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In 2001, NOVENCO Building & Industry installed one of the first jet fan systems in the United Kingdom for an enclosed underground car park of a shopping mall in South East England. This car park facility with 1,350 parking spaces operates continuously 24/7. Without intelligent CO detection system integration, manual fan operation resulted in excessive energy consumption over 20 years of operation.
1,350 parking spaces
Enclosed underground facility24/7 operation
Continuous facility operation20 years
Manual operation before upgradeThe challenge
Energy inefficiency in underground car park ventilation creates operational challenges. Continuous manual fan operation drives unnecessary power consumption while failing to optimise air quality based on actual CO concentrations.
The challenge
Energy inefficiency in underground car park ventilation creates operational challenges. Continuous manual fan operation drives unnecessary power consumption while failing to optimise air quality based on actual CO concentrations.
The solution
The autonomous CO detection system continuously monitors CO concentrations using strategically positioned sensors throughout the facility. When threshold values are exceeded, the system activates jet fans only in affected zones, eliminating unnecessary operation in unoccupied areas while maintaining safety standards. This targeted approach transforms ventilation efficiency because it responds to actual pollution levels rather than time-based operation.
Four key capabilities
The recommended solution delivered significant operational improvements through four key capabilities:
- Automated CO monitoring system replacing manual fan controls
- Zone-specific activation targeting only areas requiring ventilation
- Real-time response to actual pollution levels rather than time-based operation
- Energy optimisation through intelligent operation protocols
By eliminating continuous operation in favour of demand-based activation, the system addresses the fundamental inefficiency of manual controls. The result is substantial energy reduction while maintaining air quality standards across all occupied zones.
Technical implementation
The autonomous CO detection system continuously monitors CO concentrations using strategically positioned sensors throughout the facility. When threshold values are exceeded, the system activates jet fans only in affected zones, eliminating unnecessary operation in unoccupied areas while maintaining safety standards. This targeted approach transforms ventilation efficiency because it responds to actual pollution levels rather than time-based operation.
By eliminating continuous operation in favour of demand-based activation, the system addresses the fundamental inefficiency of manual controls. The result is substantial energy reduction while maintaining air quality standards across all occupied zones.
Independent consulting firm Royal HaskoningDHV conducted comprehensive CO measurements before implementation and confirmed the system maintained air quality standards while achieving substantial operational improvements. The rigorous validation process established both baseline performance metrics and post-upgrade verification, ensuring the new system met all safety and regulatory requirements.
The validation demonstrated that the intelligent control system maintains equivalent CO levels compared to continuous operation, while activating fans only when CO concentrations require dilution. The delivered system resulted in 85.5% energy savings verified by independent testing. The testing methodology included pre-installation baseline measurements, post-upgrade air quality verification, energy consumption analysis, and compliance confirmation against all applicable standards.
The car park ventilation control system monitors CO levels continuously and responds with zone-specific activation, ensuring optimal air quality. Upon detecting elevated CO concentration, the system activates jet fans in affected areas while increasing extract capacity in nearest shafts. This coordinated response ensures rapid pollutant removal without unnecessary energy expenditure.
The system maintains optimal air quality through intelligent, responsive operation. Continuous monitoring of CO concentrations throughout the facility enables zone-specific activation, only targeting areas requiring ventilation. Variable speed control optimises fan operation based on pollution levels, while coordinated extract systems enhance pollutant removal efficiency. The jet fans induce surrounding air to ensure optimal mixing of contaminated air with fresh air within targeted zones.
Variable speed-controlled exhaust fans remove harmful gases efficiently while adapting to actual ventilation requirements. NOVENCO control panels maintain CO concentrations at safe levels while minimising power consumption through intelligent operation protocols. The integration of monitoring, activation and extraction creates a responsive system that delivers both safety and efficiency.
85.5 %
Energy savings verified by independent testingVerified energy reduction
The intelligent CO detection system achieved 85.5% energy savings verified by Royal HaskoningDHV, transforming the operational efficiency of this 1,350-space underground car park. The system maintains equivalent air quality while activating fans only when CO concentrations require dilution, demonstrating that demand-based automation can deliver substantial energy reduction without compromising safety standards.
Verified energy reduction
The intelligent CO detection system achieved 85.5% energy savings verified by Royal HaskoningDHV, transforming the operational efficiency of this 1,350-space underground car park. The system maintains equivalent air quality while activating fans only when CO concentrations require dilution, demonstrating that demand-based automation can deliver substantial energy reduction without compromising safety standards.
