Axair are proud to have been awarded and delivered the entire polypropylene fans schedule for the prestigious National Oceanography Centre in Southampton (NCOS).
This schedule of works is an exciting and significant project for Axair and showcases the quality and value of the polypropylene fume extraction fans that the company supply. The project which started over five years ago includes a specialist diagnostic hub for the study and diagnosis of disease and illnesses using the latest in medical technology to analyse anything from simple blood tests to more advanced genetic testing.
The retrofit, which had the objective of increasing energy efficiency with the introduction of EC components into the site, would be tackled in several phases due to budget restrictions and to ensure all components were integrated with the building management system seamlessly. Axair’s industrial and technical team worked collaboratively with the contractor, specifier and building management consultant to ensure accurate EC fume fan selections that would deliver the required operating duties required to provide supply and extract to multiple classified area categories across the building.
Our inhouse technical team worked to support all stakeholders with the integration of the EC fans and inverters into the building management system to deliver current monitoring solutions that could meet the objectives of the project:
To improve the energy efficiency and reduce fume extraction system energy consumption across the site.
During the lifetime of the project, the five-page fan schedules changed according to building updates, consultant amendments and legislation. Axair worked closely with the awarded contractor J&B Hopkins to deliver a suitable specification with required airflow and pressure duties of each plantroom application. Applications included ventilated specimen stores, down draught tables, ventilated cut up rooms, microbiological safety cabinets and autoclave in addition to multiple laboratories and processing rooms. Duty and standby fans were chosen with inverters for additional control and to reduce overall fume extraction system energy consumption by slowing down fans when required allowing a more efficient start up on larger fans such as the S35.
The most impressive outcome of this project was that although Axair were awarded with the project, they were not originally named on the specification. Due to the tenacious, technical ability of our Industrial team, who are trained to fine tooth comb through specifications, they quickly identified any errors in the fan selections based on the given duties and made the necessary comments back to the consultants, showing a higher degree of precision, technical ability, and overall customer care to ensure the fume extraction systems would perform. Ultimately securing the order with the confidence of both the consultant and M&E contractors.
Energy efficient polypropylene fans featuring IE5, are designed to reduce fan energy consumption by up to 20% without affecting performance. EC polypropylene fans come with inverters prewired with a 1m cable while the motor can be situated up to 25m away from the inverter. 1m cable was supplied as standard by Axair, therefore additional cable was provided by the contractor. The use of EC fans would assist with improving the BREEAM status with credit contributions in the Ene.07 category from increasing the operational efficiencies in the laboratories.
