The climate is getting warmer and, according to forecasts, summers will be warmer and wetter in the Nordics as well. At the same time, the change in living requirements has shaped our perceptions of a pleasant indoor environment. Ventilation designers have quite a difficult task on their desk. How do you ensure that the ventilation units work according to the users’ wishes, even under changing conditions? Enervent Zehnder has a suitable solution ready for this.

In addition to stricter EU regulations, construction engineering plans are also increasingly affected by climate change. In hot and humid climates, the ventilation units are expected to be able to remove moisture from the indoor air, among other things. The challenge is relatively new in northern latitudes.

An innovation developed for export can be used in the domestic market

– We already have a ready-made solution. The moisture transfer function of the rotating heat exchangers in our ventilation units can be used to dry the indoor air. Ventilation units equipped with the patented TwinCoil function have ventilation, heating, cooling and dehumidification in one and the same package. And even controlled with our own control automation, says Ronni Laaksonen, who is responsible for Enervent Zehnder’s sales.

– The innovation was developed at our factory in Porvoo by our own R&D team a decade ago. A new feature was needed for the tropical climate zone of the Southeast Asian export market. The first customers were in Hong Kong and domestic demand has only recently really taken off.

Who should choose a unit equipped with the TwinCoil solution?

Currently, the dehumidification solution is available for three different unit models of different sizes (Pallas, Pegasos and Pelican).

– Temperatures have traditionally been measured in Finland. The humidity in the indoor air has not even been monitored in the same way. A device equipped with TwinCoil is an excellent alternative for e.g. stores where cold surfaces are not allowed to fog. In addition, the solution is suitable for commercial premises and office premises where special requirements are placed on the temperature and humidity of the indoor air.

– We have also installed units equipped with the solution in large, detached houses and holiday apartments. Compared to separately installed air source heat pumps, dehumidification with heat exchangers is cost-effective. Under ideal conditions, it is practically free, reminds Ronni Laaksonen.

The TwinCoil solution is available for models with an air volume range of 360-2800 m³/h. The system is controlled with the units’ own eAir control automation and monitoring can be connected to the most common building automation applications. For more information: andrei.leventcov@enervent.com.

Renovation of the property provides the perfect opportunity to reconsider the technical systems. Especially in smaller properties, it is easy to end up just replacing the old ventilation unit with a newer version, which is not always reasonable. It’s worth spending time comparing different options. Enervent Zehnder’s energy-efficient technology is suitable for buildings in different sizes and locations.

The goal of the renovations is to extend the useful life of the properties and improve functionality at the same time. Replacing the ventilation unit is an essential part of improving the building’s energy efficiency. Old ventilation systems no longer meet current requirements or provide sufficient ventilation, which can also lead to indoor air problems. Changes are also expected for energy costs when new devices significantly reduce consumption.

– Enervent units have a rotating heat exchanger, which is the most energy-efficient technology on the market. In addition to high heat recovery, the devices have cooling recovery in the summer. This way, the need for cooling is reduced and costs are saved, says Ronni Laaksonen, who is responsible for sales.

For the big stadium and the home of a family with children – we have suitable ventilation units for all environments

Enervent Zehnder has supplied equipment to numerous renovation construction sites. Among them are well-known properties as well as private homes.

In the renovation of the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, we delivered six different equipment models for the job. Due to the small ducts, a de-centralized ventilation solution was chosen for the premises. Our ventilation units were installed, among other things, in the stadium’s first-aid rooms, sales points, and washing and changing rooms.

Similarly, in the prestigious building renovated on Bulevardi in Helsinki, the ventilation was customized for each apartment. We delivered ventilation equipment to all apartments and commercial premises, a total of five different equipment models. In this destination, the elegant and unobtrusive appearance of the equipment was one of the selection criteria.

We also found a suitable solution for a family that is renovating an old house to be a suitable home for a family with children. They wanted to keep the gravity ventilation in the house, but a different solution was needed for the bedrooms. The solution was found in Zehnder’s ComfoSpot, a room-specific ventilation device with heat recovery that is both quiet and can be landscaped from the outside and inside.

– The most important thing in the overall renovation of the ventilation system in connection with renovation construction is to decide how to sensibly do the necessary duct work. Finding the answer is part of the HVAC designers’ skills, Ronni Laaksonen emphasizes.

If the property already has an Enervent ventilation unit installed, an option can also be an automation modification package for the old ventilation unit instead of replacing the entire unit.

Ask us more about different product options: enervent@enervent.com

Photo: Enernvent Zehnder’s Ronni Laaksonen and Heikki Sivonen from Lämpökarelia

A large condominium association wanted to improve its energy efficiency. Energy consumption monitoring and reporting was developed as part of the project. In this context, it was observed that it was not possible to monitor and control all ventilation units remotely. The solution to the problem was modification packages, which saved both time and money.

One of Sweden’s largest condominium associations is in Haninge in Stockholm County. Väduren, which includes a total of just over 900 apartments, was built in the 1960s and 70s and consists of both high-rise and low-rise buildings. More than 60 Enervent LTR-7 units are installed in the low-rise buildings belonging to the association. The units were ordered at different times about ten years ago. Each unit serves a stairwell with 4–6 apartments.

In connection with the energy mapping carried out by an external expert, it was observed, among other things, that some of the units manufactured by Enervent were equipped with an older control system, which did not enable remote monitoring.

– There were 25 LTR-7 eco EDW units on site. The units were still fully functional, but remote control was not possible. The remote-control problem was easy to solve, as the units equipped with DC fans were compatible with the newer Enervent eAir remote control system, confirms Jens Krantz, who is sales manager at Enervent Zehnder in Sweden.

– In this case, the modification packages were an effective way to extend the life of the ventilation units. We simply replaced the control system in the ventilation units and now it is easy to monitor energy consumption and service managers can share unit-specific measurement results, for example in the form of an Excel table.

When and how to choose modification packages?

Modification of the ventilation unit is an excellent solution if a ventilation unit installed in a difficult place or integrated in structures needs to be updated. Similarly, if you want to do an eco-deed in connection with the ventilation renovation or if you want a more advanced ventilation control.

Dozens of modification packages are available, and their content depends on the unit model and the customer’s needs. The most comprehensive modification packages include almost the entire technology – only the metal casing and the mechanical parts of the heat exchanger remain from the old unit. The packages installed in Haninge only contained the control system.

If you are interested in updating your own ventilation unit using a modification package, you can contact our technical support, who will find the best solution: service@enervent.com.

If necessary, Enervent Zehnder’s technical support team even travels abroad to install modification packages, as was the case in Haninge. In Haninge, the installation of the modification packages went quickly as our own professionals, who know the units and technology inside and out, were on site.

– From an installation point of view, this was an easy project for us. The stairwells’ units are in the attic, which was only accessible from the outside through the roof hatches, but even that was not a problem in good weather, says Oscar Husman from the technical support team.

Photo: On the way back, our service car was photographed in central Stockholm

Practice varies somewhat between the Nordic countries. In the object in question, one ventilation unit served an entire stairwell with several apartments. In Finland, for example, there is a regulation that limits the use of rotary heat exchangers in centralized ventilation.

Enervent became part of the leading European supplier of indoor air solutions, Zehnder Group, five years ago. The interaction has been lively, and we have been involved in various development projects with parent and sister companies. We are the expert in cold climate and ventilation that meets Nordic requirements in the group of companies belonging to the group. There has been a demand for our special expertise.

As part of the entire group’s brand renewal, we will introduce Zehnder’s renewed look at the turn of the year. Unifying the appearance of the group’s main messages and materials is a welcome change, as it also contributes to making products made in Finland known in new export markets.

Always the best climate

The year 2023 has been a double anniversary year for Enervent Zehnder. This year, the company has been manufacturing ventilation units for 40 years, and in Norway, ventilation units have been marketed under the name Exvent for 20 years. The past decades have accommodated several changes of ownership and at the same time a change in the external appearance. With the upcoming reform, the green logo colour introduced in 2008 will gradually become history. The Enervent logo will remain for the time being, but it will be used together with Zehnder Group’s logo in the future.

– Although our external colour scheme changes, we still offer and manufacture high-quality ventilation solutions developed in Finland, reminds Sonja Häggman, who is responsible for Enervent Zehnder’s marketing and communication, as well as customer experience.

Häggman confirms that joining an international group has opened more opportunities for Enervent to develop its own business.

– The Swiss Zehnder Group, which is a family company, has actively expanded its business through acquisitions, and there have been quite a few country-specific brands under the same roof. Among other things, the reform seeks to strengthen general awareness of Zehnder in all operating countries. Through this, the growth and development of subsidiaries in different countries is supported.

All Zehnder Group companies have high-quality and advanced products in common. It is also described by the slogan “Always the best climate”. The group offers the best ventilation solutions for all needs.

Enervent Zehnder’s ERP system changes at the same time as the brand look. During the first half of next year, we will switch to using the group’s SAP solution. We will inform our various stakeholders about this in more detail closer to the time.

(Photo: Our new identity is already visible at the Porvoo head office)

An Enervent ventilation unit has been installed in the villa in Kirkkonummi in Southern Finland  for more than 10 years. During a maintenance visit, it turned out that it was time to replace the unit. The old unit was replaced with a Salla Compact unit – the very first in history. Salla Compact has a new ceiling mounting mechanism, especially suitable for tight spaces. The customer’s thanks also go to LVI-Trio’s maintenance team, who had listened with an attentive ear to a training session at Enervent Zehnder, when the trainer talked about upcoming innovations.

The ventilation unit’s airflow capacity and its location determine the best option for each property. The units are made to last, and a change of unit only becomes relevant if you want functions that cannot be realized with the old model or if spare parts are no longer available.

A competent maintenance team finds solutions to problems

Jani Lepojärvi and his family have lived in the yellow villa for over 10 years.

– We acquired a pre-fabricated house with complete technical space. There was an Enervent ventilation unit of the Pingvin model installed in a corner. A cabinet-style water heater is installed below the unit and next to it is the central vacuum cleaner.

– I have been satisfied with the installation and the ventilation unit has been easy to maintain. Now that it had a real fault the first time, I contacted an authorized service company. I would have liked to keep the old unit, but now a different type of solution was needed, he notes.

– In the customer’s case, the circuit board of the ventilation unit had broken, and the corresponding circuit board is no longer available on the market, says supervisor Niko Salo from LVI-Trio.

According to Salo, the site visit confirmed that a lot of dismantling work would be required to replace the unit in the cramped technical space. There was also a risk that the water heater could break during the replacement. It was necessary to find a better solution.

The dialogue between the manufacturer and the partner benefits the customer

Enervent Zehnder regularly invites its authorized service partners to update their product knowledge. Last summer, at the Porvoo factory, upcoming product innovations were reviewed under the leadership of sales manager Ronni Laaksonen.

– We were on a training day with my colleague Ville Eskola and remembered that a new ceiling mounting mechanism was under development for the Salla ventilation units. When the customer’s problem came up, I immediately contacted Ronni to ask if it is possible to get a specimen of the new version for installation, confirms Niko Salo.

Enervent Zehnder gave the green light and the Salla Compact unit with its renewed ceiling mounting mechanism was installed in Kirkkonummi without the need to dismantle other structures in the same space.

– I appreciate that the maintenance company took our case seriously and made a real effort to find the best solution for our situation. It made it possible to change to a new ventilation unit from the same manufacturer without difficult dismantling work. When the cooperation between the maintenance partner and the manufacturer works this smoothly, the customer benefits above all else, thanks a satisfied Jani Lepojärvi.

– We collect feedback from customers and service partners. In addition to new solutions, we continuously develop unit models that are already on the market. The popular Salla, launched in 2018, is the perfect choice for villas, and the renewed roof mounting mechanism made it even better, summarizes Laaksonen.

Photo: Ronni Laaksonen with Niko Salo and Ville Eskola from LVI-Trio