Co-ordinating ASHP/MVHR/Aircon/Solar PV design into new build

[Bancroft]

We're now at the stage where we're about to create the detailed technical drawings for our new build (RIBA stage 4).

We're expecting to have the full gamut of modern house stuff (ASHP/Aircon/MVHR/Solar etc).

 

I've identified the different providers/systems I want to use for most of the systems - and they're all different!

 

My question is - how best to integrate the design of all these systems into the building in the most effective/efficient way.

 

Do I go to suppliers of each system and ask them to design their bit - or do I find a company that specialises in taking all my preferred systems and creating an integrated solution?

 

I was planning to do the former but an architect I was speaking to yesterday implied that the second option was 'the norm'.

 

Does anyone know of companies that will do as the architect suggests and that they can recommend?

 

Or should I proceed as I planned?

[Bramco]

We did the latter - but then our architect was our son, so we had to do as we were told.....

 

We used Mesh and their report was very useful to the MVHR contractor and when we came to do the ASHP install.  We actually used them in 2 stages, firstly to do the heat loss analysis to confirm we would be OK with just UFH on the ground floor. We then did a full M+E report.

 

The ASHP installers used the heat loss analysis as an input, so didn't have to do that again, which saved some on their MCS bit.

 

But having said that, if you're reasonably tech savvy, then it shouldn't be difficult to go through your design drawings with each of the suppliers to get them to mark up on the drawings how they intend to implement things.

[JohnMo]

So question - do you need air on and ASHP, install fan coils where you want it colder, UFH in cooling mode for the rest. Size fan coils for cooling on about 16 Deg water flow.

 

MVHR treat as a separate entity, it's just ventilation.

 

PV / battery treat separately also from ventilation and heating.

 

One contract - no. Go for a specialist in each discipline. But education yourself in what you actually need, from each piece of equipment, be knowledgeable. Don't do their job for them, but understand if you are being sold something fairly and not being ripped off.