Fantech Ventilation, the manufacturer and supplier of ventilation products throughout the whole of Ireland, has provided five heat recovery units (HRUs), to the Kingscourt Primary Care Centre in County Cavan.

The facility is one of a number of purpose-built primary care centres in the North East HSE (Health Service Executive) region. As HVAC systems are often the greatest consumers of energy in commercial buildings, the Centre, the HSE element of which was acquired from a private developer by way of an operational lease, incorporates mechanical ventilation heat recovery to ensure running costs are kept to a minimum. It also utilises a number of other low energy/energy saving building services systems such as: energy management lighting control, natural gas-fired modulating boilers and a building energy management system (BEMS).

Bernard Smith Consulting Engineers were appointed to oversee the mechanical, electrical and lift services installation and it was the building services consultancy that specified Fantech Ventilation for the company’s heat recovery experience. Fantech is the Southern Ireland based distributor of products from fellow Elta Group companies Elta Fans and Fastlane Ventilation Equipment as well as a number of leading European manufacturers of ancillary products such as grilles, diffusers, ducting (flexible and spiral), fire and volume control dampers and duct fittings and accessories. On this project, in addition to the HRUs, Fantech also supplied several units from Elta Fans, as well as Brofer grilles.

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Main contractor for the ventilation project was FoxFlo Ventilation of Kells, County Meath, a company that installs all types of air conditioning and extraction systems, specialising in stainless steel ducting.

The Komfovent heat recovery units supplied by Fantech are designed to create healthy indoor air quality and comfort in buildings. Efficient, easy to mount and maintain, they all have an integrated control system.

Horizontal and vertical models are available, in a total of ten standard sizes, with airflow rates of up to 0.59m3/s (2,156m3/hr). Other sizes are available to order, offering rates of up to 1.94m3/s (6,984m3/hr). The bespoke units supplied for Kingscourt were horizontal models designed to have a low height in order to fit within the building’s false ceiling.

The REGO HRUs incorporate a rotary heat exchanger, which recovers up to 80% of heat by means of a rotating aluminum rotor – absorbing the heat from outgoing air - in order to warm the incoming fresh air. Within the RECU HRU units, air flows crosswise through a heat exchanger consisting of aluminum plates, in a design that prevents contamination of the fresh air by the exhaust air, recovering up to 65% of the heat. Unit casings have double skinned panels comprising two galvanised steel sheets, filled with fire-resistant thermal and sound attenuating mineral wool. External surfaces are powder-painted (RAL 7035 as standard) to protect the unit from corrosion.

Standard units are designed and manufactured to procedures as defined in BS EN ISO 9001:2008 and may be fitted with either EC or AC external rotor motors, which contain sealed for life bearings.

The HSE occupies the entire top floor of the two-storey building, situated in Kells Road, Kingscourt, whilst local GPs, nurses and visiting health professionals practice using state of the art facilities on the ground floor. The centre also houses a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and reception staff. Other services, such as chiropody and counseling, will be made available as required. The primary care centre also now includes the Dunaree Pharmacy.