In this month’s Face to Face we speak with Ashley Smith, Product Manager at Vent-Axia, and find out more about the ventilation sector.

When was Vent-Axia formed and how has the company evolved over the years?

This year marks Vent-Axia’s 90^th anniversary. We were founded in 1936, the same year we invented the first electrically operated window ventilator, and innovation has remained at the heart of the business ever since.

There have been many milestones along the way, from launching our Standard Range extractor fan in 1961, a design classic that sold over one million units, to introducing our Lo-Carbon range in 2009, helping drive the industry towards more energy-efficient ventilation.

Although Vent-Axia has evolved over the years, one thing that has not changed is the breadth of our product range and our focus on meeting the needs of the market and providing the right ventilation solution for the application. Intermittent fans continue to be an important part of our range for the retrofit market, but following changes to Part F of the Building Regulations in 2021, we have seen increasing demand for continuous ventilation, including decentralised mechanical extract ventilation (dMEV), as well as decentralised heat recovery.

Evolution is not just about products either. Supporting wholesalers with product knowledge, regulatory guidance, marketing materials and access to experienced sales representatives remains a key part of what we do. Having a trusted manufacturer behind you can make a real difference.

Has greater awareness of indoor air quality and energy efficiency changed what customers are looking for?

Absolutely. As energy prices have risen and homes have become more energy efficient, customers are increasingly interested in ventilation solutions that minimise heat loss while helping maintain good indoor air quality.

Heat recovery is an important part of this. Traditionally, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) has involved a central unit and extensive ductwork, which can be challenging in retrofit applications.

But by opting for decentralised MVHR using smaller wall and ceiling units, dramatically reduces the amount of ductwork required. At Vent-Axia we have a comprehensive range of decentralised MVHR including the Lo-Carbon Heat Save, Lo-Carbon Tempra and Lo-Carbon Calido, which help maximise energy savings by introducing heat recovery into properties.

Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) also remains popular, particularly for existing homes experiencing condensation and mould. Installed in the loft, PIV provides electricians with an effective whole-house solution that replaces stale, moisture-laden air with filtered, drier air. PIV units like Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon PureAir Home are highly energy efficient, unobtrusive, near silent, and help provide a healthy environment, with PIV offering a simple install for electricians. Vent-Axia’s PureAir home is uniquely flexible offering two installation methods, high-sided anti-vibration legs and a hanging set come as standard, allowing it to be installed quickly in any size loft.

How can electrical wholesalers make the most of the growing dMEV market?

Continuous-running dMEV now accounts for around one in four fans sold into the UK, creating a significant opportunity for wholesalers.

By stocking high-quality, feature-rich dMEV products, wholesalers can help electricians move towards more advanced ventilation solutions while benefiting from higher-value sales.

There is also a clear upselling opportunity. Products offering intelligent controls, quiet operation and improved indoor air quality give installers something tangible to discuss with customers rather than simply competing on the price of a basic extractor fan. This helps installers secure higher-value projects, offering an upsell or spec-break.

For example, Vent-Axia’s PureAir Cleanse is the industry’s first dedicated continuous-running dMEV to feature an integrated IAQ sensor. As well as intelligent humidity control, it can detect and respond to total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) generated by everyday activities including cooking, cleaning and showering.

For wholesalers, products like this provide a strong over-the-counter opportunity as they offer installers additional functionality while remaining straightforward to recommend and install.

What products are currently proving particularly popular?

Intermittent fans remain popular, but the direction of travel is clearly towards continuous ventilation.

As homes become more airtight through insulation and other energy-efficiency improvements, effective ventilation becomes increasingly important. The amendments to Part F of the Building Regulations have helped redress the balance between energy efficiency and ventilation, but there is still a need to improve awareness of the requirements.

In existing homes, moving from intermittent to continuous ventilation can provide a straightforward route to compliance while also offering an energy-efficient solution for households.

This creates an opportunity for wholesalers to help electricians understand the different technologies available and select the appropriate solution for each project.

What is Vent-Axia doing to improve sustainability?

At Vent-Axia we are committed to improving indoor air sustainably. We have set a target to achieve Net Zero by 2040, a decade ahead of the UK Government’s 2050 target.

Our approach covers both the products we manufacture and how we manufacture them. We have been transforming production by moving from virgin to recycled plastic, while continuing to develop low-carbon products that can help customers reduce energy use and decarbonise buildings.

For wholesalers looking to identify energy-efficient products quickly, our Lo-Carbon range provides a simple signpost, with products featuring energy-efficient EC/DC motors.

Heat recovery will also be an important part of the journey towards lower-carbon homes because it allows properties to maintain effective ventilation while recovering heat that would otherwise be lost.

What are Vent-Axia’s priorities for wholesalers over the next 12 months?

Supporting our wholesaler customers remains a major priority, particularly as the market continues its shift towards dMEV and other continuous ventilation solutions.

That means increasing product knowledge and awareness and providing wholesalers with practical tools, including customer cheat sheets and marketing collateral, to help branch staff confidently answer questions and recommend appropriate products.

We are also introducing a new Point of Sale (POS) range designed to improve product visibility and help wholesalers engage customers with ventilation.

Importantly, unlike traditional POS, the displays are reusable. As products, promotions and campaigns change, the fan and printed bulletin can be updated without replacing the entire display. This gives branches a longer-lasting solution that can remain relevant throughout the year while reducing waste.

Ultimately, our objective is to make ventilation easier to sell, giving wholesalers the products, information and manufacturer support they need as the market continues to evolve.

Find out more about Vent-Axia here

Catch up on previous ‘Face to Face’ articles here

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We hear how commercial heat recovery has been deployed in a Carmarthen health and wellbeing project.

Vent-Axia’s award-winning Sentinel Apex units have been specified for the landmark Carmarthen Health and Wellbeing Hwb project, delivering energy-efficient ventilation to this transformative multi-million-pound development. The 245,000ft2 scheme is repurposing the former Carmarthen Debenhams building into a Health and Wellbeing Hub.

Facilities

The new hub will offer a range of services including public healthcare, a Customer Service Hwb, and new 24 hour Actif gym. Other facilities will include a family entertainment centre, with indoor adventure golf, toy town soft play, E-Go Karting, and TAG Active. Part-funded by the Welsh Government’s IRCF Fund, with further funding from the UK Government, the development will benefit from Sentinel Apex units installed across all three floors of the building, with four Sentinel Apex HR21 specified to meet the demand of the gym area alone.

Formerly a shopping centre, the building has been redesigned as a dynamic Health and Wellbeing Hwb for the people of Carmarthen. The extensive refurbishment involved a full reconfiguration of the internal space to create a welcoming environment that balances health, wellbeing, and entertainment under one roof. The project team includes: main contractor, Bouygues; M&E Consultant, Hoare Lea; Sub-Contractor, FP Hurley & Sons (Crosshands), and Distributor, Ventilation Warehouse. The Sentinel Apex commercial heat recovery units were specified for their energy efficiency, good indoor air quality, and their ultra-quiet operation, as well as meeting stringent Specific Fan Power (SFP) and dBA acoustic requirements, ensuring a comfortable and compliant building.

Neil Higgins, Contracts Manager, F P Hurley & Sons said: “We chose the Sentinel Apex units because they deliver exceptionally quiet operation and low Specific Fan Power, ensuring they met all Building Regulation requirements. The units were also available in a wide range of airflows, allowing us to specify the correct units for each space. In short, they offered the ideal balance of airflow, low noise, and energy efficiency.”

Adam Bullon from Ventilation Warehouse added: “I have worked with Vent-Axia for a long time. The Carmarthen Health and Wellbeing Hwb was an interesting job with the Sentinel Apex ticking all the right boxes for the project, including energy efficiency, noise, and ease of maintenance. Twenty Sentinel Apex units were delivered over three project stages.”

Maximum comfort

A brilliant fit for the Carmarthen Health and Wellbeing Hwb project, the Vent-Axia Sentinel Apex is the next generation of commercial heat recovery ventilation, providing specifiers help in creating low-carbon buildings. The Sentinel Apex is specifically designed to have a high level of energy efficiency with industry-leading SFP and low embodied carbon. Individuals using the Carmarthen space will find maximum occupant comfort as this has been a priority for the development of the Sentinel Apex unit, operating quietly whilst improving indoor air quality.

The Sentinel Apex offers the highest level of IAQ and thermal comfort, whilst maintaining the lowest energy and noise levels, both of which were vital for this refurbishment. Offering up to 93% heat recovery efficiency (EN308 test method), ultra-low sound levels, which are independently tested and verified by SRL Technical Services Limited, and extremely low SFP, the Sentinel Apex has notable performance improvement in comparison with previous commercial heat recovery units and delivers ‘Simply more as Standard’. Its intuitive controls are compatible with Vent-Axia’s range of Sentinel-X Sensors, allowing for easily configurable set points ensuring optimised IAQ, in line with Part F of the Building Regulations, all while minimising ventilation energy consumption.

In order to achieve the highest levels of IAQ, the Sentinel Apex unit features ePM10 50% extract and ePM1 55% supply filters (M5/F7 equivalent) as standard. By carefully selecting the filter media and by utilising the latest motors and impellers (with better than IE5 efficiency), the Sentinel Apex maintains an extremely low SFP with low sound levels whilst maintaining excellent IAQ. The Sentinel Apex also aids thermal comfort with an integral automatic summer bypass that is designed to provide free cooling when available but is sized to eliminate performance loss.

Specifiers can choose from five sizes, as the Apex has been developed for a wide range of applications, and delivers airflows up to 4000m3/hr. At the Carmarthen Health and Wellbeing Hwb 20 Sentinel Apex units were installed, including four Sentinel Apex HR21s used in the ground floor gym area alone, while Sentinel Apex HR15 units were used for the offices on floor 1 and floor 2, displaying the wide range of Apex units used in the project, in turn ensuring air flow meets design requirements in different parts of the building.

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, making it well-tailored to the Carmarthen Health and Wellbeing Hwb. The Sentinel Apex system, with the matched range of Sentinel-X Sensors, can monitor occupancy and air quality, responding 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.

In control

The Sentinel Apex’s new advanced integrated control system has 3 levels of interface, all as standard: simple purpose-designed onboard user interface controlled incorporating an alphanumerical, 2-line display which lets users know how the system is operating with 4-button keypad for fan status and a basic commissioning setup mounted within the control panel. This allows easy commissioning and set-up. A full range of wired and wireless communication sensors available, with either through local mains or battery-powered options.

The controls are designed to take the complexity out of the control system making it easy for the user, with two levels of interface: one for the engineer allowing commissioning and one simpler one for the end-user allowing them to easily monitor and boost the system if additional ventilation is required.

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 Sentinel 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.

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As continuous ventilation continues to gain momentum across the UK, Ashley Smith, Product Manager at Vent-Axia, explains why dMEV is becoming an increasingly valuable category for electrical wholesalers looking to grow sales, support installers and meet rising demand for higher performance ventilation solutions.

Demand for decentralised mechanical extract ventilation (dMEV) is continuing to rise as the market shifts towards continuous ventilation solutions. With continuous running dMEV now accounting for around one in four fans sold into the UK, the category is creating a significant opportunity for electrical wholesalers. By stocking high quality, feature-rich dMEV products, wholesalers can support electricians with advanced ventilation solutions while benefitting from growing market demand and higher-value sales.

For wholesalers, this presents an opportunity to expand product ranges and support installers with ventilation products that offer more than standard intermittent extract fans. Continuous-running dMEV units are increasingly being selected by electricians and households, creating ongoing demand for products that combine energy-efficient performance, quiet operation, improved indoor air quality, and straightforward installation.

As installers look to offer customers improved ventilation solutions, wholesalers that stock reliable and innovative dMEV products are well placed to become trusted supply partners while increasing basket value and counter sales opportunities.

Higher value sales

Stocking premium dMEV products allows wholesalers to help electricians upsell more advanced ventilation solutions to customers. Products offering intelligent controls, quiet running and improved IAQ provide clear differentiation compared to more basic extract fans, helping installers secure higher-value projects, offering an upsell or spec-break opportunity.

For example, the Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon PureAir Cleanse has been designed as a next-generation continuous-running dMEV that combines premium performance with a competitive trade price. This creates an attractive over-the-counter sales opportunity for wholesalers looking to offer electricians a feature-rich ventilation solution that is easy to recommend and install, with the quality, reliability, and innovation installers expect.

As consumer awareness of IAQ continues to grow, products that provide healthier indoor environments are becoming increasingly attractive. The PureAir Cleanse delivers continuous, energy-efficient ventilation while operating at near-silent noise levels, helping improve comfort within the home. Its sleek, modern circular design also gives installers a product that is visually appealing as well as high performing.

Driving added value

For wholesalers, stocking advanced ventilation products can help increase sales opportunities and provide electricians with clear upgrade paths for customers.

The PureAir Cleanse range, for example, includes models with humidity control, timer and integrated IAQ sensing, allowing electricians to choose solutions suited to different property requirements. Features such as these enable wholesalers to offer products across multiple price points while supporting customers looking for enhanced functionality.

Vent-Axia’s PureAir Cleanse is also the industry’s first dedicated continuous-running dMEV to feature an integrated IAQ sensor. Combining intelligent humidity control with advanced air quality sensing, the unit can detect, measure, and respond to chemical pollutants, specifically total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), which are commonly generated through everyday activities such as cooking, cleaning and showering.

When pollutant levels increase, the fan automatically boosts extraction rates to help maintain healthier indoor air conditions. For wholesalers, innovations such as integrated IAQ sensing create strong sales opportunities by providing installers with a premium, technology-led ventilation solution that addresses growing concerns around air quality and occupant wellbeing.

Comfort

Quiet operation is another increasingly important consideration within the residential ventilation market. Homeowners expect ventilation to operate effectively without causing disruption, particularly within bathrooms and living areas.

The latest dMEV products are therefore designed to run almost silently in the background while continuously maintaining airflow. The PureAir Cleanse, for example, features intelligent control logic that adjusts airflow smoothly and proportionally, helping reduce unnecessary noise and nuisance tripping.

Additional features such as patented delayed comfort control and intelligent light-switch logic further improve household comfort by helping minimise disturbance during night-time bathroom use. These types of features provide wholesalers with additional selling points when supporting installers and contractors looking for premium ventilation solutions.

Installation

Ease of installation remains critical for electricians, making installer-friendly design an important factor when wholesalers select ventilation products to stock.

Products that simplify installation and commissioning can help reduce time on site while improving installer satisfaction and repeat purchases. The Vent-Axia PureAir Cleanse has been designed with this in mind, offering quick installation alongside high-pressure development and a silent mixed-flow impeller that allows the unit to meet the requirements of many domestic applications without requiring a traditional centrifugal fan.

Additional features including flexible wall and ceiling mounting, compatibility with low ceiling voids, an IPX5 rating and simple speed adjustment controls all help streamline installation and commissioning.

Additional information can be found here

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Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon PureAir Cleanse is the industry’s first dedicated continuous-running Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV) unit with an integrated indoor air quality sensor. Combining intelligent humidity control with advanced air-quality sensing, it detects, measures and clears the air of chemical pollutants, specifically total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs).

Designed for continuous operation in domestic wet rooms, the dMEV delivers ultra-quiet performance, with independently tested sound levels as low as 7.4dB(A). Ideal for PAS 2035 energy efficiency retrofits, the Lo-Carbon PureAir Cleanse provides continuous whole-house extract ventilation to meet increased airflow requirements in line with Approved Document F (2021).

Intelligent air quality sensing automatically boosts extraction when pollutant or humidity levels rise, helping clear the air quickly while minimising nuisance tripping. Sophisticated fan logic ensures airflow increases are smooth and proportional for improved comfort and efficiency.

A patented delayed start comfort control option allows homeowners to enjoy a quiet bathroom for up to 20 minutes before the boost activates, while a three-minute light-switch delay helps prevent disturbance during nighttime use.

Installation is quick and flexible. The IPX5-rated unit can be wall and ceiling-mounted within Zones 1, 2 and 3, requiring only a 56mm ceiling void and featuring a 100mm spigot for easy retrofit. Meeting UBA air quality standards and backed by a seven-year warranty, the Lo-Carbon PureAir Cleanse is the next-generation dMEV solution electricians can trust.

To view the full range of products from Vent-Axia, please visit: www.vent-axia.com

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning, simply choose the correct answer from the following choices:

Q: What does the integrated IAQ sensor in the Lo-Carbon PureAir Cleanse detect?

A) Temperature changes

B) Total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs)

C) Light levels

Simply fill out the form below and tell us your answer for the chance to WIN!

Deadline for entries 31/03/26

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Vent-Axia has expanded its Dudley Manufacturing centre, located on the Blackbrook Valley Industrial Estate, Narrowboat Way.

The expansion increases capacity to support the anticipated uptick in demand for low-carbon ventilation. This significant investment provides Vent-Axia with a dedicated factory for its commercial and industrial ventilation range, alongside new equipment, additional warehouse space, and new members of staff, adding to its production team. These improvements will enhance production times and allow customers to benefit from shorter lead times.

As part of the expansion, Vent-Axia has increased production line capacity for its commercial and industrial ventilation products to meet increased demand for commercial products. A new production flow line now provides a streamlined production sequence moving products step-by-step through each stage of manufacture, boosting efficiency and increasing output at the Dudley site. Meanwhile, the additional warehouse space allows for greater stockholding of both finished units and parts.

“We are delighted to announce the expansion of our Dudley manufacturing facilities. The Future Homes Standard is to be published in the Autumn, and alongside this, we expect to see an uplift in Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations. This will drive demand for low-carbon ventilation. At Vent-Axia, our new Dudley facilities will ensure we are prepared and that customers will benefit from our increased capacity and the ability to order on demand direct from stock for fast delivery,” said Jason Pendlebury, Vent-Axia Sales Director – Commercial & Industrial.

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Wholesalers are witnessing a growth in Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) sales as households increasingly ask electricians for help tackling condensation and mould. PIV is a very effective solution that removes persistent mould and improves indoor air quality (IAQ) and so is a great product for electrical wholesalers to offer. Katie Mairs, Channel Marketing Manager at Vent-Axia, explains more.

Condensation, damp, and mould affect thousands of homes across the UK. More than just an eyesore, these problems can cause serious damage to properties, lead to extensive repairs, and even put health at risk. An ongoing issue for many households, Awaab’s Law has brought the risks of living in a mouldy home into sharp focus following the tragic death of two year old Awaab Ishak. As a result, households are asking electricians, who are completing work in their property, for help in tackling condensation and mould, as well as indoor air pollution. Positive Input Ventilation is a very effective solution that removes persistent mould and improves IAQ and so is a great product for electrical wholesalers to offer.

So, what is Positive Input Ventilation? Ideal for existing properties, PIV offers a whole house ventilation solution that can be installed in the loft. The technology gives wholesalers a highly effective option to offer electricians to help their customers to control condensation and mould in their homes. Designed to remove stale, moist air from the home and replace it with filtered, drier air, PIV prevents moisture buildup that can cause condensation and mould, improving IAQ.

Tackling condensation and mould

Ventilation is condensation and mould’s biggest enemy since it tackles the root cause: moisture in the air. By removing moisture from the air, condensation cannot settle on cold surfaces and mould cannot grow, removing the problem at the source. PIV also provides whole house air purification and humidity control, which adds up to a great solution for electrical wholesalers. Operating by drawing in warm, fresh air from the loft, PIV units, such as Vent-Axia’s PureAir Home, filter all incoming air via high-grade ISO ePM10 or ePM2.5 filters before gently introducing it into habitable areas of a property via a ceiling-mounted diffuser. The diffuser directs the airflow upwards, where the incoming drier air mixes with the warm, moist air that gathers at ceiling height. Providing filtered, tempered air (heater model only) into the home, which is drier than the inside air, the PureAir Home creates an indoor environment where condensation and mould find it hard to exist. This improves IAQ and quickly eradicates conditions that lead to mould growth and associated health issues, such as asthma and itchy skin, as well as avoiding the damaging effects on the building.

Happy households

PIV units like Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon PureAir Home are highly energy efficient, unobtrusive, near silent, and help provide a healthy environment. Once installed in a loft, a PIV unit will operate without the household even noticing it is running due to its quiet operation. There are PIV units now available that are near silent in operation; for example, at the point of supply into the house the PureAir Home is almost inaudible. The unit will continuously ventilate silently in the background whilst in ‘Trickle’ mode.

Wholesalers can also reassure their customers that PIV units won’t cause irritating cool draughts either. Many units come with an energy-efficient comfort heater which tempers the incoming air. However, every home is different. This makes fine control of air velocity and heat temperature essential to eliminate cold draughts. Vent-Axia’s PureAir Home, therefore features Smart Sense technology, which allows for 1l/s or 1ºC adjustments to ensure a home’s ideal thermal comfort. Plus, once the unit automatically senses excess heat being lost into the loft, the airflow will increase to ‘Energy Recovery’ mode to recover heat that would otherwise be lost through the roof.

Finally, in the current energy climate, households will be happy to know that the PureAir Home features a quiet-running Lo-Carbon motor and ultra-low power consumption, which works out typically less than a traditional lightbulb to run. Plus, the unit is also made using recycled material, offering a more sustainable choice for households.

Happy installers

Electrical Wholesalers can be assured that PIV offers a simple install for their customers. Vent-Axia’s PureAir home is uniquely flexible offering two installation methods, high-sided anti-vibration legs and a hanging set come as standard, allowing it to be installed quickly in any size loft. If installed on the floor, Vent-Axia’s PureAir Home features unique anti-vibration legs and mounts that eliminate the vibration caused when PIV units are fixed to the joists in the loft, reducing any noise.

Easy to fit, installer safety was a key driver when designing Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon PureAir Home. With the unit sized to fit all standard loft hatches, the PureAir Home is a lightweight one-man-lift, with an easy-grip top-mounted handle moulded into the main body, which makes transporting the unit into the loft simple and safer.

Vent-Axia’s PureAir Home is also supplied with a purpose designed diffuser to be located over the stairwell of a conventional dwelling, in the main hall of a bungalow, in the landing or hallway. The four point contact easy fit technology allows fast and repeatable ‘drill free’ installation. Once installed using Smart Sense Technology the unit is easily set to the appropriate speed at installation based on the size of the dwelling.

Helping provide a healthier indoor environment for households, PIV proactively prevents condensation and mould while combating a wider range of indoor air pollutants. Ticking all the right boxes for electricians too, electrical wholesalers can be confident that Vent-Axia’s PureAir Home PIV will tackle condensation and mould, offer easy install, and ensure homeowner satisfaction, so fewer callbacks.

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Vent-Axia’s Tempest SmartDry high-speed hand dryer is the ideal energy efficient hand-drying solution for commercial spaces.

It hygienically dries hands helping protect users against winter colds and flu thanks to its built-in HEPA filter that removes over 99.9% of dirt, dust and pollen from the air passing through, and its innovative antimicrobial cover. The cover is infused with silver ions that eliminate bacteria and fingerprints and has over 99.9% proven anti-bacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Available in black, white and silver, the Tempest SmartDry provides efficient hand drying with low power consumption and a short drying time of just 10 to 15 seconds. Its patented noise-cancelling technology makes it one of the quietest fast hand dryers available since its clever air inlet design minimises sound generation delivering noise levels as low as 70dBA at 1m.

Easy to install, service and maintain, the Tempest SmartDry’s plug-in back plate allows the dryer body to be quickly and simply attached and detached without requiring an electrician. Air speed, sensor range and power output can all be adjusted easily with a Phillips screwdriver without the need to dismantle the dryer from wall. The dryer keeps facilities managers informed too with its intuitive, colour-coded, smart LED indicator which displays operation and maintenance status allowing continued optimisation of performance.

To view the full range of products from Vent-Axia, please visit: www.vent-axia.com

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning a High-Speed Hand Dryer, a Vent-Axia PureAir Room 500X air purifier and £50 Amazon Voucher simply choose the correct answer from the following choices:

Q. Which Tempest SmartDry feature helps improve hygiene?

A) Air inlet design

B) Anti-bacterial cover

C) Smart LED indicator

Simply fill out the form below and tell us your answer for the chance to WIN!

Deadline for entries 30/04/25

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Vent-Axia is delighted to have won an award at the prestigious CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2024.

The Sussex-based company won the ‘Product or Innovation of the Year – Air Quality’ category for its Sentinel Apex, the next generation of commercial heat recovery ventilation. The winners were announced at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 29 February 2024 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

The CIBSE Building Performance Awards (BPAs) 2024 recognises the people, products and projects that demonstrate engineering excellence in the built environment. They are the only industry awards that focus on actual, measured performance outcomes, and not just design intent or performance specifications. Vent-Axia beat stiff competition in the ‘Product or Innovation of the Year – Air Quality’ category. After a rigorous judging process, the judges selected the Sentinel Apex, which they noted supplies fresh, healthy, filtered air to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), removing pollutants such as moisture, carbon dioxide and external fumes.

“We are very proud that our Vent-Axia Sentinel Apex has been recognised by the CIBSE Building Performance Awards. This marks the third industry award for the innovative Sentinel Apex since its launch in November 2023. We understand the challenges that come with designing low-carbon buildings, which means every aspect has been considered in the Apex’s development to maximise its energy efficiency and performance, while providing excellent IAQ, ultra-low sound levels and thermal comfort. We have also designed the Apex to have a low embodied carbon footprint and to help consultants we have used CIBSE TM65 data collection methodology to provide accurate and detailed carbon information”, said Lorna Kerrigan-Hall, Sales Director C&I at Vent-Axia.

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Households are increasingly asking electricians for quiet fans so that they can enjoy a peaceful home environment. Silent fans are therefore a great opportunity for wholesalers to upsell and provide electricians with the quiet fans they need. However, with many low noise fans now on the market, how can wholesalers advise installers on how to select the right fan for the job and pick a fan that really is low noise? Lena Hebestreit, Marketing Manager at Vent-Axia, explains more.

Silence sells… In increasingly busy times households are looking for a peaceful home environment to relax in. As a result, demand for quieter products in the home is still on the rise. According to a recent National Noise Report from Quiet Mark, 82% of adults surveyed said it matters how loud an appliance is when buying a product, something for electrical wholesalers to consider. The Quiet Mark National Noise Report 2023 also revealed that 84% of respondents said it is important to have quiet time to recharge themselves and what better place to recharge than an oasis of calm in a peaceful bathroom.

It is true that eliminating the damaging and unhealthy effects of condensation and mould is an essential role of bathroom ventilation, but this alone is no longer enough. Households want to be able to take a relaxing bath or shower without the constant drone of a noisy fan. Quiet fans are therefore becoming an increasingly popular fan to stock for wholesalers.

Choosing a quiet fan

However, with a wide range of low noise fans now on the market the question is what features should wholesalers look out for when deciding which silent fans to stock on their shelves? There are many fans on the market that claim to be quiet but what actually is quiet when it comes to fan noise?

A good place to start when selecting which quiet fans to stock is to check the sound level in decibels [dB(A)]. An average extract fan operates at 35dB(A). This is loud in a confined space. Fortunately, there are now fans on the market that are only slightly louder than the sound of a pin dropping. For example, Vent-Axia uses its own sound laboratory to ensure the fans it designs are exceptionally quiet with its Silent Fan range offering ultra-low sounds levels of just 12dB(A), quieter than a whisper. Meanwhile the Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Svara runs at only 17dB(A) on low trickle and the Vent-Axia PureAir Sense offers silent continuous operation at just 19dB(A).

The Silent Fan and the Svara have both been awarded a Quiet Mark, the independent global certification programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation, which recognises the quietest solutions to unwanted noise. Third-party accreditation like this is a useful selling tool for wholesalers. To check whether a quiet fan has a Quiet Mark award wholesalers can visit the online directory at www.quietmark.com.

Reducing sound levels

There are other ways of reducing sound levels too. When recommending fans to customers, ensure the fan fits the needs of the room, do not oversize a fan. The more powerful a fan, potentially the noisier it will be. Select fans with high efficiency motors since the ball bearing technology used in them offers smoother and therefore quieter performance. They will also last longer, meaning the fan won’t become noisier over time. Meanwhile, variable speed models make installation simple since electricians can easily adjust the speed depending on the individual needs of the project, ensuring the right fan every time. This is especially helpful with long duct runs since the fan can be altered to achieve the required airflow. Usually more airflow means more noise, but fans like the Silent Fan stay quiet even with longer duct runs and higher air flow.

Other great features to reduce noise include clever light sensors that recognise room occupancy through light movement and shadows; a delay-on feature that can be set to avoid the fan being triggered in the night during quick bathroom visits; and fans that don’t trigger at ambient humidity changes in the night. Visual silence is also in demand so for customers preferring a silent aesthetic, the Vent-Axia Silent Fan now has a discrete tile like version while the PureAir Sense offers minimal styling, clean lines and an optional cover that complements any modern bathroom.

Indoor Air Quality 

Silence is not the only comfort issue in demand. Households are now more aware than ever of the air they breathe because of Covid. This means consumer demand for fans that make a real difference to indoor air quality (IAQ) are an essential. Whilst many fans effectively improve IAQ, there are smart fans that offer app controllability for easy commissioning and to allow households to control their ventilation as well as a host of other clever features. For example, an innovative app available with the Svara and PureAir Sense allows households to control their ventilation from the comfort of their sofa unlocking a whole range of different functions to control their home’s IAQ, such as a silent scheduling and automatic cycles, offering flexible ventilation to suit a household’s lifestyle. Furthermore, the PureAir Sense deploys Odour Sense Technology. Designed to improve IAQ, the fan increases airflow when the sensor detects when air in a home is poor, creating a comfortable living environment.

As our lives become more frenetic the desire for a calm healthy home environment is only going to grow. Wholesalers who stock fans which offer silent operation as well as additional features such as odour sense technology, app control, variable speed options and intelligent sensors can be sure that they have the right solution for their customers every time.

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Vent-Axia has launched the new Sentinel Apex commercial heat recovery ventilation range to improve indoor air quality and help specifiers create low carbon buildings as we head towards the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target.

The range has been designed to be highly energy efficient with low SFP and embodied carbon, through using CIBSE TM65 data collection methodology, and offers up to 93% heat recovery efficiency alongside ultra-low sound levels. Sentinel Apex’s intuitive controls are compatible with the Sentinel-X Sensors range and together monitor occupancy and air quality. To ensure highest levels of IAQ, Apex features ePM10 50% extract and ePM1 55% supply filters as standard.

An ideal solution to tackle overheating buildings, Apex features an automatic summer bypass designed to provide free cooling when available but is sized to eliminate performance loss. Specifiers can choose from five sizes delivering airflows up to 4000m3/hr.

As Apex operates on the principles of demand ventilation, it is ideal for applications where the rooms are used at different times of the day.

Designed to avoid complexity, the advanced control system has three levels of interface as standard. The onboard user interface controller incorporates a two line display with four button keypad for fan status and basic commissioning setup. Wired and wireless communication sensors are available with local mains or battery powered options.

Standard features include side and bottom access panels and a fitted condensate tray with an internal quiet running pump. Additionally, the Sentinel Apex is manufactured with double-skin construction and acoustic infill and an electric frost protection heater.

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