Building regulations throughout the UK and Ireland require the proper ventilation of domestic properties.

Approve Document F (ventilation): As part of the government’s commitment to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, changes to building regulations on ventilation came into force on October 2010. Specific requirements for ventilation state that there “...shall be adequate means of ventilation provided for people in the building.”

The heat recovery ventilation system installed by Surevent complies with the developments in Part F by using proven technology and energy efficient systems to achieve this.

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is a new risk assessment tool used to assess potential risks to the health and safety of occupants in residential properties in England and Wales. It affects owners and landlords, including social landlords.

The HHSRS focuses on the hazards that are most likely to be present in housing to ensure homes are healthier and safer to live in. To be a decent home, a dwelling should be free from category 1 (serious) hazard.

It is the duty of private landlords and managing agents to assess their property to determine whether there is a serious hazard that may cause a health risk to tenants. They are advised to carry out improvements to reduce the risks.

Overall, there are 29 hazards arranged into four main groups reflecting basic health requirements. If Mould growth is identified as a category 1 hazard then it must be dealt with.

Surevent supplies a range of passive ventilation and mechanical ventilation systems, which are required by Part F regulations and reduce damp and mould.

Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, “Workplaces need to be adequately ventilated. Fresh, clean air should be drawn from a source outside the workplace, uncontaminated by discharges from flues, chimneys or other process outlets, and be circulated through the workrooms.” Therefore, it is the duty of employers to provide ventilation that removes and dilutes warm, humid air without causing a draught. The Workplace Regulations require employers to install mechanical ventilation systems where necessary and ensure they are regularly maintained.

The term “workplace” applies to factories, shops, offices, schools, hospitals, hotels, and places of entertainment, in addition to parts of shared buildings.

Mechanical ventilation ensures stale, moist air is extracted at the source.

A heat recovery ventilation system with filters replaces the air with fresh, clean, filtered air without loss of heat from the premises.

Energy efficiency should be a priority for all businesses trying to reduce their environmental impact. Heat is lost through open windows, extractor fans and trickle vents, which can cause an increase in your heating bill of up to 40%—not to mention the impact on global warming and ozone depletion.

Heat recovery ventilation systems (HRVSs) can not only save you money by retaining up to 95% of otherwise lost heat in your property, but ensure fresh, filtered air is supplied throughout the home.

Homes can no longer “breathe” now that they are highly insulated and airtight. Tom Entwistle, editor for LandlordZone, says “Homes have become effectively sealed boxes, keeping in any moisture produced within the house and providing ideal conditions for condensation to occur.”

As humidity rises and condensation occurs, an increase in mould growth and the dust mite population takes place within the home. The solution is to ventilate as Entwistle suggests: “Ventilation is only effective if it is consistent throughout the whole envelope of the house.”

The same rule applies to the workplace. Damp and condensation, if not addressed, lead to poor health and building damage, resulting in expensive remodelling costs and perhaps a lower market value.

Mechanical ventilation not only reduces dust levels, but by lowering relative humidity to below 70%, eliminates the conditions that dust mites need to survive. In addition, mechanical ventilation ensures stale, moist air is extracted at the source.

A heat recovery ventilation system (HRVS) ensures fresh, filtered air is supplied throughout the home.

Dust mites and their droppings are known allergens. Many people with asthma are sensitive to the droppings of house dust mites.

Asthma causes the airways of the lungs to become inflamed and swollen. It is a common illness, affecting over 5 million people in the UK. Medical research shows that common triggers include pollen, house dust mites, mould, and animal fur. Filtering these allergens from the air reduces their levels within the home, which can alleviate asthma symptoms.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)and other pollutants also build up. Indoor air quality has never been so poor for the occupants, and this can lead to discomfort, tiredness, headaches, and allergic symptoms.

Whether you suffer from asthma, hay fever, or allergies, experts all agree on one thing: adequate ventilation in the home will improve symptoms.

Using a heat recovery ventilation system (HRVS) with filters replaces the air with fresh, clean, filtered air, which can lead to symptoms being reduced.

There are many disagreeable odours that can accumulate in the home, for example, cooking odours, tobacco smoke, pet odours, dust, and pollen. All or just one of these odours can make your home unpleasant and unwelcoming to visitors.

Mechanical ventilation extracts odours from the source to make your home a clean environment.

Most individuals do not feel entirely safe leaving windows open within a home (especially at night). They believe leaving a window or door open to your home is like leaving an invitation for a burglar to visit.

If you live on a main road, the sound of constant traffic can be a big problem. Noise from airplanes, trains, road works, neighbours, and construction work can also be irritating.

Heat recovery ventilation systems (HRVSs) provide fresh, clean air to the property without the need to leave windows open, thereby reducing noise and the possible security risk.