National Geographical Centre focus on EC lab fan efficiency

Following a tireless process working on a fume extract retrofit specification, Axair were awarded, delivered, and assisted to integrate the entire polypropylene fans schedule for the prestigious National Oceanography Centre in Southampton (NCOS). 

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 fan selections that would deliver the required operating duties required to provide supply and extract to multiple classified area categories across the building.

Axair's 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.

 This new schedule of works is an exciting and significant project for Axair to be involved in and showcases the quality and value of the polypropylene fume extraction fans that the company supply, as well as raising the profile of how energy efficient retrofits in laboratories across the UK is now front of mind for end users and contractors.

About the site

The NOCS is a centre for research, teaching and technology development in Ocean and Earth science, and has a range of laboratories, workshops, and testing facilities available to the marine science community and external organisations. The NOCS also provides undergraduate, post graduate and community study routes for those who wish to gain experience and work in the environmental sector.

The fan specification

The agreed specification stated that all fans should be chemically resistant polypropylene centrifugal fans with drain point, incorporating forward or backward curved multi-vane moulded impellers, manufactured from polypropylene. Fans should be mounted on a mild steel or outdoor box pedestal with inlet support ring and four rubber anti vibration mounts. All motors should be high efficiency IE5 EC fan motors located outside of the airstream.

Why EC fans with IE5 motors

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.

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