ᐅ After reviewing the development plan, are noise protection measures necessary?

nordanney schrieb:

Not just one. There are half a dozen units. For each device, there’s a 150-180 mm (6-7 inch) duct inside the wall. You don’t want that. It definitely gets really loud inside the house.

Even the quiet, barely audible hum of the central ventilation systems in the show homes made me feel uneasy.
Why, I have no idea.
The fairly loud pump of the cat fountain doesn’t bother me, nor do other noises.
But that does?
I don’t fully understand it myself.
My wife just thought the air inlets and outlets looked ugly, and she likes to ventilate often.

Stone82 schrieb:

Even the barely audible whispering of the central ventilation systems in the display homes made me feel uneasy.

This is because people tend to be more receptive to familiar sounds than unfamiliar ones—especially in an unfamiliar environment. That naturally leads to skepticism.

Stone82 schrieb:

My wife simply found the air supply and exhaust vents ugly, and she enjoys airing the house.

They certainly aren’t very attractive, but the same actually applies to electrical outlets 😉. And why don’t people find outlets worth mentioning? See above.
And if you think about it carefully, outlets are even less attractive than the uniform vents of a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery.

Many people enjoy opening windows for fresh air. That changes drastically when it becomes a REQUIREMENT, like three times a day, even in subzero temperatures—and in every room. But of course, you can still ventilate with a mechanical system 🙂

Stone82 schrieb:

The general contractor suggests a decentralized ventilation system.
From my point of view, I think a centralized system would be better.

Yes,

Papierturm schrieb:

If no ventilation was planned initially and now the choice is between centralized and decentralized, here is my opinion on the matter:
A good centralized ventilation system offers several features that a decentralized one cannot provide to the same extent (heat recovery in winter; comfortable humidity levels in winter through an enthalpy exchanger; also, many systems can be programmed to automatically counteract heat in summer).
Therefore, if the budget allows, I would plan for a centralized ventilation system.

I agree. The key factor here regarding the budget is probably why the general contractor suggests the decentralized option: fear that the client might consider the offer too expensive and possibly turn to a competitor.

Stone82 schrieb:

However, I realized I didn’t communicate my point correctly. I sincerely apologize once again.

That has long been forgiven. And my "translation" shows that it was understood after all. It’s not uncommon here for a newcomer to enter the discussion and speak with some inexperience. So, we are used to terms like “risalite” being referred to as bay windows, or “zwerchhäuser” called dormers. Or someone omitting quotation marks when pretending to be a “site manager.”

Stone82 schrieb:

I am somewhat surprised that you wrote that to me. So far, I haven’t found any source stating that a centralized ventilation system is cheaper than a decentralized one.

The decentralized option only appears to be cheaper if you think it through and do the math properly. It is often offered as "cheaper" than centralized systems, either due to a lack of understanding or incompetence (as with the provider Kern-Haus). Even a layperson notices with a centralized mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system if the entire house isn’t covered. But when installing decentralized (meaning in this context: non-networked) inefficient small units spread throughout parts of a house, the offer can look like a cheaper alternative. However, if you remove this pricing trick and equip the entire house with decentralized units, the disadvantage of not being networked (i.e. lack of communication and shared capacity) remains, but the apparent cost advantage at purchase price reverses (half a dozen units at 20% each cost more than a single index 100 unit). Operational costs are higher too, due to inefficiency (lack of system connection) and lower performance (no heat recovery, etc.). That is why decentralized systems are better suited as retrofits for existing buildings when mechanical ventilation is added and the occupants can accept a lower level of ventilation comfort and somewhat improved air quality for better sleep.

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11ant schrieb:

the reduced performance

… is negligible with decentralized units. They all basically have heat recovery.

11ant schrieb:

The decentralized option only appears more expensive if you think it through and do the math; it is often offered as "cheaper" than the centralized system. Or it’s due to (in)competence reasons (as with the provider Kern-Haus). With a centralized controlled residential ventilation system, even a layperson notices if the entire house isn’t covered. However, if you install several inefficient small units scattered across parts of the house in a decentralized way (which in this context means "not networked"), the offer may seem like a less expensive alternative. Correcting this calculation trick by providing the whole house with small units removes the cost advantage at the purchase price (half a dozen times twenty percent is more than index 100), although the disadvantage of no networking (= lack of communication / capacity pooling) remains. On top of that, operational effort increases due to inefficiency (from the missing system connection) and reduced performance (missing heat recovery and similar features). Therefore, the decentralized design is better suited as a retrofit solution when adding controlled residential ventilation to an existing building and when one is satisfied with improved ventilation comfort and better air quality for sleeping.

I understand what you mean. I agree with you. Spending more money can bring added value.

Right now, I’m just relieved to have that buffer. I used to chuckle at why my financial advisor added a buffer on top of the calculated buffer. We thought we could get it done cheaper. After all, we’re not that demanding…

Now it feels a bit different.

Stone82 schrieb:

Even the faint, barely audible whispering of the central ventilation systems in the show homes made me feel uneasy.

There are often a few more issues in show homes:
- Covers damaged or not properly secured.
- System set too high ("party mode")
- Not a regular central controlled residential ventilation, but often an air-to-air "heat pump" (purely subjective based on my experience, these air-to-air heat pumps were consistently louder, even during summer operation, compared to a conventional central controlled residential ventilation system).
- Ventilation incorrectly designed (this can also happen during planning; too much power at the outlet = noise).

Stone82 schrieb:

I understand what you mean. I agree with you. Spending more money can add value.

Right now, I’m really glad to have a buffer. I used to laugh at why my financial advisor added a buffer on top of the calculated buffer. We can do it cheaper. We’re not that demanding after all…

Now it feels a bit different.

If I’ve learned one thing: it’s good to have a buffer. And if things go wrong, you often need more buffer than initially expected.

And if you don’t end up needing the buffer: great, then you already have something for the landscaping!