MEV - Tower Hamlets Council

“continuous central
mechanical extract ventilation
(MEV) units
for apartments”
Home Ventilation

“there shall be
adequate means of ventilation
provided for people in the building”
can lead to a build up of
pollutants in the home.
Excess water vapour is
normally the dominant
pollutant to control as failure
to do so can lead to
condensation dampness and
it’s all too common symptoms
of streaming windows, must
smells and mould growth.
The importance of good indoor air quality in
homes is now well recognised. Indeed current
UK Building Regulations require adequate
ventilation for the occupants to be provided in
all new homes and future regulations expect to
put even more emphasis on the correct design
and installation of home ventilation systems.
too much ventilation
insufficient ventilation
2
If a home is over ventilated it
can result in discomfort,
increased running costs for
the occupants and the
unnecessary depletion of
fossil fuels and related
increased carbon emissions
to the environment.
An increasingly popular method of
providing “adequate ventilation” to
todays modern apartments is...

continuous mechanical
extract ventilation (MEV)
Why MEV?
Today’s modern apartment buildings offer challenges to the ventilation system
designer.
Limiting noise ingress, wind effects, aesthetics and installation limitations
have to be taken into account in addition to regulatory compliance and cost.
MEV has less dependency on background ventilators, requires only a single
discharge grille for a whole apartment and very often has smaller, easier to
install ducts than systems designed around intermittent operating extract fans
and background vents.
Such benefits make MEV an increasingly popular method of providing
adequate ventilation in such homes.
How does it work?
Essentially the concept is to provide simultaneous, low level extraction from
Kitchens, Bathrooms, Shower rooms, Utility rooms and WC’s to a central
extract fan via a system of ductwork and grilles. The extracted air is then
normally discharged to outside via a single duct and grille/cowl.
Current Building Regulation guidance, in the form of BRE Digest 398,
requires such systems be designed to provide background extraction at a
rate equating to approximately 0.5 air changes per hour based on the
whole dwelling volume with the ability to boost by 25-50% for times when
increased ventilation is required e.g. during cooking.
Replacement air is normally able to be provided via structural air leakage
with background ventilation openings like trickle vents not normally needed
unless the home is built to extraordinarily airtight standards. This can be best
demonstrated by referring to the table below which shows the very small
building fabric air resistance an MEV system on boosted extraction
(0.625 ACH) would have to overcome in apartments of different levels of
airtightness.
As this type of system has to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365
days a year, low noise levels and reliability are critical.
Building fabric resistance to airflow in Pa
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Apartment "Airtightness" in ACH @ 50pa
the central extract fan unit is the heart of
every system and it has to work well.
3
www.nuaireforhomes.co.uk

continuous mechanical extract ventilation unit
MEV-ECOSMART
when only the best will do!
The ultimate unit for MEV systems
The MEV-ECOSMART features unrivalled low noise levels,
state of the art low energy fan/motor technology, unique
controls and integral mounting bracket, individual room
combined duct connection spigot and volume control
dampers and a fan protection filter.
All these features are contained in a compact, low profile
casing.In short, MEV-ECOSMART really is the very best unit
of its type available.
Many ancillaries & grilles available
A full range of ducting and grilles is available, see separate leaflet.
4
Unique controls and
status indication
The units control panel allows the units
"background" and "boost" airflow to be set
as required and the unique constant volume
control facility will ensure the set airflows are
achieved and maintained. The fan status light
can also be used to provide indication that
the installed unit is achieving the duties set.

Individual room airflow balancing
Individual room extraction rates can be easily set at the unit
via the integral volume control damper on each duct
connection spigot. This aids commissioning, allows a
greater choice of room extract grilles and prevents the noise
problems sometimes associated with controlling airflows at
the room extract points.
Filter protection
An easily removed and
cleaned filter protects the
units internal components
and allows the use of
unfiltered extract grilles
5
MEV-Ecosmart,
when only the best will do!
Design
assistance
Nuaire Home Ventilation
local representatives are
trained in all aspects of
MEV systems and are able
to offer design advice
second to none from any
manufacturer
Installation
Nuaire Home Ventilation is
able to carry out the
complete installation and
commissioning of MEV
systems. Indeed Nuaire
Home Ventilation installs
thousands of such systems
every year
Simple
installation
The unit’s integral fixing
bracket and compact, low
profile construction speeds
installation and allows
mounting in locations where
space is limited
www.nuaireforhomes.co.uk

continuous mechanical extract ventilation unit
125 dia
Fan Static Pressure (Pa)
4 x Spigot
knockouts
100 dia
600
500
400
300
SIDE VIEW
MEV-ECOSMART
MEV-Ecosmart
Cable entry
200
5
6
4
100
3
2
1
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Air Volume Flow Rate (l/s)
when only the best will do!
20
Performance - MEV ECOSMART
186
Mounting bracket
Single screw unit fixing
Tested in duct
V
ISO 5801 1997
END VIEW
6
1 x Spigot
knockout
125 dia
340
50
VIEW WITH COVER REMOVED
Example Speed Settings Breakout dBA @ 3m* Inlet dBA @ 3m* Power Consumption W
6 34 34 52
5 31 30 35
4 27 26 21
3 19 21 11
2

MEV Ecosmart Specification
The unit shall be designed specifically for
incorporation within a system designed to comply
with the requirements of BRE Digest 398. Ducting
and grilles forming part of the system are specified
elsewhere.
The unit shall be manufactured by a BSI Registered
Firm with ISO 9000 certification.
The unit’s casing shall be of robust construction,
manufactured from corrosion resistant metal and
fully lined with high density class "O" flame
retardant acoustic insulation designed to limit noise
breakout from the unit to a maximum of 34 dBA @
3 metres (hemi-spherical radiation).
The unit shall incorporate a low profile single point
mounting bracket for horizontal or vertical mounting
of the unit. When installed the unit shall not project
any more than 190 mm from the surface onto
which it installed.
Air discharge from the unit shall be via a 125 mm
diameter tapered spigot for easy connection to
ducting.
The unit shall be capable of multiple air inlets
formatting. The unit casing shall have the facility to
allow the connection, via tapered air inlet spigots
supplied with the unit, of up to 4 No. 100 mm
diameter and 2 No. 125 mm diameter air inlet
ducts. Each air inlet point shall also incorporate a
fully adjustable volume control damper to allow full
balancing of the system airflows as required (note:
non adjustable or automatic airflow regulating type
dampers or airflow balancing at the system room
extract grilles shall not be permitted)
The unit shall incorporate a quick release, long life,
Grade G2 fan protection filter.
The unit shall be constructed with one removable
panel allowing full maintenance access.
The unit shall incorporate a fully speed adjustable
(note: stepped speed control shall not be
acceptable) low energy, high efficiency DC
fan/motor assembly with sealed for life bearings
designed to operate continuously at a pre-set
"background" design airflow rate with the ability to
increase to a pre-set "boost" design airflow rate as
and when required.
The unit shall incorporate electrical connections to
allow for the unit’s "boost" airflow to be triggered
by any one or combination of the following:
1. A switched live signal.
2. Remote volt free switch.
3. A remote speed control.
When the unit "boost" has been triggered by the
switched live signal the unit shall incorporate an
adjustable "run on" facility.
The unit shall be provided with a casing mounted,
easily accessible, factory connected, unit control
panel providing the following airflow control
settings:
(a) Setting of the unit’s "background" design airflow
rate via a calibrated dial labelled between 10 and
90 litres/second.
(b) Setting of the units "boost" design airflow rate
via a calibrated dial labelled between 10 and 90
litres/second.
(c) Setting of the "boost" airflow run on time via a
calibrated dial labelled between 0 and 60 minutes.
The unit shall incorporate a factory fitted, automatic
constant volume control facility to ensure as far as is
practical that the pre-set "background" and "boost"
design airflows are maintained, within the
capabilities of the unit’s performance levels.
The control panel shall also incorporate a fan status
indicator light and the facility to check and provide
visual indication that the installed unit is actually
achieving the duties set at the dial.
The unit shall be offered with a 5 year parts and
labour warranty – backed by a nationwide, on
request, 24 hour service engineer response service.
Approved manufacturer/unit:
Nuaire MEV ECOSMART Continuous Mechanical
Extract Ventilation Unit.
Code "ES-MEV".
Approved Distributor/Installer:
Nuaire Home Ventilation Ltd
Western Industrial Estate
Caerphilly CF83 1XH
Tel: 08705 002555 Fax: 08705 002666
7
MEV-ECOSMART,
when only the best will do!
www.nuaireforhomes.co.uk

continuous mechanical extract ventilation unit
MEV-S
the next best thing
• Easy to adjust
• Quiet operation
• Simple installation
• Ducting
• High performance
• Power consumption
• Robust construction
MEV-S is similar to MEV-ECOSMART in relation
to its size and shape and is also supplied with
combined duct connection spigots, an
adjustable ‘boost’ run on timer and volume
control dampers as standard.
It does however differ as follows:
1. It is slightly noisier but still quieter than other units of this type.
2. It consumes more energy but still consumes less than other similar units.
3. It does not have the same level of airflow control sophistication but
still has more level control than other units on the market.
4. It has only a single “boost” airflow connection option via a switched
live signal.
5. It comes with a 3 year parts and labour warranty as opposed to a
5 year warranty. This warranty is still better than warranties provided
by other manufacturers.
In short it is ideal for use on projects where the budget may not stretch to
using the very best unit available and a compromise on performance is
acceptable.
8

continuous mechanical extract ventilation unit
125 dia
Fan Static Pressure (Pa)
4 x Spigot
knockouts
100 dia
400
300
200
100
SIDE VIEW
1
MEV-Ecosmart MEV-S
Cable entry
Performance - MEV-S
2
3
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Air Volume Flow Rate (l/s)
when the only next the best best thing will do!
4
20
186
END VIEW
Mounting bracket
Single screw unit fixing
9
1 x Spigot
knockout
125 dia
340
50
VIEW WITH COVER REMOVED
Speed setting Breakout dBA @ 3m* Inlet dBA @ 3m* Power Consumption W
4 37 37 59
3 35 34 37
2 22 24 26
1 16 16 14
dBA figures are calculated based on hemi-sperical propogation.
The inlet and outlet dBA figures do not take end reflection into account. Actual free-field figures will be less depending on the grilles used
Unit serving Kitchen and Bathroom
230V
1ph
50Hz
supply
N
L
Fuse 2A max.
Light switch
bathroom
(double pole)
Kitchen Switch
Room
light
N
L
SL
Unit serving Kitchen and Two Bathroom Unit serving Kitchen, Utility and Bathroom
230V
1ph
50Hz
supply
N
L
Fuse 2A max.
Light switch
bathroom/wc
(double pole)
Room
lights
Kitchen Switch
N
L
SL
230V
1ph
50Hz
supply
N
L
470
Fuse 2A max.
Light switch
bathroom
(double pole)
Kitchen Switch
Utility Switch
Room
light
N
L
SL
www.nuaireforhomes.co.uk

Key MEV system design
considerations
• Does the system have extract grilles fitted in
each of the ‘wet” areas of the home i.e. in the
kitchen, utility room, bathrooms, shower rooms,
en-suite’s, WC’s, etc?
• Do the extract grilles incorporate filters as
recommended in BRE Digest 398? If not, is
filtration incorporated elsewhere in the system,
e.g. within the central extract fan unit itself, to
protect the fan/motor/electrical/electronic
components within the fan unit from a build up
of potentially hazardous contaminants?
• Has the ducting system been properly designed
with particular attention being given to the
appropriate incorporation of fire dampers?
• Is the central fan unit capable off/ne tuning of
the systems Airflow to ensure that the
“background” and “boost” flow rates are
achieved by fan speed regulation as opposed
Other products in our range...
Nuaire Home Ventilation supplies a complete range
of home ventilation equipment. In addition to
continuous central mechanical extract ventilation
(MEV) units we can supply and if required install:
A full range of innovative
low energy mechanical
ventilation with heat recovery
(MVHR) systems.
to airflow throttling thus ensuring low noise
levels, minimum electrical consumption?
• Is the central fan provided with twin speed
controls to provide this fine tuning?
• Does the central extract fan incorporate controls
designed to ensure Set “background” and
“boost” airflow rates are maintained as the
systems filters get dirty?
• Is the system provided with controls which will
allow simple switching to “boost” from external
switches or devices?
• When “boost” is activated is it desirable to have
a time adjustable run on faculty?
• If so, have the appropriate controls been
included in the system?
• Is the extract rate from each individual “wet”
area fully adjustable at a point or points other
than the room extract point to minimise noise,
prevent the unbalancing of the system during
routine cleaning of extract grilles or valves, aid
initial commissioning and allow for future
adjustment of the system if required?
• MEV systems simply have to be quiet as
they operate all day and all night.
• Has the complete system been designed
to be as quiet as possible?
• Is the system backed by a suitably
good warranty?
A full range of low energy positive
input ventilation (PIV) units.
10
A unique range of
solar thermal
systems that can
heat air and hot
water.
Extract fans for homes
and apartments.
Associated ducting
and grilles.

The Nuaire Group
The Nuaire group was formed
nearly 50 years ago.
It is British owned, has
subsidiaries in France and
distributes its products to over
40 countries around the World.
Nuaire is the largest supplier
of whole home ventilation
products in the UK and also
No.1 in the Commercial and
Industrial Fan Market.
Nuaire's reputation has been
built on the quality and
durability of its products.
It was the first in the Industry,
Worldwide, to achieve the
coveted ISO 9001 World
standard of quality and is a
recent recipient of a Queen’s
Award for Innovation in
recognition of our
achievement in provision of
energy saving ventilation
systems.
“your guarantee from
the nuaire group“
Your complete
satisfaction guarantee
At Nuaire, we want you to
be completely satisfied with
our products.
That is why we offer, in addition
to our product warranty,
a complete money back
guarantee on our Drimaster
2000, Drimaster 365,
Drimaster Ecosmart, Flatmaster
and Flatmaster 2000, if you
are not entirely satisfied with
the performance*.
11
The Personal Touch
Customers involved in the
design, build, refurbishment
and maintenance of homes
are supported by a team of
approximately 25 Nuaire
Home Ventilation staff located
throughout the UK.
Sales to private home owners
are either direct or via
a nationwide network of
approved Nuaire Agents.
A Nuaire internal customer
services team provides additional
customer support and back up
to all our local representatives.
All we ask is that you give the
equipment an opportunity to
prove its worth and, should
there be any problems, the
time to correct them for you.
In fact, it is a rare event for
a customer to claim under
this guarantee and we are
therefore very confident that
you will be more than pleased
with your investment.
* Money back guarantee applies where
Nuaire take responsibility for the complete
supply and installation of the units.
Technical or commercial considerations may, from time to time, make it necessary to alter the design,
performance and dimensions of equipment and the right is reserved to make such changes without prior notice.
www.nuaireforhomes.co.uk