By Nicola Rivers, indoor climate specialist at Zehnder Group UK
Overheating is a real problem in residential buildings. When properties exceed a temperature threshold of 26°C for extended periods it can seriously affect occupant thermal comfort, health and wellbeing as well as productivity.
Within the UK Building Regulations, Approved Document Part O provides guidance to building designers on mitigating overheating in residential buildings and reducing these effects. Its prescriptive approach to optimising glazing, solar shading and natural ventilation clearly outlines preferred solutions to keeping a building cool.
But problems occur when external factors, such as security, noise and pollution, dictate that passive ventilation can’t be used to control internal temperatures and then Part O lists alternative means - from acoustic façade vents and mechanical ventilation to mechanical cooling.
Combining ventilation with active cooling can offer a low carbon solution to overheating issues in residential properties and can be designed in conjunction with dynamic thermal modelling.
Zehnder Group UK is an expert in overheating. We approach each project utilising our international expertise and offer a range of air distribution systems, some of which are complete standalone solutions and others which are combined, to deliver the required level of cooling capacity for the build, including ventilation and humidity control.
Our flagship solution, the Zehnder ComfoAir Q600 with ComfoClime, addresses overheating using tempered-air technology, making it perfect for new builds contending with environmental obstacles such as noise pollution or lack of shade.
Zehnder introduced this approach to cooling over 15 years ago and continues to evolve and develop the product to make it the best on the market to tackle residential overheating.
The system integrates heating, cooling, and ventilation functionalities, adhering to Part O/TM59 standards across a range of settings, from residential to care homes. Its innovative features, notably a reversible heat pump module, guarantee energy-efficient performance throughout the year.
Its use of the lower GWP refrigerant R32 within an efficient, sealed cycle also minimises environmental impact and this will remain compliant after 2025. The first system on the market to achieve this.
The Zehnder ComfoAir Q600 with ComfoClime also incorporates Zehnder’s ClimateSwitch technology, meaning the seasons merge silently. Using external and internal sensors, Zehnder's ventilation technology cools and heats intuitively, at the right time and always with fresh filtered outside air. This provides pleasant temperatures in summer and comfortable warmth in winter as well as ventilated, clean air supply for a healthy and comfortable climate all year round.
This solution can be seamlessly integrated into various building projects, effectively streamlining overheating concerns, delivering a 'fit for purpose' product for diverse construction projects and ensuring cost-effective and efficient planning and implementation.
For more information visit: www.zehnder.co.uk/en/sectors-knowledge/topics/overheating
