How Dwell-Vent works - Overview
Dwell-Vent is a revolutionary approach to today's requirements for ventilation in houses and flats. We are all aware of the two main problems Dwell-Vent overcomes but may not realise how they relate to one another. On the one hand asthma and allergies are a growing problem. Poor air quality in our homes has been implicated in this worrying development because of the toxic chemicals used in many building materials, and the widespread problem of condensation that is linked to mould growth. On the other hand conserving energy is a government priority so buildings are being constructed to be air-tight; the open chimneys and leaky windows that in the past kept the atmosphere fresh indoors will no longer be permissible.
Dwell-Vent overcomes both of these problems. Like all good ideas this one is extremely simple, it relies on the combination of two tried and tested technologies. The first is passive stack ventilation, which has been allowed for several years within the Building Regulations as an alternative to extract fans. The passive stacks are metal tubes installed in kitchens and bathrooms that remove warm and humid air without the use of electrical energy; instead the warm air rises within the passive stack and is extracted at roof level, in a way similar to an old-fashioned chimney.
The passive stacks remove the moist air that causes condensation and encourage a flow of air through the other rooms, but they also throw away heat. That is where the other element of the system the 'supply air' window enters the story. 'Supply air' windows have been around since the 1940s, they are manufactured in Finland and have been extensively tested; contemporary requirements have brought them back into the limelight for use in the UK and other temperate climates.
'Supply air' windows are just like double glazed windows but instead of the units being sealed, the 'supply air' concept entails the gap between the panes of glass being used as the route for air entering the building. Unlike 'trickle vents' (the slot ventilators that are installed over the top of windows to supply a trickle of cold air in wintertime from outdoors), 'supply-air' windows warm the air before it enters the room. This is because heat that normally escapes through the glass is trapped within the flow of air between the panes and brought back into the room. To do this effectively the airflow has to be controlled by 'smart' vents, the magic ingredient of Dwell-Vent. The benefit is in the reduction of draughts, but also in providing fresh air that is heated within the windows, compensating for the heat lost through the passive stacks.
The links below illustrate the original research installations in selected European countries:
This link will direct you to some commonly asked questions about Dwell-Vent but if you need further information please e-mail us on info@dwell-vent.com.