Polypipe Ventilation is pleased to announce that its Domus Radial semi-rigid duct systems have been third party proven to maximise whole-house ventilation system performance, especially when used with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) in larger properties.
Tested by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) for inclusion within the Product Characteristics Database (previously SAP Appendix Q), Domus Radial was not only found to be equivalent to traditional rigid ducting in smaller builds but actually exceeded the performance in properties with four or more wet rooms / kitchen.
Domus Radial (patents pending) was introduced by Polypipe Ventilation as a versatile alternative to traditional branch-based ducting systems and offers customers less air leakage, increased air flow, easier installation and commissioning, as well as elimination of room to room cross talk and a reduction in air noise.
In line with Polypipe Ventilation’s commitment to continuous product development, additional enhancements have recently been made to Domus Radial to further strengthen its customer appeal and encourage widespread use of this innovative ducting system.
The new Domus Radial system has been designed to allow each room vent to be fixed directly to an inlet/outlet plenum with optional twin duct connections. The plenum is then served by a single or tandem duct run which connects securely to a manifold, acting as an air distribution hub. The manifold is then directly linked to a centralised appliance – this being either an MVHR or Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) unit.
An optional integral flow control device has been introduced to enable the inlet/outlet plenum to be connected directly to a stylish grille, taking away the need for a room-mounted adjustable air valve and giving designers the opportunity to match interior décor schemes. This clever design also allows for first fix commissioning to be carried out in advance of construction of the finished ceiling, providing peace of mind that the required air flow rates will be achieved while the duct system is still accessible. Another advantage is that the flow control device cannot be easily tampered with by the occupant, which could negatively impact system performance.
Domus Radial is supplied as pre-selected house packs for ease of specification and ordering, but now greater flexibility is possible with the opportunity to upgrade and mix and match internal terminals with the aesthetically pleasing architectural grilles. The grilles are available in a variety of styles to complement the property type and interior design.
To complement the range and as well as expanding the field of application, Polypipe Ventilation has also launched two new accessories for use with Domus Radial: a 250mm long FireBrake fire-stopping sleeve to prevent the spread of flames through openings in walls and ceilings made for the ducting; and bespoke Radial duct insulation, to prevent the formation of condensation when the duct runs from the warm to cold areas of a property.
These latest developments complement Domus Radial’s new slim-line manifold, launched at Ecobuild this Spring. At 125mm in depth, the new manifold is ideal for installation between joists or in tight spaces. The smaller manifold size also allows for greater choice on location, removing the need to place the manifold adjacent to the centralised MVHR or MEV appliance.
Because of the flexibility of the Ø75mm semi-rigid duct, Domus Radial systems can be used in all domestic properties, but are particularly suited to larger houses where modern methods of construction may make traditional ducting problematic, e.g. as a result of poor access to voids, or where multiple room extraction is required.
Domus Radial is specifically designed for use with whole house centralised ventilation appliances including Polypipe’s award winning Silavent Green Line HRX range of MVHR units and the Silavent Green Line CMX MEV unit.
Polypipe Ventilation is at the forefront in delivering energy-efficient solutions and plays a vital role in helping customers to achieve the higher levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes by supplying Energy Saving Trust best practice compliant products as part of a fully specifiable solutions package. Polypipe Ventilation’s product offering is backed up with a range of support services, from technical support, web site tools and literature through to BPEC approved installer training.
