MVHR unit guide

Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic F and FH: specifications, filters & guide

MVHRVent-Axia

The Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic F and FH are wall-mounted MVHR units; the FH adds a summer bypass and an integral humidity sensor.

  • Summer bypass
  • Evening and night-time purge
  • Integral humidity sensor
  • Acoustic enclosure and top box
  • Frost protection

Buy replacement filters for Sentinel Kinetic F and FH

Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic F and FH MVHR unit
Image: Vent-Axia

About the Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic F and FH

The Sentinel Kinetic F and FH are wall-mounted mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) units made by Vent-Axia. They run continuously, drawing stale, moist air from bathrooms, toilets and kitchens and passing it through a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the fresh air supplied to bedrooms and living areas. They are intended for houses and similar dwellings under the 2010 edition of Approved Document F. For the FH, the ErP product fiche gives a thermal efficiency of 90% and an energy class of SEC A+.

The FH has a summer bypass, a damper that sends outdoor air around the heat exchanger when the house is warmer than the indoor temperature set on the controller and the air outside is cooler, and an integral humidity sensor that raises fan speed as relative humidity rises. It is made as a right-hand unit (408167) and a left-hand unit (408169), each also available with an acoustic enclosure, an acoustic top box or both. The casing is 550 mm high, 555 mm wide and 350 mm deep, weighs 19 kg and has 125 mm duct spigots.

Ducting can leave the unit vertically, horizontally or both. Fan speeds are set at commissioning, with factory defaults of 20% (low), 30% (normal), 50% (boost) and 100% (purge) of maximum flow. Boost can come from the front button, a wireless switch, a light switch, a sensor or a 0-10 V input, and the integrated digital controller offers BMS connectivity, volt-free inputs and an adjustable delay-on and delay-off timer. Once commissioned, the unit should need no day-to-day intervention.

Two removable filters sit behind flap panels on the casing and protect the heat recovery cell. They are ISO 45% Coarse (G3) as standard, 184 x 328 mm, and an ISO ePM10 50% (M5) grade is the optional finer alternative. The control unit shows a Check filters reminder at the interval set during commissioning, because filters that become too dirty restrict airflow or let dirt pass through to the heat exchanger. Part numbers, the filter change procedure, maintenance intervals and fault codes are set out below.

Key specs

Max. flow rate (FH, ErP product fiche)
331.2 m³/h
Max. airflow at 100 Pa
79 l/s (284.4 m³/h)
Thermal efficiency (FH, ErP product fiche)
90%
Specific power input, SPI (FH)
0.30 W/(m³/h)
Default airflow settings
Low 20%, Normal 30%, Boost 50%, Purge 100% of maximum flow
Ambient temperature limits for installation
Not above 40 °C and not below -20 °C
Operating humidity
0% to 95% RH
Storage temperature
-20 °C to +45 °C
Height (excluding spigots)
550 mm
Width (excluding spigots)
555 mm
Depth
350 mm
Weight
19 kg
Maintenance access area
360 mm x 560 mm
Acoustic top box weight
11 kg
Acoustic enclosure weight
19 kg
Supply
220-240 V AC, single phase, 50 Hz
Max. power input at max. flow rate (FH, ErP product fiche)
168 W
Supply fuse
3 A, located in the fused spur
Product fuse
2 A, on the main PCB
IP rating
IP22
Spigot diameter
125 mm
Condensate pipe diameter
22 mm
Standard filters
2 x ISO 45% Coarse (G3), part no. 409764 (pack of 2)
Optional finer filter
ISO ePM10 50% Pollen (M5), part no. 472153 (single)
Filter size
184 x 328 mm
Control unit
LCD display with four buttons
Summer bypass and integral humidity sensor
FH
Sound power level LWA (FH, ErP product fiche)
61.03 dB
Energy class (FH)
SEC class A+
Regulations and listings
Building Regulations ADF and ADL compliant; recognised in SAP PCDB

Replacement filters for the Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic F and FH

How to change the filters

  1. Wait for the Check filters message

    The display shows Check filters at the interval set at commissioning. The filters are reached through the flap panels on the casing. Do not remove the unit's covers: mains voltage is present inside, and the unit must be switched off at the mains before any cover is removed.

  2. Open the filter flaps

    Open the filter flaps and take out both filters.

  3. Clean or fit new filters

    For a routine check, clean the filters gently by tapping them or by carefully using a vacuum cleaner. At a scheduled change, fit two replacement filters of 184 x 328 mm.

  4. Close the filter flaps

    Close both filter flaps.

  5. Reset the reminder

    Press and hold the up and down buttons on the control unit together for 5 seconds to clear the automatic message.

  6. Record the next change date

    Note the date of the next required filter change on the filter check record provided with the unit.

Manuals & downloads

User InstructionsPDF
Acoustic Top Box & Enclosure Fitting InstructionsPDF
Installation & CommissioningPDF
Installation of the unit in the Opposite OrientationPDF
Sentinel Kinetic FH DatasheetPDF
Revit FileRFA
Installer & Homeowner GuidePDF
EU/UK Declaration of ConformityPDF

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Specifications

Performance

Max. flow rate (FH, ErP product fiche)
331.2 m³/h
Max. airflow at 100 Pa
79 l/s (284.4 m³/h)
Thermal efficiency (FH, ErP product fiche)
90%
Specific power input, SPI (FH)
0.30 W/(m³/h)
Default airflow settings
Low 20%, Normal 30%, Boost 50%, Purge 100% of maximum flow
Ambient temperature limits for installation
Not above 40 °C and not below -20 °C
Operating humidity
0% to 95% RH
Storage temperature
-20 °C to +45 °C

Dimensions & weight

Height (excluding spigots)
550 mm
Width (excluding spigots)
555 mm
Depth
350 mm
Weight
19 kg
Maintenance access area
360 mm x 560 mm
Acoustic top box weight
11 kg
Acoustic enclosure weight
19 kg

Electrical

Supply
220-240 V AC, single phase, 50 Hz
Max. power input at max. flow rate (FH, ErP product fiche)
168 W
Supply fuse
3 A, located in the fused spur
Product fuse
2 A, on the main PCB
IP rating
IP22

Connections & ducting

Spigot diameter
125 mm
Condensate pipe diameter
22 mm

Filters

Standard filters
2 x ISO 45% Coarse (G3), part no. 409764 (pack of 2)
Optional finer filter
ISO ePM10 50% Pollen (M5), part no. 472153 (single)
Filter size
184 x 328 mm

Controls & features

Control unit
LCD display with four buttons
Summer bypass and integral humidity sensor
FH

Acoustics

Sound power level LWA (FH, ErP product fiche)
61.03 dB

Approvals & compliance

Energy class (FH)
SEC class A+
Regulations and listings
Building Regulations ADF and ADL compliant; recognised in SAP PCDB

At a glance

Unit type
MVHR
Manufacturer
Vent-Axia
Product range
Lo-Carbon Sentinel Kinetic MVHR range
Versions
FH: summer bypass and integral humidity sensor
Handing
FH made as right-hand (408167) and left-hand (408169) versions
Acoustic options
Acoustic enclosure, acoustic top box, or both
Mounting
Wall-mounted, upright; ducting vertical, horizontal or both
IP rating
IP22
Energy class (FH)
SEC class A+
Manufacturer's guarantee
2 years from date of purchase, for products installed and used in the UK
  • 331.2 m³/hMaximum flow rate, FH (ErP product fiche)
  • 90%Thermal efficiency, FH (ErP product fiche)
  • 168 WMaximum power input at maximum flow, FH
  • 61.03 dBSound power level LWA, FH
  • G3, 184 x 328 mmStandard filters, 2 fitted (ISO 45% Coarse)
  • 125 mmDuct spigot diameter

Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic F and FH features

FH

Summer bypass

When the house is warmer than the set indoor temperature (16-40 °C, default 25 °C) and the outside air is cooler, a damper lets outdoor air skip the heat exchanger. It only works while the outdoor temperature is above 14 °C (adjustable), and it contributes to cooling rather than replacing it.

Evening and night-time purge

Bypass models can run at boost speed through the evening, stopping after at most 5 hours, or through the night, to flush warm air from the house while outdoor conditions allow.

Integral humidity sensor

Fan speed rises in step with relative humidity, and the sensor also reacts to small but rapid rises, so a steamy bathroom or kitchen is cleared without the whole system running at boost. A night-time setback reduces nuisance tripping as humidity creeps up with falling temperature.

Acoustic enclosure and top box

An optional acoustic enclosure reduces breakout noise and an optional acoustic top box reduces in-duct noise, each available as a factory-built version of the FH.

All models

Frost protection

With supply air between 0 °C and -20 °C the unit cuts the supply airflow and raises the extract rate to stop ice forming on the heat exchanger. At -20 °C or below the supply fan stops and the extract fan runs at a reduced rate.

Boost and purge

Pressing the front boost button once, twice or three times gives 30 minutes, 60 minutes or continuous boost, and holding it for 5 seconds starts a 2-hour purge at 100% fan speed.

Multiple control inputs

Boost can be triggered from a 240 V switched live, five pairs of switch terminals, a 0-10 V proportional input, a wireless switch or a wired remote controller. A building management system can also command the fans off.

Filter reminder

The display shows Check filters at the interval set at commissioning, and the reminder is cleared from the control buttons once the filters have been dealt with.

Room-too-cold protection

If the heating fails and the internal temperature falls below 5 °C, the unit stops so it does not draw cold air in. It restarts every hour to measure the temperature and resumes normal running once the property warms up.

Building dry-out mode

A dry-out status runs the unit at maximum flow for one week (168 hours) and counts the time down on the display.

Installing the Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic F and FH

Mount the unit on a wall, always upright, with duct connections leaving vertically, horizontally or both. Fix the supplied metal bracket to a wall that can carry the 19 kg unit, fit the stand-off feet from the accessory bag, then hang the unit by locating its two steel wall bushes on the bracket. Keep a maintenance access area of 360 mm x 560 mm clear in front of the unit, and do not use the unit to support other equipment. In an unheated space, insulate the unit and its ducting.

The condensate pipe is fixed with a worm-drive clip to a 22 mm vertical pipe and must connect to the building's foul water drainage through a U-bend trap with at least a 60 mm water seal (or a HepVo valve), falling at least 3 degrees. Insulate the pipe if it runs through a cold void. The drain can leave through the back, side or bottom of the unit, and the final connection is made outside the unit after installation.

  • Do not install the unit where the atmosphere is excessively oily or greasy, where corrosive or flammable gases, liquids or vapours may be present, where it may be sprayed with water from hoses, or where ambient temperature may exceed 40 °C or fall below -20 °C.
  • Intake air must come from outside the property, and the unit must not be connected directly to a tumble drier.
  • Open the supply and exhaust valves fully before commissioning, and allow at least 5 minutes for the unit to stabilise when changing between boost and normal speeds.
  • Installation and the electrical connection must be carried out by suitably trained and qualified persons, with a local double-pole fused spur (3 A fuse, at least 3 mm contact separation) to isolate the supply. Switch the unit off at the mains before any cover is removed.
  • Follow the manufacturer's full installation, operation and maintenance instructions for wiring diagrams and commissioning settings.