D+H UK worked with John Turner & Sons Limited to provide natural and smoke ventilation systems at the Edge Hill University Library.

The University Library is at the heart of the Ormskirk campus. It has three floors providing a variety of spaces for both students and staff such as presentation pods, workshop areas, quiet study space, training rooms and research space.

Natural day-to-day ventilation
D+H UK supplied and installed chain drives to 126 top hung open out windows. Windows up to 1500mm wide are operated by a single drive, wider windows required two drives. Covers were provided to conceal the drives and their wiring, in keeping with the aesthetics of the windows.

Bespoke Fieger louvres were supplied by D+H UK as part of the natural ventilation system. The double-glazed aluminium units have anti-trap protection built-in.

D+H UK's control panel is linked directly to the Building Management System, providing a fully automated natural ventilation solution. Weather sensors will close the windows when rain is detected. Manual override switches are used to control the natural ventilation system when required.

Mechanical smoke ventilation
EN certified dampers are fitted to each floor, along with local smoke detection. The fans are placed within the smoke shaft with an open sky louvre above them, providing weather protection.

The smoke extraction system will begin to operate automatically when smoke is detected, sucking smoke and poisonous gasses out of the Library and replacing it with clean outside air.

In the event of a power failure, the system will switch to the emergency power supply and the duty fan will engage.

Planned preventative maintenance
D+H UK maintain the smoke ventilation systems at the Edge Hill University Library, ensuring their continued reliability.