UK leading company based in Crawley marks 90 years of improving indoor air quality on World Ventilation Day

This year, as Vent-Axia celebrates its 90th anniversary, the company, who are headquartered in Crawley, is highlighting nine decades of developing ventilation solutions to improve indoor air quality (IAQ).

With this year’s theme of ‘Action to Impact’, WorldVentil8 Day, which will be held on Sunday, November 8, is encouraging everyone to take practical steps to improve ventilation in homes, schools, workplaces and public buildings, and to measure the difference these improvements make.

World Ventilation Day was created by researchers and professional bodies who are passionate about the importance of ventilation and its vital contribution to creating a healthy and comfortable indoor environment.

This year's theme, ‘Action to Impact,’ focuses on turning awareness into practical action, encouraging people to identify where ventilation can be improved, make changes and assess their effectiveness.

With people spending much of their time indoors, effective ventilation is essential to helping maintain good IAQ, remove pollutants and excess moisture, and create healthier, more comfortable buildings.

For Vent-Axia, taking action to improve IAQ began in 1936 when engineer and inventor Joe Akester developed the Silent 6, the world’s first electrically operated window fan.

Since then, the company has introduced a series of pioneering ventilation technologies, from its iconic Standard Range fan in 1961 and the world’s first Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) fan in 1992, to the introduction of its energy-efficient LoWatt range in 1997 and Lo-Carbon range in 2007.

These developments have helped improve ventilation performance, electrical safety and energy efficiency, paving the way for today’s intelligent ventilation systems that can monitor indoor conditions and respond to changes to air quality requirements.

Joseph Brawn, product and marketing director at Vent-Axia, said: “We are delighted to be supporting World Ventilation Day again, particularly in this special year as we celebrate Vent-Axia’s 90th anniversary.

“For nine decades, innovation has been at the heart of our business, helping us develop ventilation solutions that improve the environments in which we live and work.

“This year’s theme of ‘Action to Impact’ is particularly relevant, as improving indoor air quality isn’t just about recognising its importance, it’s about practical steps to make a real difference.

“As buildings become increasingly energy efficient and airtight, effective ventilation has never been more important.

“Whether in homes, schools, workplaces or public buildings, we need to ensure ventilation is appropriate for the space, performs effectively and delivers good indoor air quality.

“As we look to the future, we remain committed to developing innovative, sustainable ventilation solutions that help create healthier, more comfortable buildings for generations to come.”

As building requirements have evolved over the years, Vent-Axia has continued to develop technologies that improve both ventilation performance and energy efficiency.

In 2008, the company introduced the Sentinel Totus, the UK’s first Demand Energy Recovery Ventilation (D-ERV) system. Combining demand-controlled ventilation with EC/DC motor technology and up to 90 per cent heat recovery, the system demonstrated how effective ventilation could be delivered while reducing energy consumption.

Today, Vent-Axia’s ventilation technology increasingly includes intelligent sensors and controls. Its Lo-Carbon PureAir Cleanse dMEV, for example, features an integral indoor air quality sensor alongside humidity control, which actively monitor and help improve indoor air quality in homes.

Meanwhile, the Lo-Carbon Revive 7 Switchee-Enabled solution provides social housing landlords with real-time information on humidity and fan operation, helping landlords identify properties at risk of condensation and mould and take action before problems escalate.

This year’s World Ventilation Day also marks just over a year since Awaab’s Law was introduced, which has placed great emphasis on tackling damp and mould in social housing.

Scotland has also taken steps to strengthen protections for tenants, with the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 coming into force on October 6, 2026.

With landlords required to investigate and address damp and mould within specific timelines, effective ventilation has an important role to play in protecting and creating healthier homes.

These developments reinforce the importance of taking a proactive approach to indoor air quality, reflecting this year’s ‘Action to Impact’ theme.

In commercial buildings, Vent-Axia’s multi-award-winning Sentinel Apex heat recovery range provides energy-efficient ventilation while recovering heat from extracted air.

The award-winning Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) range provides whole-house ventilation with heat recovery for new-build residential homes.

These technologies demonstrate how ventilation has evolved to meet the dual challenges of maintaining good indoor air quality while minimising energy consumption.

These innovations reflect this year’s World Ventil8 Day theme of ‘Action to Impact’, demonstrating how advances in ventilation technology are helping turn better indoor air quality into practical, measurable improvements.

To maintain good indoor air quality, ventilation systems need to be correctly installed and properly maintained, deliver the required airflow, and respond to changing indoor conditions to ensure they perform as intended.

To achieve good installation and performance of the system, it is imperative that the system is designed, installed and commissioned by a competent person/s.

To enable installers to start their road to competency, Vent-Axia offers the NICEIC domestic ventilation course throughout the year from its Crawley or Dudley facilities.

From monitoring humidity and carbon dioxide levels to using intelligent sensors and controls to adjust ventilation automatically, today’s technology provides greater insight into indoor environments, helping identify potential problems early, improve air quality and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

As Vent-Axia celebrates 90 years of British manufacturing and innovation, World Ventilation Day highlights that improving IAQ is an ongoing commitment.

By combining nine decades of engineering expertise with continued investment in intelligent, energy-efficient and sustainable ventilation solutions, Vent-Axia remains focused on taking action to help improve indoor air sustainably.

To find out more about World Ventilation Day, visit www.worldventil8day.com or follow #WorldVentil8Day via social media.

For further information on Vent-Axia’s ventilation solutions, visit www.vent-axia.com.