Architecture, Design & Innovation: Vent-Axia Shortlisted in Building Awards 2018 with Floating Home Project

Wednesday 12 September 2018

Vent-Axia Shortlisted in Building Awards 2018 with Floating Home Project

Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia is delighted to announce that the Floating Home project has been shortlisted in the Building Awards 2018. The project, which utilised the revolutionary Lo-Carbon Sentinel Kinetic BH Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), is a finalist in the ‘Small Project of Year (up to £5m)’ category of these prestigious awards.

The Building Awards are the industry’s longest running and most prestigious recognition of excellence, and celebrates the achievements across all aspects of building. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday 6th November at the 5* Grosvenor House Hotel in London where over 1,300 guests will attend for a night of networking, recognition and celebration at this important gathering for the UK construction sector.

Vent-Axia’s Sentinel Kinetic BH MVHR unit is providing energy efficient and effective ventilation to the innovative and exciting ‘Floating Home’ project which is situated on a residential mooring near Chichester Marina in West Sussex. Inspired by canal living and designed by Baca Architects, the ‘Chichester’ prototype model was built by Floating Homes Limited and is not a houseboat but a house that floats. Given the close proximity to water there was potential for more humidity than a land-based home, as well as the potential for reflections of the sun to enhance solar gain. Both these factors were considerations when specifying the Sentinel Kinetic BH MVHR unit, which tackles both these issues thanks to an integral humidity sensor and summer bypass.

Built Environment Technology Ltd designed and commissioned the ventilation system for the project. Richard Porteous, Senior Projects Manager at Built Environment Technology Ltd explains: “It is great news the Floating Home project has been shortlisted in such a prestigious awards scheme. Due to the very low permeability of the home’s envelope mechanical ventilation was essential. The Sentinel Kinetic BH MVHR Unit had the right eco-credentials for the project, plus it is very compact and features an integral humidity sensor and summer bypass, which were important for the Floating Home.”

Recognised in SAP PCDB, this lightweight and very compact MVHR unit is simple to install with a horizontal duct option for space-saving installations. It can be mounted vertically in a roof space or on a suitable wall and it has been specifically manufactured to fit in a standard 600m kitchen cabinet, if necessary. Ducting can be attached to the unit horizontally, vertically or both and, with left and right-handed versions available, the installation options are almost limitless.

An integrated digital controller provides simple and accurate commissioning as well as important end-user information such as filter-maintenance reminders and the summer bypass trigger temperature. If the unit is not immediately accessible, a remotely-wired version of the digital controller can also be positioned anywhere within 15m of the Unit, for easy viewing. The integral humidity sensor increases airflow in proportion to relative humidity levels, thus saving energy and ensuring that air quality is consistently high and the Sentinel Kinetic BH MVHR unit can also interact with a number of external sensors, including PIR movement, CO2 and ambient temperature.

For further information on all products and services offered by Vent-Axia telephone 0844 856 0590 or visit www.vent-axia.com. For further details on the awards, visit www.building-awards.com.