Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR)

Central mechanical ventilation units extract stale, moist air from wet rooms and some also supply fresh, clean air to habitable rooms. To do this they need a ductwork system with the following components:

Roof and/or wall terminals, which penetrate the building fabric
Air-tight seals for the terminals in warm loft spaces to keep the building fabric air-tight
Often insulated mass flow ductwork between the terminals and the ventilation unit to minimise the risk of condensation
Sound attenuators downstream of the ventilation unit to minimise noise hindrance
Ductwork systems between the ventilation unit and rooms to distribute air to and from them
Supply and/or extract valves in the rooms

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Balanced ventilation for airtight and energy-efficient homes

Modern residential buildings are increasingly airtight to meet energy performance requirements. In these conditions, natural ventilation is no longer sufficient to maintain indoor air quality or control humidity. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) provides a controlled and energy-efficient solution by ensuring continuous air renewal while limiting heat losses.

MVHR systems enable a balanced indoor climate by supplying fresh air and extracting stale air in a controlled way, supporting both occupant comfort and building performance.

How MVHR systems work

Designed as a whole-house solution, MVHR ensures that every room benefits from a consistent and controlled indoor climate. The system operate with two continuous airflows:

Fresh outdoor air is supplied to living spaces such as living rooms and bedrooms
Stale, humid air is extracted from wet rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms and toilets

At the core of the system, a heat exchanger transfers heat from the outgoing air to the incoming fresh air. This allows ventilation without significant energy loss, while maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature.

Integrated filtration further improves indoor air quality by reducing the presence of outdoor pollutants and allergens.

➔ Learn how airflow can be further optimized with Demand-controlled mechanical ventilation

When MEV is the right solution

In airtight homes, natural ventilation is no longer sufficient. MVHR provides a reliable and controlled alternative that improves both living comfort and building performance.

MVHR systems are particularly suitable for:

Airtight and low-energy residential buildings
New build projects with high energy performance targets
Homes where both indoor air quality and energy efficiency are key requirements

They are commonly used in low-energy and passive house designs, where controlled ventilation is essential to overall building performance.

➔ For renovation or simpler systems, see the Mechanical extract ventilation solution.

A complete system approach

Ubbink delivers MVHR as a complete system, where all components are designed to work together efficiently. The system includes:

Air distribution with the Air Excellent system, designed for low air resistance and flexible installation
Aerfoam insulated ducts to reduce heat loss and limit the risk of condensation
Roof and wall terminals for air intake and exhaust while ensuring airtight, and watertight connections
Supply and extract valves to regulates and evenly distributes airflow

The components are designed to connect directly to each other, which supports a straightforward installation process , ensures airtightness, and maintains consistent system performance over time.

➔ Discover the full range of compatible components in Ventilation products Download the ventilation brochure for detailed system information

Suitable for a wide range of residential applications

Suitable for both new build and renovation projects, Ubbink MVHR systems can be adapted to a wide range of housing types and climates. Their modular design allows flexibility in design and installation, supporting residential projects across international markets.

➔ See how MVHR is applied in practice in our Projects and case studies

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