The Unico system - What Installers need to know

Описание: On day one of InstallerShow we caught up with Cliff Arnold, Solutions Manager at Bell Plumbing Supplies, suppliers of the Unico system.

First, tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m the Solutions Manager for Bell Plumbing. I've been in the industry for over 18 years, mainly as a heating engineer but in cooling and ventilation as well. I felt it was about time I took a role that would allow me to give some of my knowledge back to the likes of our new installers.

Can you tell us more about the Unico system and why it is different to other ventilation systems?
It’s a modular ventilation system that can be connected to an air source heat pump or ground source heat pump. It can provide heating, cooling and ventilation in domestic properties.

Is this a new product?
It’s actually been available in the US for over 30 years and has been developed and improved over that period of time. Unico is a family run business based in the US. Bell Plumbing brought it over to the UK because we believe it is a great fit for our transition to low carbon technologies.

Can you tell us the different ways the Unico system conditions the air within the property? What does it actually do?
It's slightly different to what people would perceive as an MVHR system or an MEV. What it's doing is moving the air around the envelope of the building. As we’re moving that air around, we're able to filter, heat and cool it - so we're conditioning it. We're also able to disinfect it using things like UV filters and remove particulates. What that does is create a cleaner environment but also provide renewable heat via a heat pump system. We're not pulling all the air out and recovering that heat. We're moving it around and conditioning it and bringing fresh air in a steady controlled rate. We calculate the ventilation rates for the individual building and that enables us to manage that indoor air more effectively, more efficiently, while also providing heat and cooling to every single room in the building.

The important question for installers is how easy is it to install?
It's actually really easy because the unit itself is broken down into modular sections, so you can move it around the property really easily. It's also designed to be hidden in roof voids, ceilings and various other places.

Can it be installed in an existing dwelling?
It can absolutely be installed into an existing dwelling. However, we all know that when it comes to the UK housing stock, there's often a lot of work that needs to be done to the fabric of the buildings. We would always recommend that fabric first is the best approach. So if you are renovating a property only lightly and just replacing a heating system, the Unico ventilation system might not necessarily lend itself to a whole house fit. But what we can do is what we call the ‘sleep easy’ solution. We just take care of the upper floor and actually improve the quality of the air and manage the heat in the upper floor.

Can the system work with underfloor heating?
The system can work alongside underfloor heating. An example would be your ground floor has an underfloor heating system while your upper floors would be heated and cooled and ventilated by the Unico system.

What services does Bell Plumbing Solutions provide to its customers?
Bell Plumbing is a traditional plumbers’ merchant with nine branches around the Midlands. The solutions team provides services to all of those branches and what we do is provide design, technical support, such as on-site guidance, and training. We provide the installer with high quality support in making the transition into the renewables world. 18 years of experience tells me that a lot of things can go wrong when you're talking about new systems. So helping installers navigate that pathway is really important for us because our customer relationships are what the business has been built on.