A new development from Passivent allows buildings to achieve good air quality with minimal energy consumption and reduced heating loads without noise transfer from one area to another.
The Active SoundScoop Transfer unit delivers optimum efficiency in balancing natural ventilation with noise attenuation in closed-plan buildings. Based on the core Passivent SoundScoop unit, the new Active version offers three operating modes to allow for optimum energy efficiency as external temperatures vary through the seasons.
Passivent Active SoundScoop Transfer unit is positioned at high level in the partition/wall between two internal spaces, enabling natural air movement between rooms. A patented sound absorbing lining optimises attenuation of mid frequency sound, typically speech and footfall (the most problematic) when looking at internal air transfer. Accredited laboratory testing has demonstrated that an acoustic performance of up to Dnew44 can be realised.
The unit operates predominantly in natural mode, with options to boost when temperatures rise in high summer, or recirculate air when temperatures drop in the winter. When boosted, the unit can achieve up to 450l/s flow rate. In re-circulation mode (typically in winter), air is re-circulated meaning less heat is lost, and thus reducing the required heating load. The fully automatic unit enables monitoring of CO2 and/or temperature to ensure that good air quality is maintained, and can be integrated into Passivent’s iC8000 control system, so building users can concentrate on their activities without worrying about ventilation/ temperature operation.
To easily address attenuation in different buildings, Passivent is producing two models, one comprising two SoundScoops side by side, to meet the stringent noise attenuation demands of BB101/93 in schools, and a single unit for offices, conference centres, hotels, consulting suites etc.
“The performance of the Active SoundScoop Transfer means, for example, that the requirements of BB93 can be met in a classroom adjacent to a noisy corridor, yet the ventilation can still contribute towards the building as a whole achieving minimal- or zero- carbon consumption, ” explains Passivent Product Manager Dennis Bates.
Passivent Active SoundScoop Transfer compliments the established Passivent range of natural ventilation solutions including Aircoool, AirScoop and AirStract, all of which deliver effective natural ventilation strategies for commercial and public buildings in line with relevant Building Regulations. The passive SoundScoop Transfer has just been ‘highly recommended’ in national construction industry awards.
