Titon jumps 'Q' with ultra-efficient ventilation

A Titon product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Sep 3, 2008

Titon Q Plus range of ultra-efficient powered ventilation products brought under one banner to make specification easy.

The Titon Q Plus range, performance tested and certified by the BRE, allows the specific product performance to be used in SAP calculations via Appendix Q in place of the ventilation system default figures, allowing the exceptional performance benefits of Q Plus products to be reflected in the SAP and carbon emission ratings.

So what's behind the range of Q Plus Products?.

Paul Rainbird, Titon's Operations Manager says: "Part L of the Building Regulations requires all new homes to undergo a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) to calculate the energy consumption and carbon emissions of each dwelling".

"Revisions to both Part L and SAP have raised performance demands to a level that provides a strong incentive to utilise ventilation systems that reduce energy demand".

"At Titon we wanted to make it easy to recognise which of our products met the demands of the SAP Q process, providing exceptional performance for the benefit of the builder and the future occupant".

The SAP test calculates the energy consumed by a ventilation system, known as "specific fan power" (SFP).

This is expressed in Watts per litre of air moved per second (W/l/s).

For heat recovery systems, the efficiency of the heat exchange is tested and this is expressed as a percentage of the heat returned to the incoming air.

The current minimum requirements for a listing on the SAP Appendix Q website are a SFP of 0.8 W/l/s for continuous mechanical extract ventilation and 2 W/l/s for heat recovery systems.

To be entered into a SAP calculation using Appendix Q, continuous mechanical ventilation with or without heat recovery, products have to be independently tested by the BRE or an approved independent test house, and be featured on the sap-appendixq.org.uk website, which provides a searchable database of performance data.

However, Paul Rainbird adds a few words of caution.

He said: "It is not always necessary to use a SAP Q ventilation product to achieve an appropriate SAP rating and comply with Building Regulations or the improvement in energy performance required by the Code for Sustainable Homes".

"In fact it is often not necessary to use continuous mechanical ventilation (with or without heat recovery) as the less expensive alternative of using "traditional" local extract fans with window trickle ventilators may still be used in many circumstances".

"Much depends on the balance and relative costs of energy saving features within any one build, so we strongly recommend that you always ask your SAP assessor to compare results before making your choice".

It must also be highlighted that in order to capitalise on the enhanced performance of a SAP Appendix Q qualified product they must be installed appropriately, following the recommendations of the manufacturer and in accordance with good practice.

Titon offers a range of SAP Appendix Q tested product including: Titon Q Plus WCME 100: Continuous mechanical extract ventilation suitable for a kitchen and up to four additional wet rooms with a specific fan power from 0.18 W/l/s.

The exceptional system offers the advantage of the best SAP Q performance currently available and is EST best practice compliant.

Titon Q Plus WHR 180: Continuous mechanical supply and extract ventilation with heat recovery suitable for a kitchen and up to three additional wet rooms with a specific fan power from 0.96 W/l/s and heat exchanger efficiency up to 85%.

Titon Q Plus WHR 350: Continuous mechanical supply and extract ventilation with heat recovery suitable for a kitchen and up to seven additional wet rooms with a specific fan power from 1.06 W/l/s and heat exchanger efficiency of up to 89%.