventilation, establishing new standards for safety in the process.

Thanks to new studies, we are learning what the long-term medical impacts of extended exposure to air pollution are. For children and young individuals, these include the potential to have underdeveloped lungs, asthma, higher chances of developing pneumonia, and an increased likelihood of developing lung cancer as an adult. This is now a problem schools – and their contractors – are facing.

A study led by researchers from Evelina London Children’s Hospital and King’s College London (KCL) found that of 147 new school locations built between 2017 and 2025, 86% exceeded air quality targets set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The conclusion of this study suggested that air quality surrounding newly built schools was ‘alarmingly poor’.

With such a devastating impact, it is vital that contractors help schools take action to remove pollution from the air through ventilation measures. The main pollution particles that need to be filtered out include carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) which have the capability to enter the bloodstream when breathed in.

To help remove as much air pollution as possible, here are our top tips.

1.Understand the scale of the issue by installing air monitoring equipment

By understanding the true extent of the issue at hand, contractors working on schools can take proactive action to filter the air that students and faculty breathe. The best way to do this is by installing monitoring equipment which can paint a live picture of the current pollutants in the atmosphere.

Those working on schools in rural areas may believe they do not need to worry about air pollution but unfortunately this is not the case. While the particulate matter may vary between urban and rural environments, those living in the latter may need to consider agricultural chemicals in the air.

Here at Elta, we supply air monitoring systems through our AirThings range including sensors and monitors that can assess the air for particulate matter as well as measure CO₂, light, humidity and radon.

Room sensors, such as those supplied by Elta, can test and monitor the air quality within classrooms, halls, and all other indoor school spaces by simply attaching them to fan speed controllers or EC fans. They measure the amount of CO₂ in the air, the temperature, and the relative humidity. Any ventilation modifications that are required can be guided by these readings.

2. Create a plan of action

Once it’s clear which pollutants are in the building’s air, contractors can create a plan of action to filter air pollution. The best way to do this is through a specialised ventilation system that can filter air.

When going down this route, it is best to consult a ventilation specialist to ensure that all angles are discussed. Alongside managing air pollution, other aspects need to be taken into consideration such as the building’s humidity and potential damp issues. These too can have a damaging impact on young people and could be mitigated with better ventilation.

3. Check against Building Regulations and BB 101

Complying with building regulations is vital when introducing new systems to manage issues such as air pollution. Approved Document F – Ventilation – Volume 2 of the Building Regulations gives guidance about air quality monitoring in buildings other than dwellings which can help decision makers.

Alongside this, contractors should follow guidance given in the UK Government’s Building Bulletin, BB 101, to understand the framework for ventilation in schools and recommended performance levels to comply with UK regulations.

4. Use correctly specified ventilation systems to process and filter the air

With all ventilation solutions, it is important to consider the design properties of the system prior to specification. This is where small yet significant long-term energy gains, and subsequently cost savings, can be made.

Building ventilation systems often operate at constant or pre-determined ventilation rates regardless of the number of people within the location. Ventilation rates are normally based on maximum occupancy levels, resulting in consequent energy wastage. This is not only due to the fan operation, but also includes the energy used to condition the air for heating and cooling modes.

Through MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) solutions such as Elta Fans’ energy recovery units, the amount of airflow can instead be controlled to suit occupancy levels and delivered through demand-controlled ventilation (DCV). DCV is recognised as a reliable method of ensuring a building is ventilated cost effectively, while maximising indoor air quality.

5. Have a robust maintenance schedule to keep the system working at full capacity

Once the system is in place, it is important not to presume it will work at optimum performance over time. Like most engineered systems, ventilation needs regular maintenance to ensure all of the components are functioning properly. This can include changing filters, as they get blocked over time, and cleaning to ensure that all air pollutants in the atmosphere are being correctly managed.

With this advice in mind, contractors can actively work at reducing the harmful impact of air pollution on young people in school.

The link between air pollution and both short and long-term medical illnesses has gained significant awareness in recent years with multiple studies being conducted to measure the connection. As a result, a variety of efforts have been made to decrease the amount of dust, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide released into the atmosphere, specifically in city centres and urban locations.

To curb the impact on residents, multiple cities across the UK have implemented clean air  zones where vehicles that exceed the emissions standards must pay a fee to drive in the area. Meanwhile, updates to Part F of the Building Regulations have come into force for dwellings and other buildings. Through this, it is now a requirement that ventilation systems must extract air pollutants in kitchens and bathrooms alongside minimising the entry of pollution. These are positive steps in the right direction however we have not yet reached out target.

The UK is still 1.8 times the average PM2.5 concentration according to the World Health Organisation annual air quality guideline value². Knowing this, we must continue the charge to reduce air pollution levels, and building service engineers have a key role to play.

Creating Clean Air

Indoor and outdoor air quality can be tackled with different ways. The use of clean air zones helps reduce the amount of pollution emitted outdoors, but what can be done to improve the quality indoors? Good air within homes and businesses depends on several factors including air movement and purification. These measures help improve the levels of pollution by introducing circulation and removing particle matter and airborne toxins that may impact an individual’s health. Overall, ventilation systems are required to implement these measures and ensure that not only indoor pollution levels stay low, but also prevent other hazards such as damp and mould growth.

Retrofitting, upgrading, or installing a ventilation system requires skilled professionals that not only understand building regulations, but also know how to assemble and install a vital piece of equipment.

Making Clean Air a Reality

The efforts to help make air cleaner for all is still ongoing and it is imperative buildings both new and old have correctly specified and installed ventilation systems.

That said, space can be an issue during the construction or retrofit of an inner-city building. Even if specified correctly, ventilation systems are typically delivered to site unassembled, stored for weeks if not months, and then assembled once the build stage allows. In practice, this can cause issues such as damp and mould to damage the fan and ancillaries, parts going missing, or the system being assembled incorrectly. It is due to this that a lot of contractors are turning to offsite methods of designing and building components such as ventilation systems, and then delivering it to site when needed.

Here is where building services engineers can turn to our Prefabricated Solutions to ensure they get the right solution for their needs. Through Elta’s Prefabricated Solutions, contractors have access to over 150,000 customisations of fans and ancillaries, with the systems being as small as 250mm, all the way up to 2m in diameter.

A New Era of Air Movement and Quality

On top of making great strides in prefabricated solutions, we are making significant efforts to help create a new era. Under the new strapline, ‘Air Movement, Air Quality’, we have undergone a major rebrand during our 50-year anniversary, bringing together sister companies Fantech Ventilation in Ireland and Duct Products in Northern Ireland, alongside Elta Fans, and rebranding to Elta. Through these changes, building service engineers and tradespeople will have access to a complete portfolio of fans and ancillaries to ensure they have the right system no matter the project. Alongside this, our team of experts are on hand to ensure regulations are met and the best products are chosen.

Cleaner air is well within our grasp and something that we can achieve using the right solutions. The benefits of removing pollution are too significant to ignore so by optimising ventilation systems, we can make it a reality.

Modern Methods of Construction and offsite initiatives are growing exponentially across the UK. To highlight this, earlier this year, the Crown Commercial Services selected 29 firms to be part of the £10bn Offsite Construction Solutions framework, with public sector buildings across healthcare, education, justice and defence all expected to swing toward modular construction.

Our Prefabricated Solutions service is an ideal solution for specifiers and contractors working on commercial building projects of any scale. Fans and ancillaries, such as acoustic equipment, mounts, panels, flexible connections, fan controls and more, can all be assembled offsite and delivered as a compliant assembly, ready for crane lifting that results in quick, efficient installation. The ventilation and air movement manufacturer is one of the first in its sector to offer this across its entire range of fans.

Colin Moss, Car Park & Smoke Control Manager, has pioneered the service and elaborates on the multiple benefits specifiers and contractors can gain by going down the prefabricated assembly route. He said: “Installing individual components on-site can be a cumbersome and time sensitive task. It requires ample storage and working space, leading to congestion on busy sites and increasing the potential for site safety issues. The collection and assembly of various parts can also be time-consuming, causing delays to projects.

“Not only this, but site time is costly, and labour costs can quickly add up when dealing with unnecessarily complex, site installations. With Prefabricated Solutions by Elta, these challenges are a thing of the past, and you can manage these expenses and have better quality control of the finished product.”

A key benefit of the new service is the provision of sound and performance data associated with acoustics ancillaries. For all acoustics components in the fan setup, acoustic performance data is also supplied at the initial stages from our Noise Control Specialists to help simplify the process for specifiers and contractors, so they do not need to re-select or re-calculate separately were they sourcing these components from elsewhere.

This service means units are built to the highest standards within a controlled factory environment. We hold ISO 9001 accreditation for quality management, guaranteeing that finished products are reliable, durable, and ready on time.

Luke Hammond, Applications Specialist (Smoke and Fire), explains that prefabricated assembly of fans also unlocks a host of other benefits. These include a more streamlined design process, offering simpler compliance with both ‘The Golden Thread’ and environmental requirements while reducing disruption to the local community, and other related site activities.

“Gone are the days of waiting for single components to be delivered to the site, which can get lost or damaged while other elements of the project are in transit. With our Prefabricated Solutions service, all necessary components are packaged together, ensuring a hassle-free delivery,” said Luke.

“Preassembled units also mean other costly, disruptive activities on-site, such as crane lifting and road closures, can be minimised. Shipping materials like pallets, packaging and strapping is all reduced as well, and with better overall coordination, Prefabricated Solutions allows workforces to focus on boosting productivity in other areas.”

For more about our Prefabricated Solutions service, visit eltauk.com/prefabricated-solutions

The CCC states the industry lacks urgency in its pace of reaching 2050 targets and needs more help to decarbonise its operations. It stresses the importance of establishing UK Environmental Reporting Guidelines and the Net Zero Transition Plan Standard, both of which will set it as a requirement for businesses to disclose the use of carbon credits.[1]

On top of that, the industry is being encouraged to take action in decarbonising building solutions to futureproof construction for future generations. David Millward, Elta Group’s Product Manager, highlights the importance of collaboration in the supply chain within the construction industry.

“The CCC’s latest report is quite damning in that we’ve lost our global leadership position on climate matters. The report show that planning policies need radical reform, and all decisions must be taken with full regard to the imperative of hitting net zero.”

“Given this, all parties need to come together in order to ensure environmentally responsible choices are being made across all operations. From a ventilation and air movement perspective, carbon emissions can be easily minimalised if specifiers, contractors and manufacturers work together. At Elta, we’re making this one of our critical priorities, and have already moved to release TM65 Embodied Carbon reports, aligned to CIBSE’s methodology, to help specifiers and contractors better compare construction components and opt for most sustainable solutions.”

We’re pioneering the industry toward Net Zero as it becomes one of the first to offer TM65 Embodied Carbon reports for its fans and building services products. Created by CIBSE (the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers) in 2021, it is a calculation methodology that helps assess how much embodied carbon is associated with products.

“The reports are calculated through a number of variables such as material weight and assesses the embodied carbon generated at each stage of a product’s lifecycle,” said David. “This includes going from production to manufacturing, through to transportation, maintenance while in-use, and end-of-life recyclability potential. A key benefit is it helps make it easier to compare products against each other based on the amount of carbon they release in their production through to end-of-life,”

“The working model of TM65 Embodied Carbon reports supplies the construction chain with carbon credit insight to follow regulations and minimise negative environmental impacts, leading the industry towards opting for more eco-friendly design solutions.”

“It is of the highest importance for the supply chain to utilise the available resources to adequately specify building and ventilation solutions. Collaboration is key to meeting the urgent decarbonising responsibilities towards net zero targets.” concludes David Millward.

Join the movement towards Net Zero! Contact us today for information on our TM65 carbon reports and explore Elta’s ventilation solutions and range of products.

[1] https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2023-progress-report-to-parliament/#intro

Given that recent news has been dominated by other matters, people may be feeling that air quality is one of the lesser threats to livelihoods right now. The cost-of-living crisis, energy and fuel woes, the economy entering a downward spiral, interest rates and inflation rising, amongst other matters, have all been in sharp focus in recent months.

However, air quality, and subsequently, ventilation, is still a key issue for the built environment. For those who have a stake in building management and design, it is one that should not be forgotten, even in the face of all the other challenges that have arisen lately. Winter is upon us, flu season has arrived, and although COVID-19 may not be headlining bulletins anymore, it can still be just as disruptive for people and businesses if caught and spread. Indeed, figures show that COVID-19 could be on the rise again, with 7,024 people in hospital with coronavirus in England as of 28 September 2022, up 37% on the week prior (Sky News).

On top of this, casting our minds back to 2022, one of the biggest shake-ups to the building regulations came into force on 15 June 2022 – the new Part F Approved Document that governs ventilation and air quality standards. When designing or specifying new buildings, it is crucial to have an appreciation of what changes have come into force and know how to incorporate these into new projects and have ventilation at front of mind.

Monitoring is a must-have in new buildings

Amongst the raft of alterations that came through in Approved Document F, indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring is arguably the greatest and most welcome, as it demonstrates that the needle is moving on the air quality conversation.

To paraphrase from the document, under point 1.21, it states:

“In new buildings, the following types of occupiable room, unless they are rooms of the size described in paragraph 1.22, should have a means of monitoring the indoor air quality. This may be achieved using CO2 monitors or other means of measuring indoor air quality.”

These occupiable rooms could be offices, places where loud speech or aerobic exercise takes place, areas where members of the public are likely to gather or rooms where there are low temperatures or low levels of humidity. Essentially, it is rooms where large volumes of CO2 could be being expelled and inhaled. Certain sizes of room may not apply, such as if they are particularly small (under 50m² in floor area) or large (over 320m² in floor area).

What this means is that there must now be provision for monitoring in place for new buildings under the directive. That said, it is also best practice to retrofit air quality monitoring sensors where possible too, as this can only seek to improve the wellbeing and comfort of occupants. The monitors chosen must also meet certain requirements too, such as being mains powered and placed at breathing height.

Benefits for all

It might be instinctive to think that monitors are just another unwelcome cost to be added on that cannot be recouped, an additional layer of complication, or be seen as another component to install and maintain – this is not true in the slightest. There are many benefits that can be reaped, whether you are a developer, architect, specifier, consultant or contractor.

First and foremost is how air quality monitors can lead to better health and welfare to staff and occupants. By being able to effectively measure the quality of the air, it then means that an appropriate ventilation strategy can be put in place to circulate fresh air and remove bad pathogens out of the room quicker. This in turn should equate to a reduction in staff sickness and absenteeism, better productivity, and ultimately, a higher return from employees.

From a commercial and environmental perspective, having the data from air quality monitoring means more efficient ventilation solution can be designed and installed. This can lead to less energy consumption, reduced carbon output and overall better sustainability. Furthermore, by being able to demonstrate improved air quality, this can then be used to benchmark building performance and showcase the environmental accreditations of your operation. This comes full circle into marketable advantages such as being able attract more tenants or people to using your space.

What to consider when choosing sensors

As mentioned, there are certain requirements that need to be met when designing in air quality monitors as set out by Part F in terms of how they are placed, and their crucial function is to measure how much CO2 is in the air.

Beyond that though, there are also other considerations to keep in mind. CO2 is just one contaminant that is present in our built environment, which can harm our health and productivity, but there are others too. PM1 and PM2.5 – particular matter that have diameters of less than 1 micron and 2.5 micron respectively – are other such contaminants that can be suspended in the air as dust, dirt, aerosols and bacteria. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and naturally occurring gases like radon are other examples that can be harmful, causing short- and long-term health effects such as eye and nose irritation, through to lung cancer.

It is important that air quality monitoring sensors can detect these harmful substances and warn occupants or those in control of the building. For this reason, we have chosen to partner with air quality monitoring specialists Airthings to be able to offer these specialist devices that can detect all of the above, and more, such as temperature, humidity, light, noise and pressure.

See the range of Airthings monitors we have available here.

In certain cases with contaminants like radon, being able to produce radon certificates are a requirement to be able to sell buildings. The UK Health Security Agency, UKradon, states that all workplaces in radon affected areas should be tested, unless a detailed assessment shows good reason to expect the radon level to be low, good assessment can only come through monitoring. Work environments vary greatly in size and nature, but excessive radon levels can occur in almost any type of workplace. Employers are required by law to assess any risks to their staff while at work.

Looking at the practical side

From the more practical side, there is also the need to consider system security, how well monitors can integrate with other building management systems (BMS), their ease of installation, and how intuitive the solution is to report on data. On the points of integration, API connectivity is important as this allows monitors to connect to the central BMS and subsequently, send automatic signals or commands to adjust ventilation rates accordingly.

Meanwhile, wireless connectivity between monitors and their hubs, which is what Airthings solutions are based upon, should be the go-to standard as they will significantly lower time and expense on hardwiring. Airthings’ monitors can cover approximately 50sqm, and up to 25 units can be used per Hub for a robust network, hence the number required will depend on building shape, size, and construction.

Quite often, it is the systems behind the monitors that can be the difference between being able to make use of the data, or not. If it is too hard to read the data or draw conclusions and reports from the data, then it invariably becomes an obsolete solution that cannot be acted on. For this reason, always seek systems that provide strong analytics and dashboards, remote monitoring, and can alert users when there are spikes in irregular air quality.

Moving the air quality conversation on

While having data, reports, dashboards and connectivity is one thing, acting on it is another. However, by starting out with good quality sensor technology, it can be the foundation for demonstrating real change.

In our own case, the UK’s Kingswinford offices went through this very methodology to improve ventilation and air quality in its building. After a continuous three-month long air quality monitoring audit in 2021, and installing its own MVHR PREMA 540 system, the offices gained RESET Air Certification and is one of the first offices in the UK to achieve the accreditation. Other certifications such as those offered by the International Well Building Institute, LEED and Fitwel are other routes that can be pursued too.

At Elta, we’re committed to moving the air quality conversation and we can help design complete air quality monitoring systems to ensure you comply with Part F. On top of this, we can then provide unique ventilation equipment and solutions to resolve any air quality challenges being faced, and design systems that suit the building and occupants’ needs.

For more information about indoor air quality, Elta and Airthings, click here!

“You cannot effectively solve what you cannot measure.”

It goes without saying, you cannot effectively solve something without effectively measuring it first. With this in mind, as more pressure is placed on ensuring healthier indoor air quality, we’re recommending businesses implement the RESET program as a useful tool to follow for creating healthier and more sustainable environments.

What is RESET?

RESET is the world’s first sensor-based certification program that is performance driven. Established as an accredited standard for air quality monitoring, it places emphasis on continuous results and long-term occupant health. This data will be key to building awareness around the problems we face and will go a long way in supporting us in achieving the ultimate goal of clean air.

Lights, camera, ACTION

In-line with our own ethos at Elta, we understood that monitoring pollutants was essential for achieving good IAQ and elevate the need for more rigorous ventilation strategies. We therefore, made it our mission to become one of the UK’s first companies to hold the RESET certification.

Along with monitoring other parameters, for the purpose of the RESET Air certification, our Midlands head office was audited against CO₂ (carbon dioxide), PM₂.₅ (particulate matter up to 2.5 micron) and TVOCs (total volatile organic compounds). This process is carried out predominantly online and consists of a sensor deployment plan submission, a preliminary audit and a three-month long continuous data collection/audit with monthly reports to gain pass status. Once achieved, the certification is then valid for 12 months.

Results so far

By achieving the new accreditation, not only has our office already seen a 33% decrease in peak CO₂ levels, but we have also successfully achieved a pass status on all data to become RESET certified.

We will continue to push for increased awareness around the importance of good IAQ and its link to occupant health as there is still a long way to go. However, achieving the RESET certification is a big step in the right direction and we hope others are inspired to take the same route of change.

For more information on how to improve, monitor, and provide evidence of enhanced IAQ, please visit: https://eltauk.com/

The link between good indoor air quality (IAQ) and the ability to concentrate is well established, which makes ventilation a really important part of any educational building. This is very much true of universities, and Brunel University London is a prime example of that.

It prides itself on its first-class facilities, and the Hamilton Centre is the centrepiece of a bustling campus. When we were tasked with delivering a ventilation solution suited to the demands of the centre – which contains restaurants, bars, function rooms, and a student union – we knew that a low-energy but high-performance system was required.

Not so smart

One of the main problems we faced on this project was the existing ventilation system, which had been drastically over-specified. Directly responsible for ventilating a popular pizza bar, the contra-rotating roof fan that was in place was extremely energy hungry.

Of course, you want to get the best performance ventilation that you can, but this has to be balanced with energy usage. This is important from a sustainability point of view, with high CO2 emissions a side-effect of over-specification, but also in preventing running costs from spiralling out of control.

Working it out

The best way to guarantee performance without crippling energy bills is to go for a fan that incorporates an EC motor, which made Elta’s Revolution SLC EC long-cased axial fan the perfect candidate. Having an EC motor helps to reduce energy bills, plus it’s quick and easy to install, which is vital given the less-than-straightforward location we were working in.

Another strength of the Revolution SLC EC is its intuitive control system, a feature that is often-overlooked but very important in improving efficiency. The previous fan was hampered by complicated controls, meaning the guys in the pizza bar were usually too busy to operate it at all. The reduced electrical voltage of the Revolution SLC EC meant a simple dial control system could be put into the kitchen, allowing operators to easily manage the ventilation output during the day.

Final marks

University building work is always time-pressured, whether it’s during term-time or the holidays. Added to this equation is a need to minimise emissions and running costs, but still provide the level of ventilation needed for high IAQ.

There aren’t many products on the market that tick all of those boxes, but thankfully we already enjoyed a good relationship with Elta, and we knew that the Revolution SLC EC would fit the bill. The off-the-shelf low lead time made our job even easier, and has made sure the Hamilton Centre at Brunel University London can benefit from good IAQ.

One of the biggest challenges for ventilation specialists is making sure that the products they install are ErP compliant. Regulations can be a minefield, and figuring where responsibility lies is half of the battle.

Who is the system designer?

Much of the culpability when it comes to ErP compliance is with the system designer. This is where things can get confusing, because the system designer is defined as anyone who takes multiple components and puts them together into a single product.

All-too-often, it is assumed that manufacturers of ventilation products are responsible for compliance, but there are some common installations that prevent this from being the case. By combining a roof cowl with a separate plate mounted axial fan, for example, that person is acting as the system designer, and therefore responsible for ErP compliance for that particular roof-top ventilation unit.

One in two unaware

To find out the scale of the problem, we surveyed a range of those involved in the delivery and installation of ventilation equipment, asking who they thought was responsible. Worryingly, 53% of contractors and 45% of distributors said they didn’t believe themselves to be systems designers.

This means that one in two ventilation specialists are unaware they are risking ErP compliance. Not only is this potentially damaging for individual contractors and distributors, but for the industry as a whole. As indoor air quality becomes an increasingly important factor in construction, it is crucial that ventilation is meeting ErP directives, and this lack of awareness over who is responsible must be addressed.

Ensuring compliance

To ensure they are not falling foul of ErP compliance, Elta is urging those tasked with delivering ventilation solutions to opt for ready-made roof fan units. Elta’s Skyflow SSRL EC is the first ErP compliant low silhouette axial roof fan available on the market, and incorporates an integral potentiometer commission device as standard.

It is designed to help distributors and contractors comply with ErP regulations, by removing the issue of combining separate products and delivering high performance in a comprehensive unit, complete with controls that enable the user to adjust fan speed.

The important thing to remember is that ErP compliance effectively ensures delivery of a higher quality of air. By choosing a unit that guarantees results, like the Skyflow SSRL EC, distributors and contractors can be sure of customer satisfaction, while avoiding the legal issues of operating as a system designer.