Unico, the leading UK supplier of their 3-in-1 heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) product, the Unico System, and Bell Plumbing are pleased to announce that Mat Downes has accepted the role of HVAC Manager within the Technical Team that supports installations of the innovative Unico Systems throughout the UK.

This new role for Mat is a natural next step in his career, having already been at Unico for over four years as Sales Manager and responsible for recruiting and training all Unico Specialist Partners (USPs). Mat is deeply experienced with the HVAC technology, since his previous role involved bringing Unico’s new technology to the UK and training installers on the product.

This boost to the Unico team with a new, dedicated HVAC Manager, means that the company can address an increased interest in HVAC systems within the UK. This is due to various factors such as over-insulation, a lack of ventilation and climate change motivating homeowners to seek out solutions. The Unico System HVAC technology provides both heating as well as cooling, to give even temperatures throughout the year and a more comfortable home environment. Not only this, the system’s energy efficiency is excellent, it’s environmentally friendly and also cost-effective, therefore addressing the main concerns of UK homeowners.

Mat’s role will include providing comprehensive product knowledge, installation techniques, and technical support, as well as working with The Unico System’s energy-efficient technology to create comfortable, year-round indoor environments for customers.

Mat said: “I’m excited to take on this new roleat Unico and look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience of this fantastic system to more customers throughout the UK. I’ve seen firsthand for over four years what a hugely positive difference this technology makes on the lives of people who, more and more, are encountering extremes in seasonal temperatures.”

Richard Soper, CEO of The Unico System UK, commented: “We’re delighted that Mat has become our HVAC manager with his wealth of experience and breadth of knowledge of our HVAC system. We are experiencing an increasing demand here in the UK for consistent and comfortable levels of climate control throughout the year, and The Unico System delivers on this with its option of both heating and cooling.”

The installation of a mechanical ventilation or mechanical cooling system, such as UNICO’s 3-in-1 heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system, is listed as one of the possible measures to reduce the common problem of overheating in new residential properties, based on compliance with ‘Approved Document Part O’, forming part of the 2021 Building Regulations, effective since June 2022.  This government-approved document was introduced to combat overheating in new residential properties in England and Wales, including private dwellings such as houses and flats, with the aim for healthier, comfortable, year-round living environments for the inhabitants of these properties.

Why has Overheating become a Significant Issue in UK Residential Properties?

Overheating in new homes has become an increasing problem in recent decades for housebuilders and self-builders for several reasons. One major factor is the insulation they need to have, which itself is vital, but it traps the heat and there is nowhere for it to go and when combined with air tightness, this makes your home too hot and uncomfortable to live in, during the summer. The increased use of glazing in new build residential homes (1) has been a trend for several decades, which can often lead to significant solar heat gain and further exacerbate the property’s temperature.

A lack of ventilation is commonplace in British residential buildings, which means that trapped moisture can create damp patches and potentially mould growth, damaging the building’s health. Home dwellers may encounter physical symptoms with the build-up of pollutants, leading to health problems such as respiratory issues or headaches. Poor indoor air quality can be frequent and cause multiple issues.

Finally, climate change is widely accepted to be a contributor to overheating in residential properties, given the year-on-year increase in number of extremely hot days with consistently unprecedented high temperatures. (2)

In short, modern buildings are designed to retain heat, and overheating has become a real issue that can cause significant damage to machines, equipment, and humans, which is where Part O comes into play.

What is Part O and how might it help improve the problem of overheating in new homes?

Approved Document Part O, forming part of the 2021 Building Regulations, (3) has been effective since June 2022. It covers overheating in new residential properties in England and Wales, including private dwellings such as houses and flats, institutional buildings such as care homes and other accommodation, including student halls of residence.

The aim of Part O is to reduce the occurrence of indoor high temperatures and address the issues of overheating resulting from solar gain and not having an adequate means of removing excess heat from indoors. It promotes building design and measures that offer a solution to these problems and in so doing, helps the well-being of occupants alongside improving the health of the building itself.

Using overheating calculations (simplified or dynamic modelling methodology), approaches can be assessed to achieve Part O compliance. Installation of a mechanical ventilation or mechanical cooling system are listed as possible measures to assist in compliance. Therefore, the use of a Unico Small Duct High Velocity (SDHV) all-in-one cooling, ventilation and heating system can be a very effective solution. Its capabilities, performance and ease of installation make it a viable, convenient and cost-effective means to help meet Part O requirements.

What is the Unico System?

The UNICO System is a Small Duct High Velocity (SDHV) 3-in-1 heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system that can provide heating, cooling, ventilation, air filtration, humidity control and air disinfection. Its unique SDHV technology creates draft-free, even temperatures throughout residential properties in hot (or cold) weather, providing excellent energy efficiency and is a very environmentally friendly option, with the bonus of being a cost-effective solution.

This integrated heating and cooling system is modular and improves indoor air quality by incorporating and combining ventilation, fresh air, air filters and UV technology, vital to both the building and inhabitants’ health. The small ducts that make up UNICO’s central air distribution system both regulate and ventilate a building, allowing moisture to escape and reducing the likelihood of airborne impurities and even mould.

The capabilities, performance and ease of installation of the Unico SDHV System make it a viable, convenient, and cost-effective way to help meet Part O requirements and reduce the effects of overheating within a building.

Discover more detailed information about how The Unico System helps reduce a building’s overheating and provides a more comfortable environment for the home owner – here.

Richard Soper, CEO for The Unico System explained: “In recent years overheating has become a major issue for new buildings, in that they have excellent insulation which traps heat, however this compounded with increasingly warm weather means that the resulting heat may not only negatively impact the health of the inhabitants, but also the fabric of the building. Part O, forming part of the 2021 Building Regulations, plays a vital role in safeguarding these factors, and I’m delighted that Unico’s SDHV System is an ideal solution to meeting these government’s standards for cooling, heating, and ventilation to ensure that a building is comfortable to live in and also energy-efficient. I’m delighted that our all-in-one cooling, ventilation and heating system gives year-round consistency that means daily living in our homes can equal a greener, more comfortable and healthier experience.”

Worcester Racecourse opened its new state of the art Weighing Room facility last summer, having installed UNICO’s Small Duct High Velocity 3-in-1 heating, ventilation and cooling System (HVAC). UNICO System’s unique HVAC technology has created draft-free, even temperatures throughout the complex even in hot weather, providing excellent energy efficiency and is a very environmentally friendly option, with the added bonus of being a cost-effective solution.

Property type

The Weighing Room complex is a large entertainment facility with multiple rooms. This features a brand-new changing room for jockeys to get changed, make their preparations for racing and spend some time relaxing. A new neutral working zone for the valets ensures all jockeys have the correct colours and riding equipment to hand from one race to the next. On the upper floor there is a canteen and social area, a physiotherapy studio and warm-up room. A Stewards’ Room for weighing-in and use by race officials, together with a TV Broadcast office are both situated on the ground floor. The Unico’s 3-in-1 System was specified to provide the ideal indoor environment all year round, for everyone using the facilities in each area.

System specification

The system specification chosen for the Weighing Room complex was the result of close collaboration between Worcester Racecourse & Arena Racing Company (ARC), Unico’s principal UK distributor Bell Plumbing, and Unico Specialist Installation Partner, Butco.

Considered were the major principles of cost, energy efficiency and sustainability. The resulting system specification was chosen as it maximises the potential of heat pumps to offer air conditioning, heating, hot water and integration with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems (MVHR). The technology was specified for the Weighing Room as a versatile, practical and financially attractive alternative to a traditional fossil fuel-based HVAC system.

Another key factor to consider was the cooling capability of the Unico System, since the summer racing season indoor temperatures within the weighing room complex can be uncomfortably high.

Project delivery

Despite challenges of a tight area behind the canteen servery and significant height restrictions under the mono pitched room, the small footprint, compactness and horizontal configuration of the Unico AHUs meant that Bell Solutions were able to configure a layout that maximised use of the available space within a tight project deadline.

Results

The energy efficiency within the building has been completely optimised:  approximately 97% of system energy is retained and delivered into the conditioned spaces through room outlets. Furthermore, Unico’s HVAC system operates with extremely low noise levels (<30 decibels) and is visually unobtrusive, the outlets blending into the interior decor of each room.

Indoor air quality levels throughout the building are also consistently high thanks to lower humidity levels and the ability of Unico technology to remove up to 30% more humidity than would be achievable with traditional air conditioning technology.

With the aspiration principle of operation, small jets of cooled or warmed air are driven at high velocity into the different areas of the Weighing Room facility with minimal temperature differentials of no more than +/- 1º C floor to ceiling and no drafts. Standard white finish linear outlets are used extensively in front of floor to ceiling windows and the canteen servery, to form a conditioned air curtain that helps to keep room temperatures to desired preset levels. Round outlets have been carefully positioned around ceilings to ensure uniform delivery of conditioned air within each space, preventing hot or cold spots and maintaining a consistent temperature throughout.

The ability to set draft-free even temperatures, as well as providing precise instant cooling is a great benefit of the Unico HVAC system. All these factors create a consistent environment temperature and optimum comfort levels for all users in every room within the building.

The installation at Worcester Racecourse has demonstrated that in the light commercial sector, Unico’s technology is a viable environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based heating/air conditioning with a BMS system.

Richard Soper, Director of Unico Systems explained: “I’m delighted that our HVAC System has been such a success for the Weighing Room facility at Worcester Racecourse by keeping temperature levels consistently comfortable in all the rooms, year-round. Unico’s HVAC System technology has so many benefits for our customers, especially now we seem to be experiencing more heatwaves in the UK due to rising global temperatures. The convenient all-in-one system regulates the temperature in a building throughout the year, come snow or shine. We’re proud of the fact that it’s so energy efficient as well as being a very sustainable option, and cost-effective.”

Michael Thomas, General Manager of Worcester Racecourse, commented: “The new Weighing Room is a significant step forward in the future viability of the racecourse. For my team, the ability to set temperatures for each area and control the complete Unico installation remotely from an office located in the Grandstand is incredibly convenient. The installation work was carried out by Butco in an extremely professional way, working to tight deadlines. Feedback from jockeys, race officials, broadcasters and others who use the facility has been very positive in terms of indoor temperature levels and personal comfort within a year-round, busy working environment. The Unico system has been a game changer for us.”

The UNICO  3-in-1 heating, ventilation and cooling is the ideal solution to retrofit older homes that may be draughty, energy inefficient, have poor insulation and generally hold uneven temperatures that encourage problems like mould and suffer from little ventilation and air flow. User friendly and easy to control, the system improves the environmental impact of a property and boosts its sustainability credentials.

This system provides a convenient solution for homeowners or prospective buyers when considering older, drafty properties with ineffectual insulation and old boiler systems that can often lead not only to unwanted expense, but also homes that are often too hot or cold throughout the seasons.

The Home

The property in Worcestershire is an 85 square metre, 1980 standard build detached home with equal floor space on each level, owner by customer Joe Roberts. There are two double bedrooms, a single bedroom and a bathroom upstairs. At ground level there is a hallway, kitchen and a large dining/living area which takes up the majority of the space. The home already featured double glazed windows, a loft space fitted with 200mm loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.

The fact that good insulation in place from the outset was important, enabling accurate heat loss surveys and meticulous system sizing to be carried out with a thorough understanding of exactly how heat would transfer through the accommodation.

The Solution

Our customer has expertise in renewable technologies in his professional capacity at UNICO’s official partners Bell Plumbing Supplies, and with the ability to install the new system himself, Joe selected the units himself. He chose a Worcester Bosch Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) with weather compensation that for added efficiency, adjusts its performance automatically based on external weather conditions. Alongside this Joe chose the Unico Heating, Ventilation & Cooling (HVAC) system, which he knew would integrate perfectly with the heat pump and was ideal for retrofitting into a home of this type and age.

With a 4.5 kW house heating and cooling load, the compact 1218 Series Unico Air Handling Unit with a chilled water coil was specified and installed out of the way in the loft space. The fully insulated and sound-attenuated ducting delivers conditioned air via multiple branches to room outlets on the two floors. It was conveniently routed above ceilings and inside cavity walls with its small diameter and flexibility making it simple to install. A total, of 13 round ceiling mounted room outlets were set up throughout both levels of the property.

The Results

Energy Saving Heating and Air Conditioning System

Running the Unico HVAC system in conjunction with the ASHP has enabled the creation of a truly energy efficient heating and air conditioning system. The Unico System maintains a comfortable 18ºC temperature throughout the whole house.

Customer Joe commented: “Energy saving comes from the efficiency of the Air Source Heat Pump and the overall design of the installation which is running at an efficiency of 350%.”

For additional economy, a Mixergy intelligent hot water cylinder has also been installed. Located in the loft alongside the Unico Air Handler, this provided the happy bonus of allowing an existing airing cupboard to be used for a new shower, extending the existing bathroom.

Minimal Impact to the Improved Interiors

With no need to pull up floorboards to get rid of old heating system pipework, the installation caused minimal disruption. Furthermore, the 13 ceiling outlets are finished in white, integrating naturally with the newly decorated rooms and totally discreet in appearance.

Joe added: “Friends who visit actually assume that the outlets are ceiling spotlights  and are surprised when they are told that they blowing conditioned warm or cooled air around our home. Our clothes are also successfully being dried in the jet stream of the room outlets, which is an unexpected benefit.”

A major interior design benefit of the installation for Joe was the ability to remove all the old radiators, freeing up wall space for new bookshelves to accommodate an extensive library collection.

Year-Round Even Temperatures Delivered by Quiet Technology

Whilst traditional heating and cooling systems effectively distribute warm or cooled air into a room unevenly, the Unico system works on the aspiration principle, with the room outlets delivering conditioned air into each room at a consistent temperature with no more than a +/-1ºC variation, no drafts, and no cold or hot spots.

It operates with minimum noise too as Joe explains: “ Once the Unico System was set up to the requirements of our home, it has run quietly in the background of our day to day life, causing no noise disruption and is scarcely noticeable to the eye either.“

 A major interior design benefit of the installation for Joe was the ability to remove all the old radiators, freeing up wall space for new bookshelves to accommodate an extensive library collection.

Improved Air Quality and Piece of Mind

The three-in-one system has the ability to provide cooling and ventilation alongside heating, providing peak functionality 365 days a year.  Cooling and ventilating in the summer allows windows to be kept closed, ensuring pollen and other pollutants cannot diminish the indoor air quality. The air filtration and optional UV light for air disinfection removes odours, mould and bacteria from the home.

The system also removes 30% more humidity than conventional air conditioning systems, resulting in the significant reduction of condensation on windows and keeping mould at bay.

CONCLUSION: A Versatile System Suitable for Every Home

Joe commented: “The system is designed to be as efficient as possible and it is nice to prove that a standard 1980s built home can have a heat pump and be fitted with a Unico System to provide heating and hot water very efficiently, with no improvements to the insulation. It has been faultless in operation. We will also add solar power and battery storage in our transition to a greener lifestyle.”

In conclusion, this installation has provided many benefits in terms of embracing sustainability, the versatility of heating and cooling with a single system, ventilation and moisture reduction resulting in a much fresher and more pleasant indoor environment and offering much-improved interior design freedom. “You don’t need to have a new build home to realise the benefits of a Unico Heat Pump installation!” Joe confirms.