Eurovent - Experts & Thought Leaders

AUK Nationwide Heating and Cooling Distribution has designed and supplied a high-efficiency NOVAIR air handling unit (AHU), delivering full ventilation and extraction at the Bridges Shopping Center in Sunderland. The project, alongside pioneering contractor Nationwide Heating and Cooling, involved the installation of a Eurovent-certified NOVAIR CTA 60 stacked AHU solution with an airflow of 6.192 m3/h. Energy recovery system features The bespoke energy recovery system features a highly efficient plate exchanger recuperator The bespoke energy recovery system features a highly efficient plate exchanger recuperator and is also fitted with energy-efficient EC inverter Plug Fans. To help future-proof the unit, it has also been fitted with a low-temperature hot water coil so that an air source heat pump can be added at a later date, potentially reducing power consumption by up to a third. Requirements of NOVAIR factory AUK Managing Director Darryl Smith said: “The previous system was nearing the end of its useful life and the brief called for a more efficient approach. After attending the site with Nationwide’s Ian Calderwood, the unit was designed at the NOVAIR factory to our specific requirements." “We were able to deliver a highly efficient heat recovery solution in a slightly more compact footprint. The addition of the low-temperature hot water coil will bring even more efficiencies further down the line.’’ Three stages of electric heat  The CTA range comprises 36 customizable models with airflow from 1,000 to 112,000 m3/h Ian Calderwood, Director at Cramlington-based Nationwide Heating and Cooling, said: “The biggest challenge for this job was access, because the plant room door at the shopping center was only 800 mm wide. Both AUK and NOVAIR were absolutely fantastic and it only took a day to come up with an answer; I’ve never known such a quick turnaround. The biggest section is the heat exchanger, at 800 mm, and we were able to get it fitted by taking the plant door off its hinges." “We matched the three stages of electric heat for the supply air on the previous unit, but the decision to add the low-temperature coil means the end user will benefit from a significant reduction in power consumption when we fit an air-to-water heat pump, probably later this year.’’ Easy maintenance The CTA range comprises 36 customizable models with airflow from 1,000 to 112,000 m3/h. Full design flexibility means the units can be placed on one or two levels, side by side, with special dimensions or shapes, or with fully independent sections for air inlet/recirculation. Construction features a steel base and aluminum frame, with double-skin sandwich panels of varying thicknesses for different profiles. Once installed, the CTA line-up is renowned for simple maintenance, allowing easy removal of all components and full access to all sections for cleaning and replacement.

Eurovent has published a recommendation that illustrates the physics behind the functioning of an air curtain unit. It showcases the energy loss through building openings with and without an air curtain. This new Eurovent Recommendation 16/5 is dedicated to the technical audience showcasing the most relevant aspects and performance factors to be considered for the optimal use of an air curtain unit. It provides the correct tools to be used for making the right system choice. The Recommendation is largely based on the Dutch standard ISSO 110. selection criteria of air curtain units  Michael Hims, Chairperson of the Eurovent Product Group ‘Air Curtains and Fan Heaters’ (PG-CUR), mentioned: “Participants of the Eurovent Product Group ‘Air Curtains and Fan Heaters’ worked with the test laboratory TNO to develop standardized methods and formulas to define the performance and selection criteria of air curtain units in real-world applications." "The results were compiled into the ISSO110 document which has been thoroughly reviewed and endorsed by Eurovent members. Recognizing the technical nature of air curtain specifications and the need for a clear, industry-wide reference, manufacturers have sought to expand the reach of ISSO110 beyond the Netherlands." Benefits of energy saving Michael added: "Rather than duplicating existing research, the Eurovent PG-CUR has worked to refine and republish the document under the Eurovent brand, ensuring its guidance is accessible and applicable across the European market.” Michael further emphasized that: “This is an exciting Recommendation for the PG-CUR to publish as it paves the way for future recommendations focused on air curtain unit effectiveness and associated benefits of energy saving and indoor air quality improvements.”

Eurovent has published its Recommendation on complementary Product Category Rules (cPCR) for ventilation units, guiding the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) under EN 15804. The Recommendation was developed as a joint effort of Eurovent members in collaboration with independent experts. EPDs for ventilation units The document aims to support the ongoing standardization work in CEN/TC 156 WG26 to establish a harmonized cPCR standard for ventilation components and serves as a reference for manufacturers until the official standard is published. The Eurovent Deputy Secretary General Stijn Renneboog stated: “Developing a harmonized approach to LCA and EPDs for ventilation units is crucial for ensuring transparency, comparability, and cost-efficiency across the industry." Focus of the Recommendation Renneboog added: "This Recommendation provides a practical framework to address existing discrepancies and pave the way for a unified standard. Eurovent will continue with similar projects also for other HVAC products.” The focus of the Recommendation is on aspects specific to ventilation units, including product description, scope and performance characteristics, functional unit and declared unit, reference service life and aspects, rules and assumptions in the product stage (A1-A3), construction process stage (A4-A5), use stage (B1-B7), and end of life stage C1-C4.

The HVAC market in Europe is expected to show sustained growth in the upcoming years, but with variation among product segments. The decarbonisation strategies in Europe stimulate a strong demand for energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions. The heat pump market in particular has done exceptionally well, with double-digit growth for several years in a row. That’s the outlook from Eurovent, Europe’s Industry Association for Indoor Climate (HVAC), Process Cooling, and Food Cold Chain Technologies. Its members from throughout Europe represent more than 1,000 organisations, the majority small and medium-sized manufacturers. Eurovent's Outlook “The growth perspectives of the HVAC market depend partly on the fate of the economy,” says Mr. Francesco Scuderi, Deputy Secretary General and Head of Heating and Cooling at Eurovent.  The erosion of multilateral trade relations has created uncertainty in the global economy, which is hampering investment. The issue most close to home for European businesses is the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. The issue most close to home for European businesses is the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union McKinsey Global Institute’s recent global survey of company executives shows that 75% of companies expect to change their strategy due to trade tensions and 33% consider trade uncertainty to be their top concern. “This is a regrettable development,” says Scuderi. “At Eurovent, we have always stood for closer integration and the free movement of goods without unfair trade barriers.” Because of the climate, comfort cooling needs in Europe have typically been dwarfed by the demand for heating, he notes. Still today, more than 60% of the final energy consumption in EU households is attributable to space heating, whereas space cooling represents only a fraction of that according to the latest figures from Eurostat. Expansion Of The European AC Market Even so, the AC market in Europe has significantly expanded. The International Energy Agency estimates that the stock of installed equipment has grown from 44m units in 1990 to some 110m in 2019 and is expected to grow further still to an estimated 275m units by 2050. “While it is hard to gauge precisely the effects of climate change on the need for comfort cooling, more and more frequent extreme heat events have undoubtedly boosted AC sales in Europe, especially in recent years,” says Scuderi. Installed equipment has grown from 44m units in 1990 to some 110m in 2019 The big-picture trends in AC demand follow patterns of economic development, including improved electrification and increases in disposable income. The growth of AC sales in Europe is quite modest compared to the global trends, which have steepened as a result of rapid development in emerging economies like China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Mexico. However, whether additional income is spent to satisfy comfort cooling needs will always depend on climate. “A more interesting potential for the European market is the uptake of heat pumps for space heating purposes,” says Scuderi. “Although the heat pump market has experienced tremendous growth, it still accounts for only a small fraction of all space heating appliances in the EU. Greater acceptance for air conditioners as a heating solution will require educating the market on its advantages, and further strengthening incentive programmes. Although efficient solutions have significantly lower costs over the life cycle of the product, the cost at the point of purchase is usually higher.” Panels discuss the importance of the expansion of the European HVAC industry Energy Efficiency In the EU The European Union has made extensive efforts to decarbonise the economy through a set of important regulatory instruments. The foremost ones for the HVAC industry are the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the F-Gas Regulation, and the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations. The European Union has made extensive efforts to decarbonise the economy Eurovent strongly supports these initiatives, says Scuderi. “They make the building engineering sector more sustainable, encourage the uptake of highly efficient products, and stimulate further innovation and investment in R&D activities. All of this ensures that the European HVAC industry has a role to play in the built environment of tomorrow. Already today, the most energy efficient equipment is marketed in the EU, and the European building stock is on track to become carbon neutral by 2050. We need to work together with our international partners to ensure that the best market-available technologies prevail in more vulnerable markets as well.” Based on objective and verifiable data, members of Eurovent account for a combined annual turnover of more than 30bn EUR, employing around 150,000 people within the association’s geographic area. This makes Eurovent one of the largest cross-regional industry committees of its kind. The organization’s activities are based on democratic decision-making principles, ensuring a level playing field for the entire industry independent from organization sizes or membership fees. Members of Eurovent account for a combined annual turnover of more than 30bn EUR, employing around 150,000 people within the association’s geographic area Who Are Eurovent? As one of the oldest industry associations, Eurovent looks back at more than 60 years of association history. Eurovent today is the result of the merger of the associations CECMA, the European Committee of Constructors of Air Handling Equipment, and CECOMAF, the European Committee of Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers, in June 1996. Eurovent’s Member Associations are major national sector associations from Europe that represent manufacturers in the area of Indoor Climate (HVAC), Process Cooling, Food Cold Chain, and Industrial Ventilation technologies. The more than 1,000 manufacturers within the network (Eurovent “Affiliated Manufacturers” and “Corresponding Members”) are represented in Eurovent activities in a democratic and transparent manner. Eurovent invites everyone to the 2020 EUROVENTSUMMIT, the next edition of Europe’s major gathering for Indoor Climate (HVAC), Process Cooling, and Food Cold Chain Technologies. The 2020 EUROVENTSUMMIT will take place between 22 and 25 September 2020 in Antalya, Turkey. The event will seek to build bridges between manufacturers and consultants, planners, installers, trade associations and policy makers, between Europe, the East and beyond, towards more sustainable and circular products, towards more socially and environmentally responsible industry.