The revised Part L has given a boost to humidification and it is up to manufacturers to grasp the nettle, says Dave Mortimer, national sales manager for Vapac Humidity Control.
THE Department for Communities and Local Government's (formally the ODPM) commitment to ever more stringent building regulations in the future is throwing up a raft of opportunities across the industry. The requirements for air tightness in particular present an excellent opportunity for humidification manufacturers.
Following the Part L revisions that came into play in April, air pressure leakage testing of buildings has become mandatory to prevent unacceptable leakages which could affect the energy efficiency of buildings. The revisions also set out standards for building work to minimise heat loss, conserve fuel, power and set maximum carbon dioxide emissions for whole buildings.
The regulations are creating ripples across the air conditioning industry and all that it encompasses - heating, cooling, humidity, ventilation and air filtration. With a greater emphasis on the reliance of fresh air and designing out air conditioning in terms of cooling and shifting the focus towards renewables, natural ventilation is preferable. However, it does not always address a building's cooling load and places restraints on occupancy levels and designs, nor does it take into account the drop in relative humidity.
On the face of it, it appears that humidification has drawn the short straw with Part L revisions placing a greater reliance on natural ventilation and air tightness in relation to unacceptable leakages that could affect the energy efficiency of buildings. However, the comfort and well-being of a building's occupants depend on adequate humidity levels as well as air quality.
In the winter months, a heating system has the tendency to dry the air. Without the right levels of humidity, dry eyes, sore throats and static electricity can become serious workplace issues.
Humans are very adaptable and for our own comfort, the environment does not have to be specifically controlled to very fine tolerances. Generally, good design practice criteria ensure that the comfort and well-being of building occupancy is between 19- 23oC with 45 to 55% relative humidity.
Moisture migrates from the body through the nose, eyes, mouth and skin. Moisture migrating from the skin causes adiabatic cooling which will reduce the comfort of room occupants. At 21ºC, with low humidity, moisture migrates from the skin making a room occupant feel cool. Raising the humidity level would reduce the ability of the moisture to migrate from the skin and the occupant would feel warmer.
We know that low humidity is uncomfortable but can also be unhealthy. Airborne bacteria can travel further and faster through a dry atmosphere than through a humid atmosphere.
Dryness also causes cracking of the nasal tissues that can give inhaled germs direct access to the blood stream. A dry atmosphere also affects contact lens wearers. The lens sits on the eye on a film of moisture. Should this film dry out the lens can start to feel coarse, like a piece of grit and could cause permanent damage.
Walking over a nylon carpet, wearing synthetic soled shoes can generate a static charge of up to 35,000 volts in a dry atmosphere.
Raising the humidity can reduce the discharge to about 1,500 volts, less than 5%.
Issues surrounding dryness come under the government's own regulations about how buildings are built. Health, safety, energy efficiency, sustainability and security are key.
Humidifier manufacturers have already gone to great lengths to help end users reduce their expenditure by producing lower cost systems. They have also embraced environmental issues with the introduction of recyclable components in their designs.
Many modern buildings with no mechanical air control can present a problem when it comes to the design and inclusion of humidity.
Older buildings, including listed buildings, also do not lend themselves to the easy inclusion of humidity control. Retro-fitting is costly and not necessarily straightforward. This has placed innovation high up on the priority list for UK humidifier manufacturers.
Innovative design has a major part to play for the future of the industry. Manufacturers need to channel their energies into better product design and components, taking advantage of the blueprint that Part L offers. The rewards are there for those companies that are prepared to think beyond the box and take in the full picture.
Vapac T: 01732 863447