What is Passive House / Passivhaus? | Airflow
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Introduction to Passive House PassivHaus

What is Passive House / PassivHaus?

Passive House, or Passivhaus as it is also referred to, is a standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces the building's ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling.

A Passive House is a building in which thermal comfort can be achieved solely by post-heating or post-cooling the fresh air flow required for a good indoor air quality, without the need for additional recirculation of air.

Now the UK Passivhaus Trust prides themselves with over 1,000 Passivhaus/ Passive House buildings in the UK with growing numbers.

Airflow is a Passivhaus Trust member which provides leadership in the UK for the adoption of the standard construction methodology which specifies Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)

Reasons to consider building to Passive House standards

A Passive House is a building in which thermal comfort can be achieved solely by post-heating or post-cooling the fresh air flow required for good indoor air quality, without the need for additional recirculation of air.

  1. Comfortable temperature
  2. Good for you and your family’s health
  3. Saves your money
    • 90% reduction in energy needed for your heating
  4. Guaranteed certainty of performance and quality
    • Built with care
    • Passive House seal of approval

Our Passive House Certified Products

We offer one the largest ranges of Passive House accredited MVHR units in stock

DV50, DV80, DV96, DV145, DV245 Units (with integral CO2 sensor)

The Adroit units listed above are ventilation units with state-of-the-art technology for medium-sized houses. Designed to provide essential ventilation and to save you money through its intelligent heat recovery facility, this system provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for residential applications.

  • Up to 90% thermal efficiency
  • Automatic, 100% bypass
  • Triple filter design - ISO 16890 compliant
  • Integral carbon dioxide sensor
  • 'A' energy rating
  • Internet control by smartphone, tablet, or PC

DV250, Dv300, and DV400 Units (with manual control and automatic summer bypass)

The Entro – H units are made with high-density EPP material which provides significant insulation and eliminates thermal bridging. They have low-energy EC fans that minimise the unit's energy consumption and can help you reduce your energy bills.

  • Up to 93% thermal efficiency
  • Automatic, 100% bypass
  • Adjustable control
  • The lightweight design allows for multiple install options
  • 'A' energy rating
  • Durable EPP casing
  • SAP Q eligible
  • Passive house certified

Duplexbase PS

Duplexbase PS 650, 1100, 1700, 2300, 3500, 4500, 600 Units (with digital control and automatic summer bypass)

The DUPLEXbase PS units are designed for the energy-efficient and comfort ventilation of commercial dwellings with exceptionally high thermal efficiency.

Unique to this range is the ability to position the unit on the floor or in a ceiling-suspended configuration indoors, or floor-standing outdoors (accessories required). The front door enables easy access to all components, benefiting from separate doors for filter access. With a range of control options including Internet and BMS compatibility for on-demand ventilation, the unit also incorporates an automatic 100% summer bypass to isolate the heat recovery function during the hotter months.

  • Excellent heat recovery efficiency of more than 90%
  • Compact design and high flexibility in unit positioning
  • Passive house certified (1700 – 6000 units’ certificates are pending)
  • Integral carbon dioxide sensor
  • 'A' energy rating
  • ePM1 55% (F7) supply air filter and ePM10 50% (M5) exhaust air filter, as standard

The Duplexbase PS has won the award of “Commercial Ventilation Product of the Year” at the Energy Saving Awards 2023.

Passive House Building Requirements

Passive House buildings are planned, optimised, and verified with the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) which is an easy-to-use planning tool for energy efficiency for the use of architects and planning experts. ‘‘In order to ensure excellent indoor air quality, Passive Houses always have a comfort ventilation system mechanically ventilating all rooms in the building. In most climates, a heat recovery unit ensures that the ventilation heat losses remain extremely low.’’

– Passive House Institute Building Certification Guide

For a building to meet the Passive House standard it must meet the following requirements:

Space Heating Energy Demand
Renewable Primary Energy Demand
Airtightness
Thermal Comfort
Passive House Construction Principles

Passive House MVHR Case Studies

Windermere Close - Manchester

  • (Residential)
  • Windermere Close, Manchester
  • Adroit MVHR Units: 6x Adroit DV96

Lily Thomas Court - Manchester

  • (Residential)
  • Lily Thomas Court - Manchester
  • Airflow MVHR Units: 21x Adroit DV80

St Benedict's School - London

  • (Commerical)
  • Montplier Avenue, Ealing, London
  • Airflow MVHR Units: 16x Duplexvent Flexi DV1100 - All supplied with electric heaters

Black Rock Street - Manchester

  • (Residential)
  • Black Rock Street, Manchester
  • Airflow MVHR Units: 6x Adroit DV96

The Ecology Centre - Kinghorn

  • (Commercial)
  • Kinghorn Lock, Burntisland
  • Adroit MVHR Units: 1x Duplexvent Flexi DV1600

Lucy Cavendish College - Cambridge

  • (Commercial)
  • Lady Margaret Rd, Cambridge
  • Adroit MVHR Units: 2x Duplexvent Flexi DV1600, 2x Duplexvent Flexi DV3600, 2x Adroit DV96