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JUNE 07 - QUIETLY CREATING ECO-LIVING IN THE HEART OF LONDON

In more ways than one, new life is being breathed into a former industrial area of Peckham with a major development by Osborne.

The site on Queens Road had been offices and warehouses but became vacant when a major local employer relocated; the Queensbridge redevelopment provides commercial premises and over 150 dwellings. The homes are a mix of socially rented, affordable and outright sales and use advanced ventilation techniques to help achieve EcoHomes requirements.

All the rental and affordable homes feature Passivent’s Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) system using a fan per dwelling design, whilst the 56 outright sale units incorporate state-of-art Passivent Flair MEV ventilation systems. Passivent Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) uses a remotely located central extract fan to remove the stale, moistiure laden air from ‘wet’ rooms (bathrooms and kitchens) through discreet ceiling or wall mounted extracts. Passivent Flair additionally incorporates a stylish Italian designed cooker hood into the MEV system to provide a whole apartment ventilation system also requiring only a single wall penetration.

An Osborne spokesman observes, “We have a policy of building to the EcoHomes standard regardless of the designation of the home. We felt the Passivent MEV system was the best system to meet those requirements in that it is more efficient than other forms of ventilation, reduces carbon emissions, and costs little to run. Using Passivent Flair in the outright sale apartments differentiated them as ‘stand alone’ homes and helped to make them of a higher specification, whilst still meeting all Regulatory and our EcoHomes requirements. Both systems are also quieter than conventional individual room mechanical extract fans, helping create a better living environment away from the city bustle!”

Passivent MEV utilises planned air paths through each apartment with air inlets in the ‘dry’ living rooms and bedrooms drawing fresh air into the home; used, moisture laden air is extracted from the ‘wet’ kitchens and bathrooms by humidity sensitive extracts. The extracts are linked via ducting to a constantly running, low energy fan, and respond automatically to changes in relative humidity to boost extraction through the external facade, via the discreetly located extract fan. The system is specifically designed to each home, to ensure occupants enjoy a damp- and condensation- free environment without draughts.

Passivent claims its Flair system includes the only silent kitchen hood extraction system on the market. The central, continuously running fan operates at low level until the cooker hood is switched on, which boosts the fan and opens a damper in the hood to extract cooking smells and moisture from the kitchen. Self-regulating, non-electrical extracts in the bathroom and en-suite ensure the correct, pre-set level of ventilation is maintained, even when the system is boosted by operation of the cooker hood. Ducting links all extracts and is vented to a single wall terminal for each apartment.

Passivent Flair means all rooms are properly ventilated to Building Regulations, but using only one system and wiring loop instead of at least two, and minimising the number of penetrations through the building exterior. Flair also minimises maintenance and occupant input to ensure a well-ventilated, odour- and damp-free home. A range of options in cooker hood designs enables the ventilation system to blend in with and enhance the overall apartment design.

In addition to its Mechanical Extract Ventilation systems, Passivent supplies a comprehensive range of background trickle ventilators, the Fresh range of through wall ventilators, and natural Passive Stack Ventilation solutions, with or without acoustic options, all of which contribute towards efficient ventilation of the home with little or no energy consumption. Passivent is part of the Building Product Design Group, which specialises in developing innovative yet practical ventilation and roofing products in line with changing market requirements.

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