Gilberts self-ventilating eco solution for BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated building

Gilberts has recently helped to turn Calderdale’s new multi-million pound Central Library & Archives in Halifax into a highly sustainable building

Gilberts self-ventilating eco solution

Calderdale Council’s BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated building designed by LDN Architects utilises sustainable strategies to reduce its carbon footprint. 

Through engineering innovation from Blackpool-based Gilberts, the edifice is self-ventilating, even for the vast amount of plant required to service the four-storey building, through the use of BMS controlled actuated dampers within the facade and at roof level.

Roy Jones, Gilberts’ Technical Director: “Ensuring an appropriate, fresh internal environment for occupants and contents was a significant challenge. We needed to design solutions that would discreetly blend with the architecture, yet ensure adequate fresh air inside for people using the building, adequate removal of moisture to protect the contents as well as expel all the excess heat from the IT suites.”

Mistrale 75 glazed natural ventilation units

As a result, 65 no Mistrale 75 glazed natural ventilation units were specified and fitted by GRAHAM Construction, with acoustic attenuation and LTHW heat coils to warm incoming air. 

With the main atrium acting as a passive stack, the warm, used air is drawn through and vented through the roof, via 8no purpose-designed and constructed penthouse roof terminals. The 7 main penthouse terminals also incorporate Gilberts’ Mistrale 75 natural ventilation control dampers to insulate and further optimise extraction ranging in size from 2m x 1.4m x 0.75m to 6m x 2.2m x 1.5m; a further giant T shaped penthouse terminal was designed to cover 3 separate shafts in one unit and measured 8m x 6m x 1.5m.

Gilberts’ Mistrale ventilation dampers

The Gilberts’ Mistrale ventilation dampers – used in the Library’s façade and most of the roof penthouses- deliver the best combined performance for U-values and air leakage of its type, surpassing current and medium-term future regulatory requirements. 

Gilberts hasn’t just ventilated the inside of the building though. In line with Calderdale Council’s requirements for the building, GRAHAM Construction commissioned Gilberts to design and fabricate louvre screening to protect and visually hide the roof level plant equipment – one roofed, measuring 19m x 8.5m x 2.3m, and one open, measuring 5m x 4m x 2.3m.

Contact:

Gilberts of Blackpool,
Gilair Works,
Clifton Road,
Blackpool,
FY4 40T

Phone: 01253 766911
Fax: 01253 767941

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