British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia says it is proud to have gained Passivhaus Certification for its award-winning Sentinel Apex commercial Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) range.
Passivhaus is a method of creating buildings that require very little energy for heating or cooling whilst maintaining exceptional indoor comfort. The certification is a performance-based standard that is increasingly important to specifiers who need the lowest carbon building solutions.
With its class-leading performance number, gaining this certification confirms that the Sentinel Apex is ideal for low- and zero-carbon buildings, especially beneficial with the Net Zero 2050 deadline approaching.
The Sentinel Apex also continues to deliver ‘simply more as standard’ as the Passivhaus Certified models are available at no extra cost.
The Passivhaus project
Passivhaus-certified MVHR is a critical part of a Passivhaus project and is key to its success in driving down energy usage.
Vent-Axia has now attained Passivhaus Certification for its HR06, HR10, HR15, and HR21 Sentinel Apex units, which is beneficial for customers who require the very best low-carbon heat recovery systems for their commercial buildings.
MVHR performance is considered an integral element of the primary Passivhaus heating demand calculation, making Vent-Axia’s Passivhaus-certified MVHRs the ideal choice, with an industry-leading performance number of ≥ 11.5 combined with up to 80% thermal efficiency.
Vent-Axia’s range of Sentinel Apex commercial MVHRs ticks all the right boxes for commercial Passivhaus projects with its advanced units offering both wired and wireless sensors and controls, as well as the option of demand-controlled ventilation, constant pressure, or constant volume, so users have full control over their indoor environment.
Meanwhile, the Sentinel Apex MVHR offers free cooling through an Intelligent Summer Bypass to mitigate temperatures in warmer months, and features ePM10 50% extract and ePM1 55% supply filters (M5/F7 equivalent) as standard to provide excellent indoor air quality (IAQ). The units also include internal frost protection pre-heaters, achieving the best thermal comfort possible at all times.
Alexis Roberts, Channel Marketing Manager at Vent-Axia, says, “We are delighted that our Sentinel Apex commercial MVHR units have achieved the globally recognised Passivhaus Certification thanks to their excellent performance number and thermal efficiency.
“The Sentinel Apex has been designed to help specifiers on their decarbonisation journey, maximising its energy efficiency and performance, while providing excellent IAQ, ultra-low sound levels, and thermal comfort, making the units ideal for Passivhaus projects.
“Not only that, but as Passivhaus buildings use up to 90% less heating and cooling than conventional buildings, end-users can benefit from lower energy bills too.”
The capabilities of Sentinel Apex
The Sentinel Apex range achieves the holy grail by delivering the highest level of IAQ and thermal comfort with the lowest energy and noise levels.
Units in the range offer up to 93% heat recovery efficiency (EN308 test method) – alongside ultra-low sound levels, which are independently tested and verified by SRL Technical Services Limited, and extremely low specific fan power (SFP) – resulting in a significant performance improvement compared to previous commercial heat recovery units.
Meanwhile, Sentinel Apex’s intuitive controls are compatible with Vent-Axia’s range of Sentinel-X Sensors, allowing easily configurable set points ensuring optimised IAQ, in line with Part F of the Building Regulations, while also minimising ventilation energy consumption
To help ensure the highest levels of IAQ, the Sentinel Apex features ePM10 50% extract and ePM1 55% supply filters (M5/F7 equivalent) as standard. By carefully selecting the filter media and utilising the latest motors and impellers with better than IE5 efficiency, the Sentinel Apex maintains extremely low SFP with low sound levels whilst maintaining excellent IAQ. To make maintenance simpler, filter access is available from the bottom and side as standard.
Developed for a wide range of applications, specifiers can choose from five sizes, delivering airflows up to 4000m3/hr. Designed to operate on the principles of demand ventilation, the Sentinel Apex is ideal for applications where the rooms are used at different times of the day by a variable number of people such as libraries, classrooms, and offices.
The Sentinel Apex system, with the matched range of Sentinel-X Sensors, can monitor occupancy and air quality and respond by adjusting the ventilation accordingly to maintain the IAQ and thermal comfort within predefined limits whilst recovering up to 93% of the extracted thermal energy.
The Sentinel Apex’s new advanced integrated control system has three levels of interface, all as standard: a simple-purpose-designed onboard user interface controller incorporating an alphanumerical, two-line display that lets users know how the system is operating, with a four-button keypad for fan status, and a basic commissioning setup mounted within the control panel. This allows easy commissioning and setup. A full range of wired and wireless communication sensors are also available, with either local mains or battery powered options.
Offering ‘simply more as standard’, the Sentinel Apex boasts a range of features, components, and controls that come as standard with the unit. This means consultants do not need to specify multiple different components or precisely specify the level of control required when selecting a commercial heat recovery unit. This makes specification simpler and saves time.
Standard features include side and bottom access panels to facilitate normal access and maintenance. An integral condensate tray is also fitted as standard along with an internal, quiet-running, high-quality pump, allowing for removal of the condensate.
In addition, the Sentinel Apex is manufactured with double-skin construction and acoustic infill for class-leading acoustic properties, plus an electric frost protection heater.
Designed to have a low embodied carbon footprint, Vent-Axia has used the CIBSE TM65 data collection methodology to collect accurate, detailed embodied carbon information for the Apex, working from a component level up. This methodology ensures data is comprehensive, accurate, reliable, and up to date, making it easier for specifiers to focus on designing low-carbon, sustainable buildings.
UK manufactured, the supply chain involved is as short as possible; it is completely serviceable and maintainable, and all components can be removed and replaced if necessary. Apex’s end of life has also been considered, ensuring it can be easily re-purposed or recycled, further enhancing its life-cycle credentials.
For further information on the Sentinel Apex, you can contact projectorders@vent-axia.com.
For further information on all products and services offered by Vent-Axia, you can telephone +44 (0)344 856 0590 or visit Vent-Axia’s website.
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