NEW MVHR PLAYER OPENS UP THE CONSUMER MARKET
David Hilton examines a new range of complementary heat pumps and MVHR units
When we build energy-efficient homes we tend to design in as much insulation as we can to ensure that every little draught is excluded, and as our homes become more airtight, the need for ventilation to preserve a healthy existence within them increases.
The Building Regulations Part F (ventilation) require us to provide a form of ventilation that allows for healthy habitation of the property. It therefore seems counterintuitive to spend a lot of time and money on making a home totally draughtproof only to then cut holes in the walls or window frames.
In the Future Homes Standard, which will be introduced in 2025, Part F has been prioritised and it seems that system 4 (whole-house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, or MVHR) is the ventilation methodology of choice.
These systems are not new but there are now more players in the market, including Mitsubishi Electric, known to many homeowners as the manufacturer of the Mitsubishi Ecodan air source heat pump (ASHP). The Ecodan is one of the biggest selling ASHPS in the UK, and was among the first to effectively introduce the variable speed inverter compressor to the mass market in the UK, which is a far more versatile and efficient option than the fixed-speed compressors used in many other ASHPS.
BOOSTING OUR REQUIREMENTS
Mitsubishi has recognised that many homeowners, designers and homebuilders now think about heat recovery ventilation as part-and-parcel of their heating system. The company has therefore produced the Lossnay range of MVHR units to complement its heat pump and air conditioning solutions, offering the homeowner the same brand quality and support that they have come to expect.
The Mitsubishi Lossnay MVHR fan units will be available in three different capacities to suit many different home sizes, and they also have the benefit of four fan speeds, which you can set via a digital controller, to allow for different occupancy and boost requirements.
In addition, they can accommodate filters from simple G3 dust filters right up to NOX filters, which filter out pollution from vehicles if you happen to be near a busy road. These filter systems are easily accessible from the front of the fan unit, which means that it is totally user serviceable.
There is also a ‘summer bypass’ function that allows the unit to bring in fresh air from outside without recovering heat. This can be used to cool down a dwelling that’s overheated during the day once the evening has come around and the temperature outside has dropped. The unit can be set up to automatically enter bypass mode when it detects the space indoors is too hot and the outside air is cool enough.
The Mitsubishi Lossnay MVHR units are listed on the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) Product Characteristic Data Base (PCDB), meaning that they can be specified in all new-build homes.