BEAMA (British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association) has welcomed the Zero Carbon Hub VIAQ (Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality) Task Group Interim Report, which acknowledges the increasing trend towards specifying mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems in new homes.
Commenting on the report, which makes recommendations for market developments that will deliver energy and healthy indoor environment benefits, Kelly Butler, BEAMA's marketing director, said: 'As a key stakeholder, we're delighted to see that the Zero Carbon Hub recognises the importance of MVHR in dwellings beyond 2016, whilst also picking up the point that new markets need to be built on the principle of quality.'

He added: 'The Hub's VIAQ Group has recognised that we are building much tighter dwellings in the UK in response to the regulatory step changes towards zero carbon homes. These tighter dwellings require adequate indoor air quality for occupancy health and MVHR certainly fits the bill. Also, with lower heat demand, the additional benefit of heat recovery is a boost.

'The report identifies a number of market development challenges; not least the need to ensure that systems are well designed and competently installed. We're particularly pleased that the report has recognised BEAMA's efforts in improving competency with training and the approved contractor approach to ensuring installation quality.

'With mechanical ventilation systems presently representing nearly 50 per cent of overall new-build ventilation solutions, and the market set to dramatically increase over the next year or so, now is the time to see this recognised and to focus on quality. Our manufacturing members have been promoting the industry-supported BPEC training course for ventilation systems, and have made a commitment to promote a competent person checklist with all systems supplied to housebuilders starting from January 2012.

'Building a sustainable mechanical ventilation market is a priority for BEAMA through our role as a leading industry association with considerable expertise and knowledge in this sector.'

Lee Nurse, Chair of BEAMA's Ventilation Group and marketing director at Vent-Axia, added: 'As an industry we are right behind the commitment to improve skills. BEAMA members have been actively promoting the BPEC training course for 12 months with around 700 people now trained.

'This continues to ensure that mechanical ventilation systems are better designed, installed and commissioned than ever before. With the latest checklist revisions and SAP benefits, the desire to specify installations carried out by Certified installers will grow, thus ensuring continued momentum and securing robust installations moving forward.' The VIAQ Interim Report is available here.