Gilberts develops hybrid ventilation for the roof
Gilberts Blackpool has introduced a roof-mounted version of its Mistrale Fusion System, described as a hybrid system that utilises internal heat to warm incoming air without using a heat exchanger. Called MFS-V, it incorporates two Fusion MFS128 units placed vertically into a penthouse turret with a shaft of up to 1500 mm2 to provide standalone ventilation of the space below. No additional ducting or plant is required.
The concept has been applied at eight schools being built in the Midlands. They have sunken-garden break-out spaces over single-storey classrooms that are surrounded by a 2-storey building. The single-storey enclosed classrooms are ventilated by MFS-V units in the sunken gardens.
Technical director Roy Jones explains, ‘We originally devised it to answer the bespoke needs of the Midlands schools, but soon realised it had a much wider potential, so we have invested in it to bring it to market as a specific product.’
One MFS-V roof unit can ventilate a 32-person classroom, achieving the 8 l/s per person required by the current Department of Education Building Bulletin (BB101) and PBSP guidelines. Fan costs are less than £5 per room per year, at 2016 electricity prices.
A mixing damper modulates airflow to mix fresh air with warm exhaust air, with control over temperature and CO2.
A wholly natural version (MFS-VN) is available — without the mixing damper.
Operational noise is less than 30 dB(A), and these units have been engineered to absorb external noise to keep within the classroom criteria required by BB93.
