Sun, 21 Jun 2026 05:16:38 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62400#Comment_62400 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62400#Comment_62400 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:40:34 +0100 julius
Time for the next big question!

How best to insulate the 150mm round ducting used for my MVHR system to be??? Formed fibreglass with foil wraparound is going to cost too much (maybe £32 a metre!). Screwfix have a skinny bubble wrap foil product for £8.99 for 5m x 400mm. Possible to wrap this around and foil tape it?? Effective enough?

Are there certain areas which are more important to insulate? (ie. cold inlet from exterior to MVHR unit/unventilated floor space runs....)

Are there areas/runs which are best left uninsulated?

As usual many thanks in advance, J.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62412#Comment_62412 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62412#Comment_62412 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:00:11 +0100 Tuna https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62433#Comment_62433 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62433#Comment_62433 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:37:24 +0100 CWatters
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6%22,-150mm-INSULATED-FLEXIBLE-DUCTING%2fVENTILATION%2fHOSE_W0QQitemZ260379369411QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6%22,-150mm-INSULATED-FLEXIBLE-DUCTING%2fVENTILATION%2fHOSE_W0QQitemZ260341873999QQcmdZViewItem

These are just the first I saw. You might find cheaper/better.

Away from ebay here is insulated duct at £47 +VAT for 10 meters...
http://www.itho.co.uk/Products/Ducting_~_Accessories/Flexible_Aluminium_Ducting/ProductsList.aspx?id=71
so your prices seem way off.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62434#Comment_62434 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62434#Comment_62434 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:41:00 +0100 julius https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62435#Comment_62435 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62435#Comment_62435 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:42:43 +0100 julius https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62436#Comment_62436 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62436#Comment_62436 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:45:44 +0100 julius https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62441#Comment_62441 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62441#Comment_62441 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:35:47 +0100 julius https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62449#Comment_62449 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62449#Comment_62449 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:11:42 +0100 Tuna
The specific heat capacity of air is pretty low, so you have to move huge volumes of air around to actually warm a house. At normal ventilation levels, MHVR doesn't really move enough air to contribute to heating. You can get inline heaters that claim to do the job, but I'm quite cynical about them.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62452#Comment_62452 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62452#Comment_62452 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:31:52 +0100 Mark Siddall
Mark]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62453#Comment_62453 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62453#Comment_62453 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:59:14 +0100 wookey
My limited understanding is that you only really need to insulate pipes in the loft or an unheated cellar. Any pipes in normal rooms should be OK as-is. Although insulated is presumably always better than not-insulated unless the whole duct route really will always be the same temp as the air inside.

If you arrange a long input route through ground or basement then that part should be uninsulated as the idea is to warm or cool (according to time of year) the outside a ir somewhat.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62455#Comment_62455 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62455#Comment_62455 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:31:11 +0100 Tuna https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62465#Comment_62465 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62465#Comment_62465 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:43:42 +0100 docmartin https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62470#Comment_62470 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62470#Comment_62470 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:51:06 +0100 julius
As I mentioned I had always assumed that flexible duct would give greater resistance to air flow (though in theory easier to run) so I decided to use rigid ducting. In particular I have chosen to use 150mm round with only a couple of sections converted to flat 220x90 (or 80 I forget- in any case the 150mm round equivalent -megaduct I think it's called). As the pipe is quite large there is a large element of boxing in and dropping sections of vaulted ceiling to get the pipe runs but as I make (or have made) built-in furniture it will all (in due course) get surrounded by cupboards, wardrobes, bookshelves and other stuff.

Unit I've bought is Itho Eco 4 - it was a toss up between that and the Vortice Prometeo and it was almost the toss of a coin that decided it... I bought it from www.dealec.co.uk

I have gotten my ducting from www.bes.co.uk - all next day delivery and quite competitive on price as far as I can tell.

Insulation products I've found are rockwool pipe lagg

http://www.aidirect.co.uk/index.php/insulation-materials/rockwool-mineral-fibre-insulation?p=2

and knauf insulation do a FG equivalent but you'd need to call up for prices from someone like Encon.

Sinnerboys comments throughout this forum are interesting and worthwhile I'd say. He advocates fusible link dampers on any ceiling mounted grilles/vents on lower floors and connecting the motor on the unit to the smoke alarms in that if there is a fire then the fans trip off. Seems like good common sense to me, I'm glad to have read his comments.

Apart from that the ducting arrives today, unit on Friday so I'll drop a post once I get fitting and let you know how it goes.

Cheers, J.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62479#Comment_62479 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62479#Comment_62479 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:43:17 +0100 Tuna
We also have a central vaulted ceiling, and have solved the issue of duct runs by putting them through the mezzanine floor and up through studwork to get to the required locations.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62493#Comment_62493 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62493#Comment_62493 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:28:08 +0100 julius https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62539#Comment_62539 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62539#Comment_62539 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:44:04 +0100 Julian Definitely fusible link terminal / grille for example in kitchen, plant room etc. They're well worth the cost.
I have put runs of ducting in the loft space / roof voids hard down onto the ceiling joists (using galv. steel spiral wound 100 - 150mm duct), omitted insulation between rafters underneath and brought adjacent insualtion up to the duct. Then, as I add layers I can eventually run the insulation over the duct itself.
Rockwool make a foil covered pre-formed mineral wool insulation but it's not cheap and hedeous stuff and besides loft insulation ought to be going in anyway.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62542#Comment_62542 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62542#Comment_62542 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:22:31 +0100 chuckey Frank]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62551#Comment_62551 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=62551#Comment_62551 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:26:43 +0100 Julian that sounds like it may need tuning?
Another option - particularly good for the duct to from machine and exterior terminals (i.e. colder air flow therefore more likely to attract condensation) is a type of rigid foam. It's similar to Climaflex type pipe insulation but a bit stiffer. You can buy bends as well as T's and of course straight duct and it's joined with plastic clips. Can't think what its called now.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64614#Comment_64614 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64614#Comment_64614 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:35:29 +0100 Alan Garrett
By quirk of fate I am doing much the same thing only a couple of weeks later. I also went for the Eco 4 from Dealec and have just found your thread, thanks for BES I've just ordered some ductwork to do the outside connections, the internal ones I was also going to convert round to flat but haven't ordered the ducting yet, need to get rid of the scaffolding asap and will do the internals later.

What external louver/grills did you go for?

Have you come across any 'gotchas' yet?

A]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64619#Comment_64619 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64619#Comment_64619 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:44:45 +0100 James Norton
J]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64785#Comment_64785 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64785#Comment_64785 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:28:10 +0100 Alan Garrett
A]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64787#Comment_64787 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64787#Comment_64787 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:15:31 +0100 James Norton
J]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64845#Comment_64845 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=64845#Comment_64845 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:57:08 +0000 djh Posted By: juliusHave since found a fair few FG and rockwool [products so am sorted in that department. Would still like to hear about which if any pipes aren't necessary to be insulated...
If you have a heater in the air supply then you do need to insulate those pipes even inside the heated volume. See section 3.5 in http://www.drexel-weiss.at/HP/Upload/Dateien/Kap03_Systeme_08_EN.pdf for example. Best to ask the manufacturer of your system, I guess.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=66280#Comment_66280 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=66280#Comment_66280 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:51:19 +0000 ciaranw https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=66288#Comment_66288 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=66288#Comment_66288 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:41:55 +0000 MarkBennett Posted By: ciaranwSorry to appear ignorant, but what are 'fusible link dampers'? I intend to install a couple of systems myself next year, so am reading all comments avidly.

They're controls on the ducting so that it gets closed off in the case of a fire to stop the fire spreading from room to room through the ducting. See http://www.scottaire.co.uk/circularvalves2.html for examples (no affiliate etc.)]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=66322#Comment_66322 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=66322#Comment_66322 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:21:51 +0000 vEHMv https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=67849#Comment_67849 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=67849#Comment_67849 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:27:05 +0000 Benpointer
On the Dealec website it says of the Itho Eco 4 "Suitable for New Build high and low rise residential buildings but NOT renovations." Given I'm doing a renovation, I just wondered if anyone knew why they say this ??]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=67861#Comment_67861 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=67861#Comment_67861 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:47:04 +0000 Tuna Posted By: BenpointerHi

On the Dealec website it says of the Itho Eco 4 "Suitable for New Build high and low rise residential buildings but NOT renovations." Given I'm doing a renovation, I just wondered if anyone knew why they say this ??

I think they say this because it is extremely difficult to manage air infiltration in a renovation. In such cases, the unit will not perform as designed, and will not achieve the efficiencies promised.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=67899#Comment_67899 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=67899#Comment_67899 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:43:00 +0000 Benpointer Buildings suitable for HRU ECO 4 installation:
Residential buildings
New builds
High and low rise buildings
Renovations (where improvements to air tightness have been made).

Julian, currntly trying to decide between the Itho HRU Eco 4 and the Vortice Prometeo HR 400. They look very similar (I wonder if they're the same inside -i.e. bit of badge engineering ?). The prometeo looks to have a few more features included as standard (e.g. RF controller).

I would really love to hear from anyone who has either of these two installed...]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=67920#Comment_67920 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4575&Focus=67920#Comment_67920 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:15:42 +0000 AdrianHunt