Vent-Axia’s Embodied Carbon Calculations for Commercial Heat Recovery Aid Building Design

To help with the design of low and zero-carbon buildings, leading ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has completed its embodied carbon calculations on its product portfolio.

This includes its CIBSE award-winning Sentinel Apex, the next generation of commercial heat recovery, which is set to help specifiers create low-carbon buildings as we head towards the UK’s 2050 net-zero target. Sentinel Apex was developed from the outset with equal consideration to operational performance and whole-life-costing, and this is visible in the data available for the product.

Embodied carbon calculations have been carried out in accordance with the latest CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Engineers) ‘TM65 Embodied Carbon in Building Services: A Calculation Methodology (2021)’ digital tool requirements. This enables Vent-Axia to provide basic-level report figures for all its products and the company is now working towards the completion of more comprehensive and independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its products.

TM65 is an internationally-applicable methodology for the calculation of embodied carbon in building services engineering. With the methodology, embodied carbon is understood as the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacture of a product, its installation, maintenance, repair, replacement, and end-of-life. It covers the whole life cycle, excluding operational aspects and the potential recovery, reuse or recycling of materials. 

The CIBSE-Award winning Sentinel Apex has led the way with TM65 in the Vent-Axia product portfolio. 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.

This was recognised at last year’s CIBSE Awards with the judges highlighting the Sentinel Apex’s local sourcing and manufacturing in a low-energy facility that delivers on Vent-Axia’s low-carbon manufacturing claims, with the judges praising the company for providing excellent resources – including BIM, TM65 and sizing information – to help with correct application and sizing.

Louise McHugh, C&I Product Manager at Vent-Axia, comments: “Designing low-carbon buildings presents many challenges so we want to make things as easy as possible for specifiers. We’ve designed the Sentinel Apex to help specifiers on their decarbonisation journey, with every aspect considered in its development to maximise its energy efficiency and performance, while providing excellent IAQ, ultra-low sound levels and thermal comfort.

“Furthermore, we have used CIBSE TM65 data collection methodology to provide accurate and detailed carbon information, demonstrating the Sentinel Apex’s low embodied carbon footprint to help consultants make informed decisions.”

As an increasing number of projects now require life cycle assessments to ensure that buildings are sustainable through all stages of design, Vent-Axia is committed to providing details of its products’ embodied carbon, hence why the company undertook a Type II environmental declaration (self-certified) using CIBSE’s TM65 Embodied Carbon in Building Services: A Calculation Methodology (2021).

Looking forward, Vent-Axia is next aiming to achieve a Type III environmental declarations for its products. The company is endeavouring to attain Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) which provide quantified and independently verified environmental information over the life cycle of goods and services. This will provide its customers total peace of mind that Vent-Axia’s embodied carbon data has been third-party verified.

Vent-Axia’s Sentinel Apex commercial heat recovery ventilation helps specifiers create low-carbon buildings. It supplies fresh, healthy, filtered air to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), removing pollutants such as moisture, carbon dioxide and external fumes, and has been designed to be highly energy efficient with industry-leading low specific fan powers (SFP) and low embodied carbon. Occupant comfort has also been a priority in its development with the Sentinel Apex operating quietly as it efficiently improves IAQ. Meanwhile, to make specification simpler for consultants, the Sentinel Apex also features many components and controls as standard.

The Sentinel Apex delivers the highest level of IAQ and thermal comfort with the lowest energy and noise levels. Offering up to 93% heat recovery efficiency (EN308 test method), alongside ultra-low sound levels, which are independently tested and verified by SRL Technical Services Ltd (Also known as Sound Research Laboratories), and extremely low SFP, results 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. 

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. 

UK-manufactured, the supply chain involved is as short as possible. The Sentinel Apex is also completely serviceable and maintainable. Key components can be removed and replaced easily on-site as all panels are removable by a single operator. The Sentinel 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 new Sentinel Apex get in touch with the Vent-Axia Commercial and Industrial sales team: [email protected].

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