Specifying fresh-air recovery: a checklist for developers

Fresh-air recovery systems are usually specified once, early, and then largely forgotten until commissioning. That makes the specification stage the highest-leverage point in the entire process — decisions made here determine whether the system performs as intended, fits the building’s design language, and supports the sales and marketing story the development is built around. The following is a practical checklist for developers working through that stage.

Airflow sizing and placement

The starting point is airflow — how much fresh air each space needs, based on occupancy, room volume, and use. For residential developments, this typically means sizing per unit rather than per building, since each apartment or villa needs its own balanced supply and exhaust. The Oxy Home series covers 250, 350, and 450 m³/h, which maps to a range of unit sizes from compact apartments to larger family residences.

Placement matters as much as capacity. OxyOne units are ceiling-mounted and built into the space above the ceiling, which means coordination with structural and MEP drawings needs to happen early — retrofitting a built-in ventilation unit after ceilings are finished is far more disruptive than allocating the space during design.

Climate and core type

Confirm the core type matches the climate and building use. An enthalpy core that recovers both heat and humidity — like the counterflow core in OxyOne, rated up to 82% heat recovery efficiency — is the more robust default for most occupied buildings, particularly in climates with meaningful seasonal humidity swings. This is worth confirming explicitly rather than assuming, since the difference between a heat-only and an enthalpy core has a lasting effect on occupant comfort that is difficult to retrofit later.

Filtration and indoor air quality targets

Decide what level of filtration the development needs to support, and confirm it against the equipment’s actual rating rather than a general description. H12 filtration at 99.9% efficiency for 0.3 micron particles, combined with a washable primary filter and an ionization field discharge stage for fine particles, bacteria, and viruses, is a meaningful baseline for residential and hospitality projects positioned on health and wellness.

Noise, power, and operating range

Three quieter specifications deserve attention because they affect daily experience rather than headline performance. Noise levels — roughly 30 to 42 dB(A) depending on model and speed for the Oxy Home series — determine whether occupants notice the system at all. Power consumption, reduced by roughly 70% through a DC brushless motor compared with conventional motors, affects both operating cost and how the system fits into a building’s overall energy strategy. And operating range — OxyOne is rated from -15°C to 45°C — should be checked against the climate the building will actually experience, including extremes.

Controls and integration

Decide how the system will be controlled and by whom. Options include a TFT display for direct local control, a mobile app for individual unit owners, and RS485 connectivity for integration with a building management system. For multi-unit residential developments, this is often a split decision: individual units get app or display control, while common areas and larger installations integrate with the BMS.

Co-branding and the sales story

Finally, consider how the ventilation system is presented to buyers. A built-in fresh-air recovery system is a genuine differentiator, and developments that name and explain the system — rather than burying it in a mechanical schedule — tend to get more value from the investment in sales conversations. This does not require a marketing campaign. It requires the system to be visible enough, in floor plans and sales materials, that buyers understand it is there.

Treated as a checklist rather than an afterthought, fresh-air recovery becomes infrastructure that quietly supports both the building’s performance and its market position — decided once, correctly, at the stage where it is still inexpensive to get right.