Free ventilation is disguised as traditional chimneys

10 June, 2007

Resembling sixteenth-century chimneys on the adjacent castle in Thornbury are Passivent Airscoop terminals that deliver natural ventilation to a new community centre

Mimicking chimneys on buildings surrounding a £3 million state-of-the-art community facility in Gloucestershire are the terminals of its natural-ventilation system. Thornbury Community Centre, designed and commissioned by South Gloucestershire Council, features as a central element of its architecture Passivent Airscoop DAD (direct air dispersal) ventilation terminals. Six terminals on the roof ridge provide natural ventilation for the whole building, in line with the council’s policy of utilising sustainable strategies where possible. They harmonise with the notable brick chimneys built in 1514 on the town’s castle and other chimneys on surrounding buildings. Project architect, The Property Consultancy of the council’s property-services division, worked with Passivent to achieve the bespoke design and required air-change rates of the Airscoop terminals and site them to ventilate each area of the centre without having to use mechanical ventilation. Each of the three teaching rooms has a 1025 mm-square Airscoop. There are also two serving the multi-activity hall and one above the café. Each terminal is linked to a Passivent control system. The control system ensures that ventilation is continuous and boosts it as required to maintain the preferred, preset internal temperature. Manual-over-ride facilities enable occupants to adjust airflow if required, with the automatic settings being restored after an adjustable period of time.

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