Archetech Issue 25 2016 | Page 52

AEROPAC from SIEGENIA - removing the barriers to residential ventilation Archetech - Page 52 As thermal insulation and air-tightness improve thanks to housing projects which focus on driving up energy efficiency, the need for effective ventilation solutions has never been greater. This is especially the case when you consider how many of Britain’s homes are located in noisy urban areas where windows often remain closed in a bid to cut down noise pollution. With current legislation, controlled ventilation ordinarily means extract fans in bathrooms and kitchens and trickle vents on windows. However this is insufficient given the high standard of air tightness in modern homes. Centralised ventilation systems are technically excellent, but deploying these on a wide scale would prove much more of a challenge. Smart thinking holds the key SIEGENIA’s AEROPAC wall-mounted ventilator offers a convenient, costeffective alternative. The easy-to-fit, stand-alone ventilation units can be installed in as little as 45 minutes with just an 80mm hole through the wall and an electrical connection. This simple installation process makes the unit suitable both for new build and retrofit markets. The AEROPAC offers multiple benefits for end users: most notably, improving air quality on a 24-hour constant timer thus eliminates the security risk of leaving windows open and maintains a quiet environment. It does this by incorporating a clever sound insulation barrier to offer an ‘acoustic vent’, making this an attractive proposition for properties set in noisy environments, such as near flight paths or train lines. Moreover, its sound absorption and low inherent noise (LPA = 24 dB (A)) mean it is suitable for use in bedrooms and can be kept on overnight without disturbing the user’s sleep. The air throughput of the AEROPAC can be conveniently set at different levels via the LCD display on the front. There is no compromise on energy efficiency either, with the units using just 5W at 60 m3/h. Allergy sufferers also benefit as the AEROPAC’s filter can be upgraded to a 99% pollen-free filter for greater comfort during high pollen months. Finally, there are no major maintenance headaches further down the line as these stand-alone units require no ducting nor any of the costly cleaning associated with this. The only maintenance required is a change of filter when the unit’s LCD display indicates to do so. The front panel of the ventilator can be opened by hand and the use of filter cassettes means that the filter can be changed quickly and conveniently without any tools. The great thing for UK specifiers is that, whilst these ventilation units may be relatively new to the UK, they have already proved themselves in more than 100,000 installations across Europe. That means risk-free specification. To find out more visit www.siegenia.com.