The Sussex-based company scooped an award for its Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow within the ‘Domestic Ventilation Product of the Year’ category at the HVR Awards 2024. Designed to help housebuilders manage overheating in new homes, the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow is Vent-Axia’s latest flagship mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system combined with its intelligent Econiq Cool-Flow Module.
Vent-Axia received the accolade at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 12th September at London’s Chelsea Harbour Hotel. Organised by Heating and Ventilating Review (HVR) magazine, the HVR Awards has been championing innovation, excellence and achievement across the heating and ventilating industry for fifteen years. Attended by influential heating and ventilation specialists from across the whole supply chain, this year English actor Shaun Williamson was the host for the evening, presenting the awards to winners at the HVR Awards.
“We are delighted that the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow has been recognised by the industry for its innovation at the prestigious HVR Awards. As temperatures rise and homes become more thermally efficient, housebuilders are finding it difficult to achieve the requirements set out to mitigate the overheating risk in Part O and TM59 standards. To help solve these challenges we designed the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow which combines all the benefits of our market-leading mechanical ventilation with heat recovery with our intelligent Econiq Cool-Flow Module,” said Steve Pearce, Product Manager at Vent-Axia.
Vent-Axia beat stiff competition this year to win the ‘Domestic Ventilation Product of the Year’ category with the standard of entries said to be exceptionally high. After a rigorous judging process, the judges selected the innovative Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow, which helps tackle both indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort challenges in new homes. As global temperatures rise and homes become ever more air tight to reduce carbon emissions, new build residential properties are increasingly overheating. Designed to mitigate overheating conditions in warmer temperatures, the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow improves IAQ while delivering the highest level of thermal comfort.
Offering powerful cooling the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow lowers fresh air supply temperature from ambient temperatures by up to 21 ºC utilizing R32 refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 675, over 50% lower than R134a. Boasting an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) up to 4.12, with best-in-class Specific Fan Powers (SFPs) and thermal efficiencies up to 93% the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow features intelligent controls that automatically switch between heat recovery, summer bypass, and active cooling (via the intelligent Econiq Cool-Flow Module), continuously measuring internal and external temperatures to maintain comfort thresholds efficiently.
Providing year-round comfort, in the cooler months households can benefit from the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow providing up to 93% heat recovery ensuring heating bills are kept to a minimum. In the warmer months the unit’s intelligent 100% summer bypass will ensure free cooling is used wherever possible so that the internal comfort temperature is not exceeded. However, if the summer bypass is unable to use free cooling to reach the required comfort temperature the intelligent Econiq Cool-Flow Module can automatically activate at 24ºC to prevent overheating and meet the requirements of Residential Part O ‘Overheating’ and CIBSE’ TM59 standards, providing up to 3.78kW of cooling.
The Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow’s new intelligent Sentinel-X Control platform features a wide array of sensors and controls including Sentinel-X Wireless Temperature Sensors available for enhanced performance. The Sentinel control logic built within the MVHR ensures the system operates optimally with automated functions such as its built-in intelligent humidistat, frost protection and summer bypass, providing comfort in the home.
Featuring market-leading connectivity, the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow is controlled by the innovative Vent-Axia Connect smartphone app as standard. This provides households with year-round control of their ventilation from the comfort of their sofas and allows a multitude of functions to be adjusted. With smart-phone compatible controls, homeowners have the flexibility to increase the ventilation rate during hot periods in the summer or reduce the speed to minimise running costs while away. The app is available for free on iOS and Android.
Households will also be pleased that the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow is one of the quietest combined MVHR and cooling systems on the market with independently tested and verified sound data by SRL. Designed with 200mm spigots to minimise noise levels ensuring low system pressures, the range is also developed with an integral acoustic enclosure, made of steel, foam and expanded polypropylene (EPP), minimising breakout noise. The highly efficient motors are mounted on anti-vibration mounts to mitigate vibration transmission too.
Versatile to install, Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow is a self-contained solution designed to fit within a POD or standard utility cupboard with wall mounted and floor standing options available. To provide maximum cooling the connection to the unit is made via the 200mm spigots and Vent-Axia’s Thermflow ducting which has a thermal conductivity of no less than 0.038 W/(m·K).
The Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow’s MHVR filter options provide numerous benefits including improving IAQ by removing allergens and particulate matter. They also maintain the system’s energy efficiency, reduce heating and cooling costs, and enhance longevity of the system. An ISO 60% Coarse (G4) filter is supplied as standard. To further improve IAQ ISO ePM 10 50% (M5) and ePM2.5 70% (F7) filtration options are available.
The Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow helps ensure homes remain cool, comfortable, and energy-efficient.
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