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MAY 09 - PASSIVE SOLUTION GOES BEYOND WITH ‘LIFETIME HOUSING’

An innovative solution to helping compliance with- and exceeding of- ‘Lifetime Homes’ demands has been developed by Passivent Ltd.

From 2011, all public sector funded housing in England will have to be built to the 16 criteria laid down in the Lifetime Homes strategy, including the positioning of controls for ventilation at a height useable by all. Passivent’s latest, wholly-natural ventilation system, iPSV, has no user controls, working 24/7, solely by harnessing variations in air movement and temperature. As it has no requirement for user input to function, it goes beyond the controls, fixtures and fittings criterion.

Further, because it does not require the occupant to turn it on or off, but works constantly and silently in the background, it helps ensure the home’s interior remains properly ventilated, free from damp, condensation and odours, improving not only quality of life for the residents, but helping protect the building fabric in that it reduces maintenance and repair requirements.

Its design also means there are no moving parts to require maintenance or replacement, further enhancing its suitability for lifetime housing. Yet the system is cost-comparable to conventional alternative, mechanical ventilation systems, and is proven in independent testing to offer better SAP results than strategies which use intermittent fans or heat recovery techniques.

Passivent iPSV works by harnessing natural variations in air temperature and pressure- convection and the venturi effect. Moisture-laden air is warmer, so rises (convection). Strategic ceiling extracts respond to changes in humidity, opening and closing as required to extract moist air, without unnecessary heat loss, through ducting to a roof terminal, window or wall inlets allow gentle replacement air in without draughts. Wind blowing across the roof enhances extraction (also known as the venturi effect).

Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association (bpha) is just one social housing provider that endorses the concept: Andy White of bpha observed, “Passivent PSV is our preferred ventilation system for all our rental new build housing because it is durable and reduces maintenance responsibilities during the life of the dwelling.”

A ‘lifetime homes’ pattern evolved by Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd and its architect Ainsley Common Associates, aimed at ensuring the homes are not only flexible to accommodate tenants’ changing needs but also to be as economic to occupy as possible, includes Passivent ventilation as standard. Bryn Davies, Development Manager at Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, comments, “We aspire to giving our tenants a sense of wellbeing, but are also conscious of issues such as fuel poverty so aim to build homes that are as economic as possible to run. Passivent ventilation is important in helping realize both objectives. It ensures the homes remain dry, fresh and condensation free, without draughts. As it does not require electricity to operate, it costs the tenants nothing to run, and the tenants do not have to worry about physically switching the ventilation on or off.”

Passivent’s range for domestic buildings further includes assisted and mechanical ventilation solutions for single person to multi-occupancy properties, plus a range of background window and through-wall ventilation solutions. Passivent is part of the Building Product Design Group which incorporates Glidevale (roofing and ventilation), Z-Led (damp-proofing solutions), and Kingfisher Louvre Systems (ventilation and solar shading louvre systems), all of which aim to bring to market innovative yet practical products in line with changing requirements.

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