The Brief
Pine Group was engaged to design and install a high-performance ventilation solution for the science laboratories at Maronite College of the Holy Family, replacing an outdated extraction-only system with a modern, energy-efficient heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system.
The project involved the supply and installation of three VEHUM ComX EC Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) systems, providing balanced mechanical ventilation to improve indoor air quality while significantly reducing the energy required to condition incoming fresh air.
The Challenge
Science laboratories present a distinct ventilation challenge: fresh air must be delivered reliably to classrooms while contaminants generated in adjacent chemical preparation areas are contained and extracted, all without the energy penalty of continuously conditioning outdoor air from scratch.
- Replacing an ageing extraction-only system that offered no heat recovery or tempering of incoming air.
- Containing airborne chemical contaminants within the preparation rooms and storerooms.
- Delivering consistent, filtered fresh air across multiple science classrooms simultaneously.
- Installing new plant within an existing concrete-ceilinged building with minimal disruption to teaching.
- 3 VEHUM ComX EC ERV units supplied & installed
- 100% Design-to-commissioning package delivered by Pine Group
- 2 Air streams managed — classroom supply & prep room extract
Our Approach & Solution
Pine Group designed a fully integrated heat recovery ventilation system built around three VEHUM ComX EC Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) units — engineered specifically for the science block’s classroom layout, adjacent chemical preparation rooms, and existing structural constraints.
The systems were suspended from the existing concrete ceilings and connected via custom-fabricated galvanised steel ductwork. Fresh, filtered outdoor air is tempered through the high-efficiency heat recovery cores before being supplied to the classrooms, while stale air is extracted from the adjacent chemical preparation rooms and storerooms — maintaining excellent indoor air quality for students and teaching staff while containing airborne contaminants within the preparation areas.
From concept through to commissioning, Pine Group delivered the complete mechanical ventilation package, including system design, equipment selection, ductwork design, installation, balancing and commissioning.
Outcomes
By replacing the previous extract-only arrangement with balanced heat recovery ventilation, the college now benefits from:
- Improved indoor air quality for students and teachers.
- Continuous supply of filtered, tempered fresh air.
- Reduced heating and cooling energy consumption through heat recovery.
- Improved ventilation effectiveness throughout the science classrooms.
- A quieter, more efficient and sustainable mechanical ventilation solution.
