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.

The new multi-million pound Tesco Extra concept store on Town Gate Retail Park, Burnt Tree in the Midlands’ town of Dudley was fitted with two SLC Long Cased axial fans, two LC non-select axial fans, four SCP Compact Plate fans, one SJ Jetflow and one SB CON Biflow fan. The units were installed by mechanical and electrical contractor, Neville Tucker Heating Limited, of Hull and supplied by Elta distributor, Lindab Lincoln, the biggest distributor of fans and air movement products in Britain.

SLC is Elta’s range of robust, long-cased axial fans, fitted with adjustable-pitch, aerofoil-section bladed impellers. They offer good performance combined with strength, durability and corrosion resistance. Compact SCP is a slim-profile, plate-mounted, axial fan. These weatherproof units have lightweight, robust and reliable motors promising long life, trouble-free operation, all around performance and simple speed control. Jetflow SJ all-metal, in-line centrifugal fans are designed to provide high performance in mediumpressure systems and are suitable for extract or supply in a range of residential, commercial and industrial applications. Biflow is the direct-drive, bifurcated axial fan specially developed by Elta for handling hostile air conditions.

At 100,000ft2, the new Dudley store has more than doubled the size of the previous one. In addition to the usual range of foods and household goods, the first floor boasts: a healthcare service including a specialist sports nutrition section; an interactive technology zone and a hair and beauty salon. Other facilities include a cafÌÄå©, clothing department, dry cleaners, Tesco Direct and an opticians. The first of its kind in the UK, the new store also houses a Domino’s Pizza takeaway – allowing customers to pick up ‘ready to go’ pizzas or order ahead online or via telephone, iPhone, iPad or Android apps.

In the heart of Bedworth, Warwickshire, the new Tesco store – rebuilt on the same Leicester Street site as the existing one – was fitted with four SQS Quietflow Single fans, two SCH Heritage roof fans and two LC non-select, long-cased axial fans. The project, which lasted twelve months, was developed in partnership with Discovery Properties, constructed by Bowmer & Kirkland and comprises a 65,000ft2 store with 518 parking spaces. It retained 340 existing jobs and created 150 new jobs. A follow-up order for the Bedworth store added five SSF Skyflow roof fans and three SMF Miniflow fans to the total of Elta units used.

Quietflow SQS is Elta’s acoustically treated, compact centrifugal unit, manufactured in galvanised steel and designed for internal mounting to overcome space restrictions in buildings with low ceiling voids. Operating quietly, they can be used whenever occupants are likely to come within close proximity. Heritage SCH is the range of vertical discharge centrifugal fans for use in commercial kitchen exhaust systems and similar applications requiring speed-control and an all-metal construction. The fans, which have galvanized steel cowls and aerodynamically designed, backward-curved, centrifugal impellers, can be fitted at angles up to 30Ìâå¡ even directly to pitched roofs/ceilings. Skyflow SSF is the lightweight horizontal-discharge, roof-extract unit with the low-profile design. It is UV-stabilised for durability, offering good performance and low-noise characteristics. The Miniflow SMF range is an axial powered roof extract unit specifically developed to meet the airflow requirements of small to medium-sized applications.

The mechanical and electrical building services for the Bedworth project were provided by George Birchall, a company which has worked for Tesco for more than 20 years. Not surprisingly, Birchalls were called upon to undertake the same services for the new Crewe store as well. The store in Crewe, with access from the roundabout on Vernon Way and Lyon Way, is also on two levels and now covers 5,500m2. It is double the size of the old supermarket and has provided the area with seventy extra jobs. There are 493 parking spaces at ground level, including twenty one disabled and seventeen parent and child spaces with thirty two cycle parking spaces under the sales area, located on the first floor. The list of Elta units supplied and fitted, again included SQS (Quietflow Single), SCH (Heritage) and SLC (Long Cased) axial fans.

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

The Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul has replaced the 45-year-old Ali Sami Yen Stadium as the new home to the Galatasaray Spor KulÌ (Galatasaray Sports Club), one of Turkey’s most famous football clubs and the holders of the record for the highest number of Turkish cups and joint record holders for the Turkish league. With a capacity of almost 53,000, the stadium has a parking area which can accommodate 3,225 vehicles: 3,025 in a closed area and a further 200 in an adjacent open area.

IMCO has successfully completed some 15 different car park projects across Turkey (totalling over 600,000 square metres) and has built an excellent reputation for understanding the particular ventilation requirements of what can prove challenging applications. In each project they have employed Impulse and/or Induction fans specifically developed by Elta for car park ventilation.

Dual ventilation in fully enclosed car parks is important as in the event of a fire, it is vital that a method of effectively removing the smoke is in place, not only to help ensure a safe evacuation process – particularly important with the numbers involved at a stadium – but also to allow the fire and rescue services to gain safe access in order to tackle the fire. For this reason the use of impulse fans in enclosed car parks is being increasingly employed throughout Europe. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is often used within car park applications to predict the behaviour of smoke in the event of a fire. At the Turk Telekom Arena, Elta worked with IMCO and an independent UK based CFD company to conduct a detailed study, focusing on smoke extraction from a long opening to the car park of approximately 100 metres.

This study ensured that the location and orientation of the fans was optimised to counter environmental factors such as wind direction and velocity based on data obtained from the local meteorological authorities. Another feature which had to be considered was the fact that the car park runs around the perimeter of the pitch, requiring the introduction of measures to prevent the spread of smoke if spectators were required to evacuate from any point within the stadium or car park in the event of an emergency.

A total of 180 fans from Elta – a mix of JetVent centrifugal induction, JetVent Impulse Ventilation and SmokeVent emergency ventilation – were installed to protect the Turk Telekom Arena car park, along with electric switch gears, control panels and extract motorised dampers sourced locally by IMCO.

Funded by public resources, the Turk Telekom Arena was built at a cost of $600 million. It officially opened on 15 January 2011 with a crowd of 40,000 at a spectacular opening ceremony followed by a friendly match between home team Galatasaray SK of the Turkish Spor Toto Super Lig and Dutch club AFC Ajax.

For further information please contact Elta Export Department on +44 1489 566 555, export@eltafans.co.uk or visit dedicated website www.carparkventilation.com

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

Jumeirah Lakes Towers, which forms an integral suburb of new Dubai, is a dynamic, 730,000 square metre mixed-use development waterfront community in Dubai, consisting of a total of seventy nine towers built in blocks of three to form 23 clusters along the edges of four man-made lakes and interlinked by winding manmade waterways with beautifully landscaped gardens. From an architectural viewpoint, the distinctiveness of each tower design will provide an individualistic appeal to this community.

Elta’s products specified throughout many of these skyscraper towers include: the SmokeVent LCS range (for emergency smoke clearance), the JetVent Car Park Ventilation range and specifically the Axial Flow variants (a range of fans utilised to improve the air quality within the car park during normal day-to-day operation and emergency smoke clearance in the event of a car park fire). The Long Case LC Axial range, the Compact SCP (a slim profile, plate-mounted axial fan), the Multiflow MFB and Multiflow SMC mixed flow fans, the Jetflow SJ (a range of all metal in-line centrifugal fans), the SA range constructed from shock proof, heat resistant plastic; the Hideaway SH, Powerduct SPD and Twinflow STDD (ranges of direct in-line centrifugal fans for duct mounting), the Quietflow SQS and Quietflow SQT (acoustically treated, single in-line fans) and the Skyflow SSF (a lightweight range of horizontal discharge roof extract units).

As part of the contracts where JetVent Car Park Ventilation product are being supplied, Kinetics Ventilation Equipment L.L.C., in association with their partners in the UK, are providing the necessary design and system validation by means of complex computational fluid dynamic analysis.

Every tower within the development is individually constructed by separate developers and range in height from 35 to 45 floors, except for the majestic landmark \’Al Mas\’ (Arabic for \”the Diamond\”) Tower which, at 363 metres and with 67 floors, is the centre-piece and focal point of the entire complex. This tower is situated on its own island in the centre of the community and houses the Dubai Diamond Exchange and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) member businesses dealing in the gold, diamond, energy and commodities industries.

The towers follow the high rise living concept adopted by Dubai as a means of promoting security and camaraderie, with the mixed use approach combining residential, offices, hotels, leisure and retail outlets to foster a feeling of community spirit. The towers will feature gymnasia, saunas, swimming pools and high speed lifts, and all will include state-of-the-art security measures. The finished project is estimated eventually to have a resident population of around 60,000 and a working population of another 120,000.

David Osgerby, Managing Director of Elta, said: “We are very well represented in the United Arab Emirates by our distributor, Kinetics Ventilation Equipment L.L.C., and to be involved in such a large, prestigious project is most gratifying, especially when our products have been specified in eight very impressive towers by five world renowned Mechanical Services consultants. The value of the fan contracts awarded is in excess of a quarter of a million pounds.\”

Elta are continuing to work closely with Kinetics Ventilation Equipment L.L.C. on a number of prestigious on-going projects in the Emirates.

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

The 8,000 square metre 24 hour Tesco Extra on South Road was the latest in a number of Tesco retail projects with which Elta has been involved. The Dundee site features a car park at ground level, with capacity to the west of the store and the majority of spaces available in an undercroft car park beneath the store itself which is raised to first floor level. Because the undercroft is enclosed, smoke control specialist Advanced Smoke Technology (AST) worked in conjunction with M & E Contractor Neville Tucker to develop a design for the ventilation system which would overcome a number of potential issues relating to the changing structure of the car park.

The solution was AST’s Impulse Ventilation System which features 23 JetVent Axial impulse units and three large Long Cased SmokeVent units, all from Elta, not only to provide efficient day to day ventilation, but also to ensure effective smoke ventilation in the event of a fire. The 1,400mm diameter SmokeVent fans constantly regulate the airflow rate through the car park while the impulse fans control the airflow direction. The system also features a carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring system and a multi-criteria fire detection system, all linked to a main control panel. The signals provided by the CO monitors and the multi-criteria fire detectors are routed to the AST master control panel which adjusts the speed of the fans depending on the prevailing environmental conditions within the car park.

If a pre-determined level of CO pollution is reached or in the event of a fire, the zone based system is able to send a signal to automatically activate the impulse fans within the affected zone and to switch the SmokeVent fans to maximum capacity.

By controlling the fans and varying the rate of ventilation to meet the demand, the system only operates at full load during peak times, thereby providing significant energy savings and reducing operating costs.

Elta’s Jetvent fans are supplied in red as standard but at the special request of the customer, were finished by Elta in a white powder coating to the RAL specified by Tesco Stores.

Geoff Hardaker of Advanced Smoke Technology said “We undertook a smoke test to demonstrate the airflows in the car park of the Dundee store as part of the commissioning process and Tesco were extremely impressed with the results.”

AST’s smoke control specialists worked with Tesco’s own building engineers from the outset of the project, with AST drawing on Elta’s experience in fan technology to ensure the fans specified were ideally suited to the specific requirements of the Dundee site.

Further information on the range of products and services offered by Elta is available at: www.carparkventilation.com

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.