Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:24:28 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301891#Comment_301891 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301891#Comment_301891 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 08:11:21 +0100 gustyturbine http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301895#Comment_301895 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301895#Comment_301895 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:53:53 +0100 djh
External ducts were built in as we built the house. Ceiling plaster was put in after the internal ducts and noise insulation. IIRC I put the ducts in before we put the resilient bars up, which simplified dragging the ducts through.

Commissioning is the slightly tricky bit. I did that with my architect, who was interested. Mostly it's just checking flowrates with a calibrated meter and filling in the forms, but there was the odd adjustment we had to make.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301914#Comment_301914 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301914#Comment_301914 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 20:49:50 +0100 Artiglio http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301916#Comment_301916 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301916#Comment_301916 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 08:13:09 +0100 gustyturbine http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301917#Comment_301917 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301917#Comment_301917 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:24:26 +0100 GreenPaddy
Also, avoiding steel beams, crossing ducts, where possible needs to be thought about, which can fall between the design responsibility of the MVHR designer (who may just dot the outlets on the floor plans, not interested in the structure), and the structural eng'r/arch. I've gotten my SE to raise roof steels slightly on their design in the past, to allow ducts to run under the steels, and so inside the thermal envelope, not outside.

If you're using the semi-rigid, like I think DJH used (I've not used this system), then there's prob more flexibility (literally), but still pre-plan it all.

Installation is not difficult, having done the route planning, and you'll get a lot done in a few half days.

Hope there's something useful in that ]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301920#Comment_301920 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301920#Comment_301920 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:52:08 +0100 Doubting_Thomas
Notably though the installer couldn't offer the commissioning at each terminal to ensure that the system was balanced etc. So we ended up with a third party to undertake this work and provide the evidence for our passivhaus certification.

As others have said you can do parts of this yourself, but I'd recommend getting the final commissioning bit done by a professional so you can be sure it is all working as designed.

One final point is timing - we got our ductwork put in quite early as we had other things to work around it, but the general recommendation is to only actually start the MVHR working once all the dusty jobs on site have been done.

Inevitably some things end up happening later (with plasterboard dust and sawdust being particular culprits), so make sure you have a good way of masking over terminals to hand. The design of our ceiling outlets meant that those disposable plastic overshoes worked well as a temporary cover!]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301930#Comment_301930 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301930#Comment_301930 Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:57:02 +0100 cjard
BPC Ventilation, supply only, recommended


> Any self installers that found it straight forward?

Yes


> and would make that financial saving again?

Yes


> any tips that need sharing to help me along my way?

BPC send an install guide. If you can plug in a hoover and connect the vacuum hose you're most of the way there in terms of needed skills. Biggest job for me was hole sawing 80mm holes in my JJI joists]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301931#Comment_301931 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301931#Comment_301931 Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:58:18 +0100 cjard http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301932#Comment_301932 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301932#Comment_301932 Sat, 10 Jun 2023 15:05:15 +0100 djh http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301933#Comment_301933 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301933#Comment_301933 Sat, 10 Jun 2023 15:07:33 +0100 Artiglio http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301954#Comment_301954 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301954#Comment_301954 Sun, 11 Jun 2023 17:44:32 +0100 tony http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301955#Comment_301955 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301955#Comment_301955 Sun, 11 Jun 2023 20:06:40 +0100 revor https://www.test-meter.co.uk/extech-an300-anemometer]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301958#Comment_301958 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301958#Comment_301958 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 11:30:53 +0100 djh http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301974#Comment_301974 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301974#Comment_301974 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:53:09 +0100 gustyturbine http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301975#Comment_301975 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301975#Comment_301975 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:23:06 +0100 Artiglio http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301976#Comment_301976 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301976#Comment_301976 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:29:59 +0100 Dominic Cooney I found self-installing easy but then I consider extreme DIY to be one of my hobbies, plus I'm too tight to pay anyone to do anything that I think I can do as well or better - unless it needs certifying for safety (plumbing, electrics)
This was in a stone barn conversion, so not straighforward.
The hardest part for me was making a hole for 4 x 75mm pipes through a 450mm thick stone wall (to avoid having 4 lots of 90 degree bends on each pipe, which was my initial plan - to use an existing opening)
Also chiselling the sides off the floor joists to accommodate the manifolds in the f/f floor & g/f ceiling void. This was my choice to do this and to put them there, I got the exact measuremtns before I purchased them.

Luckily I had 2 existing holes through the wall for the supply and extract ducts (insulated) they just needed widening a tad to take a round pipe.

I ran all the pipes parallell to the f/floor joists above the utility & hall, then along the walls inside the depth of the interior wall insulation to each room. It does mean that there are places where you can't screw into the walls!

For commissioning I hired an anemometer. There is some good info around the internet or I can send you the info I collected. YouTube was a godsend for how to access the control settings on the Vent-Axia, I don't recall seeing a user guide with it.
Once you have it all set up and all the info to provide to Building Regs, you will probably want to turn down the 'Normal' setting but leave 'Boost' as it is.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301977#Comment_301977 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301977#Comment_301977 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:33:04 +0100 Dominic Cooney http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301987#Comment_301987 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301987#Comment_301987 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 11:44:57 +0100 Simon Still - BPC (who did me a design). Did get a design from a second company for comparison/pricing.
- self installed with semi rigid
- hired a meter to set up.
- Vent Axia unit

Even the semi rigid pipe takes up a lot of space especially as it congregates around the unit. Ours was well planned into the design but still had to make some on site alterations for it to fit.

What I'd change if doing again?
- Vent Axia unit is very plastic-y. But it's 8 years old and still working fine. Uncle's Genvex is like a Mercedes compared to a Dacia. But they're a multiple of the price. So not sure....

- my connections to outdoors are much longer than optimal but was unavoidable. I used 150mm Domus plastic pipe with their preformed polystyrene insulation around it. I think there are much better options now - and metal actually looks like it could be cheaper. Then can use various forms of flexible wrap insulation.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301992#Comment_301992 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17859&Focus=301992#Comment_301992 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 12:36:01 +0100 gustyturbine