RACA Journal I April 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 19
VENTILATION AND FILTRATION
As a fan supplier, ebm-papst products are developed and tested according to applicable country and / or legislative performance standards in our own accredited laboratories and test chambers, situated at our various manufacturing facilities. When we provide turnkey solutions( not components only) to customers, our approach is governed by our motto,‘ Engineering a better life’. This reflects our commitment to sustainable and intelligent solutions for a better climate – for people, their applications and our environment.
From a performance and control perspective, there is no such thing as a‘ free lunch’ in ventilation. If IAQ can be achieved and maintained purely by natural ventilation, this will always be the most sustainable solution. However, from a fan manufacturer’ s point of view, the combination of both natural and mechanical ventilation should be considered rather than one or the other. The determining factor is whether such a hybrid system is considered and incorporated from the initial design and inception of a project or building.
There are many application-specific examples where ebm-papst fans have enabled hybrid ventilation strategies that combine natural airing with mechanically controlled airflow to optimise comfort, energy use and pollutant removal. These examples are documented in our case studies and white papers, which are subdivided into different strategic business fields used to categorise our air technology products and solutions.
Ventilation standards such as ASHRAE 62.1 and 62.2 clearly quantify the required fan performance characteristics. Selecting the most appropriate control strategy, however, depends on the specific application. To optimise this strategy, the control systems should be integrated into a higher level BMS or cloud solution. This is only possible when the actual performance characteristics of the fan can be fed back into the system. Balancing energy use and occupant comfort requires a closed-loop control system that both actively and dynamically adjusts fan characteristics according to actual real-world conditions. Static or open loop control systems cannot achieve this. With the utilisation of our NEXAIRA system we can control, record and prove compliance of Indoor Air Targets( IAT) to the RESET Standard or other required standards.
Among the most common challenges or misconceptions encountered when designers apply ventilation rate standards in real-world systems is that design standards and human perception inherently rely on worst-case scenarios and / or conditions. Ventilation rates are accordingly based on the highest requirements. Many times, actual real-world requirements in the application are lower. Using EC technology and closed-loop control systems, fan performance can be matched to exact requirements rather than overperforming to meet static design requirements and / or standards.
Its products are used widely in air handling units, and selecting the right fan type – whether axial or centrifugal depends on many factors. These are governed by the specific application and surrounding requirements. Our approach is to consider the lowest energy consumption in the actual duty point, while complying with said requirements and applicable standards. This can be a daunting task given the number of variables to consider, which is why FanScout, our online fan selection tool, makes this task a breeze.
Fan selection becomes even more critical when systems incorporate high-efficiency filtration such as MERV, HEPA or ULPA filters. These filters introduce significant pressure losses, particularly as they load over time. For the best possible solution, one should consider the actual on-site operating and performance characteristics throughout the life cycle and stages of the fan. High-efficiency filters have a high changeout pressure; the fan( s) need to be able to deliver the required performance at these pressures. Most of the actual operating conditions of the system over its lifespan occur at lower pressures. Utilising EC technology and closed-loop control systems is the only way to balance efficiency with requirements and associated fan performance.
When advising engineers on applications such as cleanroom fan filter units( FFUs), the key message is that‘ less is not more’. The fan and filter system should be made smart. Turning ventilation digital allows performance to be actively adjusted to meet real-world dynamic conditions. The lowest-cost solution is not the most sustainable. Consider the life-cycle cost and total cost of ownership from the end user’ s perspective.
Filter performance inevitably degrades over time, and fan manufacturers can play a significant role in improving maintenance strategies through predictive monitoring and integrated feedback. This approach aligns directly with ebm-papst’ s 2030 strategic goals of converting ventilation to digital and realising a net zero emissions strategy. Through NEXAIRA, we provide solutions on component, application and system level, thereby achieving 15 – 20 % annual savings on total cost of ownership in commercial buildings. As a solutions supplier rather than a fan supplier only, we can also support fan retrofits, eliminating the need to replace entire plant or systems. When developing next-generation fans, sustainability KPIs such as lifecycle energy use, noise, recyclability and many others, are all considered. The distinction between being a product-only or component-only supplier and being a solutions-provider has a profound impact on how sustainability is approached. feature
RACA Journal I April 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 19