Passivent makes the grade at historic Northumberland hall – ADC

Leading natural ventilation solutions manufacturer Passivent has helped to breathe new life into Grade II listed Matfen Hall in Northumberland following an extensive refurbishment programme designed by Doonan Architects. The refurbishment of the gothic hall, which was built in 1832 and is located in the Northumbrian countryside, has greatly enhanced its current use as hotel and wedding venue. Passivent worked closely with specialist building environment and services engineers Skelly & Couch to develop a natural ventilation strategy for the hall’s newly covered external courtyards. This led to the use of Passivent’s high-performance Aircool wall ventilators, situated beneath the striking rooflight, to maintain a fresh air supply in the enclosed area.

Installed by Passivent’s client, J P Westhall, 10 Aircool wall ventilators were specified for the lower courtyard, with seven in the upper courtyard. Passivent also supplied a two-zone iC8000 intelligent controller, which monitors the internal and external temperature, as well as the carbon dioxide level, to allow the facilities team to control the natural ventilation system.

Close collaboration was key to the successful delivery of the ventilation system, with Skelly & Couch working with Passivent very early in the design stage to access the relevant technical product information and calculate the required free area. This information was then passed back to Passivent so the Aircool wall ventilator’s aperture could be sized accordingly.

Commenting on the large-scale renovation project, Rosie Jones, associate at Skelly & Couch said, “On such a complex restoration project as this, it was essential that we not only identified the right product but also found the right supply chain partner. The Passivent team was extremely efficient and provided us with all the product information we needed in a range of formats so we could advance the technical design of the ventilation strategy effectively. The team’s contribution ensured the specification process went smoothly and we would certainly look to use Passivent ventilation products again in the future.”

Nathan White, General Manager at Matfen Hall added, “We are delighted with the work that has taken place here at the hall. The refurbishment not only enhances the natural beauty of the hotel but will provide us with much more flexibility for events taking place all year round. The covered courtyard has become a real focal point and both the rooflight and the natural ventilation system that are now in place will ensure this stunning outdoor space can be enjoyed to the full for many more years to come.”