Vent-Axia is helping Farnborough 6th Form College meet optimum classroom ventilation standards and save energy with its state-of-the-art Sentinel Totus D-ERV (Demand Energy Recovery Ventilation) system.
The installation of eight Sentinel Totus units means that Farnborough 6th Form College will meet the ventilation requirements set out in Building Bulletin 101 which provides the regulatory framework for the Building Regulations. This specifies limiting CO2 levels within teaching and learning spaces to 1500 parts per million, helping to keep pupils alert and ready to learn.
The Sentinel Totus system was selected for the project for it high efficiencies and precise control options which provide the required amount of fresh air while keeping CO2 levels within prescribed levels. “The brief was to provide ventilation, supply and extract, to each air-conditioned classroom to the requirements of Building Bulletin 101. The Sentinel Totus was specified for a number of reasons, mainly due to the fact Vent Axia manufactures good quality products and provides excellent support, as well as, the unit being very suitable to the project type and brief. The unit also has a very high heat recovery efficiency, saving the client on running costs and helping the building achieve Part L compliance,” explains Mark Parson, a member of Ramboll UK’s engineers team on the Farnborough 6th Form project.
Specified to control ventilation in sixteen classrooms in the three storey 6th form college, every Sentinel Totus unit was installed to serve two classrooms each. “The brief stated there should be a dedicated AHU for each classroom, however there was limited roof space available to accommodate all the plant. We therefore proposed a single Sentinel Totus unit would provide ventilation to two classrooms, halving the amount of AHU units on the roof, and alleviating the space issues. However this solution required the implementation of a complicated control strategy,” adds Mark Parson.
Mounted on the roof, these constant pressure Sentinel Totus units feature in line dampers and ventilate the classrooms via central risers. The individual dampers are controlled in each classroom via a BMS interface which is linked to a CO2 sensor, as a result, a change in CO2 levels triggers the damper to open or close and the fan speed to increase or decrease to ensure good ventilation is maintained.
The Sentinel Totus units only operate when required to either lower CO2 levels or to meet temperature requirements. The Sentinel Totus system is therefore set onto standby, using only 0.6W of energy, until the classroom temperature reaches 24deg C. At this set temperature the actuators in the windows close and the units are activated to provide ventilation.
“The system was installed on the building roof and is linked to the Building Management System (BMS) for optimal efficiency. The vast capability of the Sentinel Totus range allowed the system to be integrated with the other services via a complex control strategy, allowing each classroom to be mixed-mode ventilated, therefore reducing the overall energy consumption of the building which was one of the main objectives in the brief,” says Mark Parson.
“We are very pleased with the new building, the teachers love the teaching space and the atrium will be an ideal space to show students’ work,” explains Laurie Jenkins, Estates Manager at Farnborough 6th Form College.
Integrating Vent-Axia’s proven on-demand control concept with efficient EC/DC motor technology and a state of the art counterflow heat recovery cell to achieve up to 90% energy recovery – the Sentinel Totus boasts the highest performance of any system on the market, and the UK’s first D-ERV system to be independently rated and tested to EN308.
Sentinel D-ERV is part of Vent-Axia’s award-winning Sentinel demand ventilation range of commercial and residential applications. Sentinel demand ventilation is a popular choice on educational projects where the energy and air quality benefits can be fully realised. For those seeking expert advice on how to achieve the best outcomes for their schools or other public buildings, then the VA offers practical advice on HVAC installation and selection. This is supported by guidance on the best solutions to meet legislative requirements, project management, after sales support and maintenance information. Local authorities and specifiers who seek advice from Vent-Axia will learn the ventilation knowledge and skills necessary to deliver the best academic environment and brightest future for Britain’s schools and colleges.
For further information on Sentinel demand controlled ventilation solutions, please contact Vent-Axia on 0844 856 0590 or visit www.vent-axia.com.
|
If you like this article and want to share it with friends, please use the social links below:
|
Back