The Internet of Things (IoT) has been described ‘as the next Industrial Revolution’ since it is already affecting how we live, work and relax. However, this is only the start with an estimated 25 billion IoT devices set to be installed by 2020. Ian Mitchell, Product Marketing Manager - New Build Residential at Vent-Axia explains how the IoT is influencing ventilation design:
The original Industrial Revolution marked a turning point where almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way by changes to manufacturing and technical advances. In the same way IoT is already influencing every area of our lives. However, many of us are unaware of the true extent of IoT’s effects since it is not typically a product that we buy; instead IoT is embedded into a growing number of products in both our home and work lives.
It is estimated that 25 billion IoT devices are set to be installed by 2020. This growth, offers electricians a huge opportunity as an increasing number of electrical products are being developed with ‘smart capability’ and IoT connections.
In the past a ‘smart home’ used to only be on offer in high-end developments with just a small number of electricians being able to profit from this niche market. However, with the development of App control via Wi-Fi rather than complex hard-wired systems and interfaces, there is now a great opportunity for electricians to benefit from this new breed of system.
This technological development now means that the latest Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems are bringing new connectivity to the HEVAC sector with pioneering interfaces and functions being available to contractors and home owners via simple web-enabled App control.
In addition to being able to offer the latest in ventilation, this type of MVHR is a great entry-level product for electricians into the world of the ‘smart home’ while using a familiar technology.
For example, the launch of the company’s new Sentinel Kinetic Advance takes MVHR to the next level following significant research and development. Topping the PCDB list with exceptional efficiency, near silent operation, high pressure development and improved indoor air quality, the Advance features time-saving commissioning and control via a unique web-enabled App.
While ventilation specification and control can be a complex system involving pressure calculations and volume measurements, the complexity has been designed into the product so that the human interface via the Advance’s App is as simple as possible. As a result, the functionality available within the App has many benefits for both electricians and homeowners.
App-controlled commissioning
For electricians, the Advance’s unit-mounted touch screen or App-controlled commissioning offers simplified installation, saving time and so money, while reducing the build length and improving build quality.
By using the pioneering Wi-Fi enabled App, commissioning is simplified since when installers hold a vane anemometer to measure airflow in one hand, using the other hand they can use the App to control airflows during measurement, making it unnecessary to repeatedly return to the unit to adjust fan speeds. This saves costs by simplifying and reducing installation time, ensuring accurate commissioning in turn avoiding costly callbacks.
In addition, electricians can save even more time by pre-commissioning this MVHR through its USB functionality. In new build residential housing developments purpose-built properties often feature repeated accommodation designs, which means taking data from a previously commissioned property to pre-commission the next property is a huge time saving.
Meanwhile, these new MVHR units also offer left or right handing through the controller again helping in housing developments where there are often repeated accommodation designs, which are mirrored. As a result, this reduces inventory during construction since only one type of MVHR unit is needed simplifying the design/specification process.
BMS connectivity
App control heralds the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT). The definition of IoT is that it is a network of Internet-connected objects able to collect and exchange data. It allows products to talk to each other and react based on a set of inputs. An important feature for the next generation of MVHR systems is therefore BMS connectivity.
In residential apartments or student accommodation this allows landlords or facilities companies to monitor all aspects of the systems’ performance and status through a BACnet BMS system (a data communication protocol for building automation and control networks). This monitoring allows landlords to both ensure good indoor air quality and that the system is performing efficiently, saving on energy bills.
This BACnet BMS connectivity also allows the newest MVHR systems to respond to emergency alarms for example smoke or fire. Here, Internet-connected objects are exchanging data with each other and responding to it. This means if a fire alarm is triggered, the fan will shut down – and therefore reduce the airflow that could feed a fire. In multiple occupancy residential apartments or student accommodation environment this is an important safety feature. As the IoT continues to develop in the ventilation sector there is set to be growth in the benefits of IoT connectivity.
Silence with control for homeowners
With the digital-savvy house buyers of today switched on to the latest technology, the Advance’s App-controlled ventilation is also an attractive design feature for their high-tech homes. Providing interactive control via a downloadable free App on a smart phone or via the on-board screen, the Advance allows households to take control of their ventilation, an important issue following recent high profile research linking poor indoor air quality to health problems.
Featuring a simple user interface, the MVHR offers programmable controllers, where the unit can be scheduled to boost if required when very hot or avoid boost, perhaps when a baby is sleeping. Meanwhile, 100% Summer Bypass will help to ensure thermal comfort, a significant issue in airtight new build properties. This sophisticated summer bypass features an evening or overnight purge, allowing occupiers to choose when to take advantage of cooler air during hot summer periods.
While MVHR units controlled via a smart phone App will be attractive to homeowners, the Advance is fully autonomous and controls can be locked to prevent modification to flows and other settings.
In addition, the Advance can also alert the homeowner when to change filters and filter maintenance intervals can be adjusted to one-month increments allowing optimisation of maintenance costs. With filters available up to F7 grade this will ensure even properties in heavily urbanised areas can filter out impurities, including damaging PM2.5.
High efficiency with performance
Although IoT is described as the next ‘Industrial Revolution’ it is not the end product in itself which customers buy. Instead the connectivity that IoT gives to products enhances their value, which is why it is important to consider technology with IoT connectivity as a whole.
Although the Advance’s smart communication functionality offers a raft of new connectivity options and benefits, electricians will be pleased to know that this latest generation of MVHR also leads the way with efficiency, silence and performance. This means that housebuilders and developers will be keen to select the Advance since it ticks all the right boxes for specifiers.
For housebuilders energy efficiency is still the most important specification factor when it comes to ventilation. The Advance is thought to be the best performing MVHR system in its class, having a specific fan power of 0.38W/l/W with 93% heat recovery and airflow of 100l/s at 150Pa, offering high pressure development. So it provides housebuilders with the efficiency and performance they require, offering valuable reductions in Dwelling Emission Rates.
Silence is golden
However, it is not only efficiency that is important when specifying ventilation in new build residential properties, as house buyers are increasingly requesting quiet ventilation.
Following extensive computational fluid dynamics modelling the Advance has achieved maximised airflows and minimised noise and energy through highly sculpted interiors combined with cutting-edge EC motors. As a result this MVHR is extremely quiet with trickle settings up to 40% staying below 20dBA, achieving the Holy Grail of high efficiency and low sound levels. This provides households with the required quiet comfort.
And finally…
So, with tech savvy end-users now demanding more from their homes the latest MVHR systems are a fitting addition to new high-spec living. Not only does this new technology provide good indoor air quality and comfort but its trailblazing connectivity offers the digital experience we expect from products today.
For electricians, this MVHR’s new connectivity offers a great opportunity to enter the smart home market and the IoT revolution. And for developers, the latest MVHR systems provide them with the energy efficient, near silent systems they desire, while offering market-leading connectivity plus saving time and money on installation through a unique commissioning App.