The Tuusula Housing Fair 2020: the semi-detached Duplio has Vallox ventilation

Kati-Annika and Sami Aalto, who built the semi-detached Duplio in the Tuusula Housing Fair 2020 area together with Aila Tynell, rely on the expertise of a HVAC designer and the Finnish Vallox.

The semi-detached Duplio is characterised by a carefully thought-out floorplan and the feeling of spaciousness. The house is site 27 of the Tuusula Housing Fair 2020. Side A of the modern semi-detached house, built by Lammi Kivitalot, will be the home of Aila Tynell and side B will be the home of Kati-Annika and Sami Aalto and their daughters.

-The construction project started in 2017. We hadn’t considered a stone-built house, but cooperation with Lammi Kivitalot was so smooth that, in the end, we decided to build our house with them, says Sami Aalto.

The residents allowed the professionals to do the building and concentrated on acquiring the necessary permits, organising bidding competitions, and making procurements. As regards ventilation, the work started by selecting the HVAC designer.

-We found a very professional HVAC designer, with whom we first discussed the available options broadly. We initially considered e.g. an extraction heat pump, but the HVAC designer advised us to invest in the quality of the indoor air of our home. In the end, we decided on geothermal heat and a Vallox 110 MV ventilation unit, says Aalto.

The net floor area of the mirror-image apartments is 107 m2 each. Both apartments have a Vallox 110 MV ventilation unit. The units were installed inside the utility room cabinets and against the exterior wall. The dimensioning of the units leaves room for increasing their efficiency in the future.

-Partly due to this, the units are so silent that they are practically unnoticeable. The separate cooling convector is significantly louder. We are very pleased with the professional skills and insight of the HVAC designer. The ventilation works well.

The floor area of the combined lounge-kitchen of side A of the semi-detached house Duplio has been used effectively. Lighting a fire in the centrally located fireplace is made easier by the Fireplace mode of the MyVallox control.

Both apartments of the semi-detached Duplio have a Vallox 110 MV ventilation unit. They are located in the utility room cabinets.

The selection was based on Finnish design, ease of use, and silent and effective operation

The selection of the ventilation unit was, to a large extent, based on the plan prepared by a HVAC designer. The wishes of the residents regarding ventilation were clear: good and fresh indoor air, reliability, smooth operation, silence, inconspicuousness, and, if possible, of Finnish make.

-We were happy with the recommended Vallox unit, as it is our principle to favour Finnish product whenever possible. In addition to the Vallox ventilation unit, good indoor air is, in our home, supported by other Finnish products, such as the single plank wooden floors by Timberwise Oy.

The significance of ventilation is emphasised in Duplio, because the aircraft noise regulations applied in the area were stricter when the construction was started than they are now. Based on these regulations, the doors and windows of the building had to be insulated especially well in order to prevent the transmission of noise inside the building. The regulations were loosened later, but the noise insulation of the doors and windows remain.

-This is probably why the house is so quiet. We don’t even notice the noise caused by roadworks outside, says Aila Tynell.

In Duplio, the ventilation unit is hidden in the utility room cabinet.

Sami Aalto shows his next-door neighbour Aila Tynell how the control panel of the MyVallox ventilation unit works. According to the residents, it is clear and easy to use.

Ventilation tips to people building a house

Now that the construction project has been completed and the moving in is around the corner, it is time to look back and assess what went well and what could have been done differently. Both families are satisfied with the overall solution.

-The ventilation could not work any better. The air inside the house is fresh and the MyVallox control is extremely easy to use. All that needs to be done is to select whether you are at home, away, or need a boost. We have not yet tried out the Custom mode or the MyVallox Cloud service, but there’s plenty of time to do that.

The ventilation duct network was implemented by using the traditional sheet metal ducts. This is one of the only ventilation-related matters that Sami would reconsider if he were to start the project now.

-In terms of space use, Vallox BlueSky ducts would have been a more efficient option. If I were starting the project now, I would read more about this option and discuss it with the HVAC designer. However, changes would have affected many other aspects of the project and, as a whole, the current solution is excellent.

In both apartments, the MyVallox control panel has been located next to the door leading to the utility and bathroom. The handy location makes the control easy.

Aila Tynell has already cleaned the filters of her Vallox 110 MV ventilation unit from the impurities generated during the construction phase.

Basic information:

Duplio’s side A / Aila Tynell: 3 rooms + kitchen + sauna + car shelter + storage
Duplio’s side B / Kati-Annika and Sami Aalto with their family: 4 rooms + kitchen + sauna + car shelter and storage
Year of completion: 2020
Net floor area: 107 + 107 m2
Ventilation: Vallox 110 MV L and Vallox 110 MV R

Introduction of Duplio´s side B on Lammi-Kivitalo´s website: https://www.lammi.fi/kivitalo/taloesittelyt/asuntomessut-2020/duplio-aalto

Introduction of Duplio´s side A on Lammi-Kivitalo´s website: https://www.lammi.fi/kivitalo/taloesittelyt/asuntomessut-2020/duplio-tynell