GEZE The natural choice for ventilation

Renewed focus on sustainability during a time of austerity has brought an end to the UK’s love affair with air conditioning. Blamed for many office flu bugs and expensive to run as well as having a big environmental impact, air conditioning is losing popularity. GEZE UK's managing director Andrew Hall take a look at why natural ventilation is back in vogue. With 50 years experience providing natural ventilation and smoke venting solutions for buildings across the world, GEZE is now working with architects and specifiers in the UK to address today’s development issues, and explain how legislation is making this area anything but transparent. A window is an integral part of a building’s structure, and plays a huge role in many important functions. Combining life safety requirements with low energy and fuel consumption can prove challenging. Doc L of the Building Regulations requires a reduction in the heating and cooling of air and the specification is increasing, so soon triple glazing and gas filling will be pre-requisite. EN12101 Part 2 looks at the life safety requirements and how a window must play a significant role in venting smoke in case of fire. This dual role must be fully understood before specification and a suitable product selected, but architects are also looking for aesthetic designs, and easy use for end-users. Automatic devices may provide the answer. A window used for natural ventilation has to enable free air flow, but if it is also needed to provide an intake of clean air to keep escape routes clear of toxic fumes and smoke, the size of each vent has to be, in general, much bigger to provide adequate free air flow. In this situation, windows would need to be automated and integrated with the building fire alarm system, so they would automatically open if the alarm was activated. Automatic systems can also reduce the need for excessive heating and cooling, working with the building management system to open and close the windows to maintain a near-constant temperature. Not only this but all elements of the window hardware must work together to ensure the window is secure and sealed efficiently. All quality manufacturers will ensure their products are tested to the highest European standards, but it’s also important to test them as part of a complete set. At GEZE we test complete sets using mainstream profile systems to ensure our products comply with EN12101 Part 2 Architects looking for aesthetics, certification, efficiency and durability are now also looking to cut costs, but with such important legislation to consider, making the wrong choice could prove to be costly. It’s easy to over-specify and pay more than required, but also easy to under-specify and find that the building isn’t fit for purpose. Specialist advice is crucial, but who can you trust? I believe it’s essential to work with architects to help make the right choices straight from the start, saving time, saving energy and saving lives.

For more information on GEZE The natural choice for ventilation talk to GEZE UK Ltd