How Do I Meet Passivhaus Standards?

The key principles of Passivhaus design include:

• Superior Insulation - Buildings are heavily insulated to minimise heat loss
• High-Performance Windows and Doors- The use of advanced windows and doors with low U-values to prevent heat transfer
• Airtight Construction - Buildings are constructed to be highly airtight to minimise uncontrolled air exchange and heat loss
• Ventilation with Heat Recovery - Mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery (MVHR) are used to ensure a constant supply of fresh air while recovering the heat from the outgoing air
• Thermal Bridge-Free Design - Construction details are carefully planned to eliminate thermal bridges, which are pathways that allow heat to bypass insulation
• Passive Solar Design - Maximising the use of passive solar energy to reduce the need for additional heating or cooling

The goal of a Passivhaus is to achieve a high level of comfort while minimising energy consumption. These homes and buildings can often achieve a 90% reduction in heating and cooling energy compared to conventional buildings.
Certification as a Passivhaus requires meeting specific performance criteria, and the standards can be applied to various types of buildings, including residential, commercial, and industrial structures.

Looking For A Passivhaus MVHR System?

The Air Shop are experts in all things ventilation, MVHR and Passivhaus!

MVHR is one of the fundamental aspects of achieving Passivhaus certification. MVHR Heat Recovery ventilation is essential to achieve healthy ventilation levels and optimal energy efficiency.

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Why MVHR For Passivhaus Homes?

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) is a crucial component of Passivhaus design for several reasons:

• Airtight Construction - Passivhaus buildings are constructed to be highly airtight to minimize uncontrolled air exchange. While this helps in reducing energy loss, it also means that there is a need for controlled ventilation to ensure a continuous supply of fresh air.
• Energy Efficiency - MVHR systems recover and reuse the heat from the exhaust air before it is expelled from the building. This heat recovery process significantly contributes to the energy efficiency of the building. The recovered heat is used to preheat the incoming fresh air, reducing the need for additional heating energy.
• Good, Consistent Indoor Air Quality - Controlled ventilation with MVHR ensures a consistent and controlled supply of fresh air, which is essential for maintaining indoor air quality. This is particularly important in airtight buildings where natural ventilation may be insufficient.
• Comfort - MVHR helps in maintaining a comfortable and healthy indoor environment by providing a constant supply of filtered and preheated fresh air. It also helps to control humidity levels, preventing issues such as condensation and mold growth.
• Compliance - Passivhaus certification requires meeting specific energy efficiency and performance criteria. Including an MVHR system is often a necessary component to achieve the required levels of airtightness, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.
• Reduced Reliance on Traditional HVAC Systems - Passivhaus design aims to minimise the need for traditional heating and cooling systems. MVHR, by efficiently recovering and redistributing heat within the building, helps reduce reliance on external heating sources, contributing to the overall energy efficiency of the structure.

MVHR is a fundamental aspect of Passivhaus design, playing a key role in achieving the energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality goals set by the Passivhaus standard - there are specific MVHR units which are Passivhaus certified that help meet the energy consumption of heat recovery efficiency performance rates required. 

MVHR Design for your home

Looking for a MVHR Design and Quotation?

Check out VentAssure™ our personalised package designed to support your home ventilation project from start to finish;

includes;
Design Compliance Calculations
MVHR System Design and Layout
VentAssure™ Installation Support Package
Credit Towards your Materials Order

The complete home ventilation package from The Air Shop.

Considering A Passivhaus Project?

Expert Advice On Passivhaus MVHR

If you are looking at building to Passivhaus standards and need help or advice on MVHR, our ventilation experts are on hand to guide you on all things Passivahus, MVHR and #IndoorAirQuality.