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.”