Vaillant recoVAIR facade grille, anthracite, 210/180 mm

Product detailed description

Vaillant recoVAIR facade grille, anthracite, 210/180 mm is an original end element of the ducting system for the recoVAIR VAR ventilation unit series, designed to terminate the supply or exhaust ducting directly on the facade of a family house or apartment building. The grille is built to connect to the flat oval EPP duct profile with a cross-section of 210/180 mm, which Vaillant uses throughout its range of decentralised and centralised ventilation solutions with heat recovery. Thanks to this dimension, the grille is fully compatible with the EPP ducting, elbows, couplings and T-pieces of the same diameter that make up the standard accessory range for the recoVAIR air distribution system.

The anthracite colour finish (a dark grey, RAL-like shade close to RAL 7016) was chosen deliberately so that the grille blends in discreetly and harmoniously with both modern and classic facade designs on the house facade - dark shades are increasingly used in contemporary architecture precisely because they visually "merge" with joints, gutters, dark window frames or roof coverings, unlike light-coloured plastic grilles, which always create a visible contrasting point on the facade. This grille is therefore suitable not only as a purely functional element, but also as part of an architecturally considered facade design for both new builds and renovations.

The role of the facade grille in the ventilation system

In mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery, the facade grille is the only point where the house's air system physically meets the outside environment. This position gives it two equally important tasks at the same time:

• Intake of fresh air - if the grille is fitted on the supply (fresh) air side, it must ensure a smooth supply of outdoor air into the recoVAIR heat recovery unit with the lowest possible resistance, so that the unit's fan does not have to overcome unnecessary pressure loss and the system runs quietly and with low energy consumption.
• Exhaust of stale air - if the grille is fitted on the exhaust side, it discharges air that has passed through the heat recovery exchanger (which has removed most of its heat) away from the building so that it does not return to the intake and cause so-called short-circuit airflow (recirculation) between the exhaust and the intake.

This is exactly why facade grilles are always installed in pairs (one intake, one exhaust) and why the recommended minimum distance between them must be observed to prevent mixing of the air streams - a mutual spacing of at least 1-2 metres is typically recommended, or placement on different facades of the building (e.g. intake on the northern, shaded and cooler side, exhaust on another side of the house) if the layout of the house allows it.

Technical design and material

The grille is made of weather-resistant plastic (typically UV-stabilised polypropylene or ABS), which withstands long-term exposure to sunlight without becoming brittle or losing colour, as well as repeated freeze-thaw cycles throughout the year. The internal construction of the grille includes:

• A connecting spigot with a dimension of 210/180 mm, shaped to fit onto the EPP duct with minimal clearance and allow sealing against the ingress of rainwater into the gap between the grille and the ducting.
• Louvre or grille slats on the front, which prevent rain and snow from entering the ducting directly while maintaining free airflow - the slats are generally slightly angled outward and downward to direct rainwater away from the grille.
• A protective mesh against insects and small animals (birds, rodents), which prevents them from entering the ductwork, where they could cause blockages, damage the filters of the recoVAIR unit, or create hygiene issues.

The outer frame of the grille is sized to cover any gap in the facade around the penetration and, at the same time, to allow anchoring into the facade render or cladding using screws through mounting holes around the perimeter of the frame.

Installing the facade grille

Installing this grille requires several steps that every installer working on the ducting of the recoVAIR system should follow:

1. Drilling or cutting the penetration in the facade with a sufficient diameter for the 210/180 mm EPP duct to pass through, plus sufficient allowance for the thermal insulation of the perimeter wall around the penetration.
2. Inserting a short section of EPP duct through the penetration so that its outer end protrudes slightly beyond the facade surface (usually a few centimetres, depending on the thickness of the insulation system) and is ready to receive the grille.
3. Sealing the penetration around the duct with a vapour-permeable facade foam or sealing tape so that no thermal bridges or moisture condensation points arise in the wall structure.
4. Fitting the grille onto the protruding end of the duct, pressing it firmly into place, and then anchoring it with screws into the facade layer (into the base render, or into facade dowels in the case of a contact insulation system).
5. Checking the slope - the grille and the short section of duct behind it should have a slight outward fall so that any rainwater that gets behind the slats drains outward rather than into the ducting.

It is recommended to install the grille only after the final facade finish (render, cladding) has been completed, to avoid it being soiled by building material or mechanically damaged during further construction work. On insulated facades, it is advisable to temporarily cover the grille with a protective film during painting or the application of facade paint.

Compatibility with the recoVAIR system

This facade grille is designed as part of a complete family of Vaillant recoVAIR ducting components with a 210/180 mm cross-section. It is therefore directly compatible with:

• recoVAIR EPP ducting in lengths of 500 mm and 1000 mm,
• 90° EPP elbows of the same cross-section for changing the direction of the ducting just before the facade,
• 210/180 mm EPP duct couplings, if it is necessary to extend or adjust the duct run between the unit and the facade,
• and indirectly with the entire range of recoVAIR VAR units (60/4, 150/4, 260/4, 360/4), since the 210/180 mm cross-section is the standard connection dimension for the main air distribution branches in this system regardless of the specific unit model.

For larger units (recoVAIR VAR 260/4 and 360/4) with a higher rated airflow, some projects use a double stainless-steel facade grille with a larger cross-section instead of this simple anthracite grille, combining both the intake and exhaust port in a single facade position - this is particularly suitable where it is architecturally desirable to minimise the number of facade penetrations.

Maintenance and care

The facade grille is a maintenance-free element from a functional point of view, but a regular visual inspection and cleaning is recommended as part of the annual maintenance of the ventilation system:

• At least once a year (ideally in spring, after the winter period with fallen leaves, snow and dirt), check that the slats or protective mesh are not clogged with leaves, pollen, cobwebs or insects.
• The grille can be cleaned with a damp cloth or a soft brush, or rinsed with a gentle stream of water from the outside - do not use aggressive solvents or abrasive cleaning agents, which could damage the UV-stable surface finish of the plastic.
• Check that the frame has not been mechanically damaged and that the fixing screws have not come loose, especially after strong storms or frost.
• If the grille serves as an intake grille, its condition directly affects the quality of the air supplied to the whole house through the heat recovery unit - a clogged grille increases pressure loss, forces the recoVAIR unit's fan to work at a higher output, and makes the system noisier and less efficient.

Why choose an original Vaillant part

Although universal facade grilles from various ventilation equipment manufacturers are also available on the market, the original Vaillant recoVAIR part has several advantages over them:

• Precise dimensional match with the 210/180 mm EPP duct system - universal grilles are usually sized for round ducting, and adapting them to the flat oval recoVAIR profile requires additional, often leaky reducers.
• Preserving the warranty on the entire ventilation system - the manufacturer guarantees the declared parameters (airflow, noise level, heat recovery efficiency) only when original accessories are used throughout the entire duct run.
• Colour and material match with the other components of the system, which is particularly important for visible installation on the facade, where aesthetics play a role.
• Proven durability in the outdoor conditions of Central Europe, including frost, UV radiation and rain, tested directly by the manufacturer during the development of the entire recoVAIR system.

Positioning the grille in relation to compass orientation and the surroundings of the house

When designing the duct run to the facade grille, it is also worth paying attention to its orientation relative to the compass directions and the immediate surroundings of the house, as these factors directly affect the quality of the intake air and the energy balance of the entire ventilation system:

• The intake grille should not be placed near sources of polluted air - close to a chimney, boiler flue, a garage with car exhaust fumes, waste containers or a compost heap. It is recommended to maintain a sufficient distance (usually at least several metres) from these sources.
• Placement on the north or north-east facade is often advantageous for fresh air intake, since this side of the house is less exposed to direct sunlight during the summer months, meaning the intake air tends to be somewhat cooler, which can slightly ease the cooling balance of the house in summer.
• The exhaust grille, on the other hand, should not be directed towards a neighbouring property, a terrace, the windows of living rooms, or places where people frequently spend time, since the discharged air, even after passing through the heat recovery exchanger, is still air extracted from the interior (albeit cooled by the heat it has given up).
• The height at which the grille is mounted above ground level should respect local practice and the designer's recommendations - a higher position reduces the risk of it becoming covered by snow in winter and limits access for small rodents, while too low a position increases the risk of drawing in dust, pollen from the lawn, or moisture from the ground.

Hygiene and safety aspects

The quality of the air supplied to the living spaces of the house depends primarily on the quality of the air drawn in through this very facade grille - it is the first (and, on the exhaust side, also the last) point of contact between the interior of the house and the outside air. For this reason:

• The insect mesh inside the grille should be checked regularly to make sure it is not torn or loose - a damaged mesh allows insects (for example bees, which are drawn to the warm air flowing from the exhaust side during the winter months) to enter the ductwork directly.
• In areas with an increased pollen concentration (flowering season), it may be advisable to supplement the system with a quality air filter directly in the recoVAIR unit, since the facade grille itself serves only as a coarse mechanical barrier, not as a filter for fine particles.
• Thanks to its design, the grille also prevents excessive amounts of rainwater from entering the system during strong wind or storms, which could lead to increased moisture in the ducting and, in extreme cases, to mould forming inside it.

Summary

The Vaillant recoVAIR anthracite facade grille, 210/180 mm, is an irreplaceable end element of every ducting run in the recoVAIR mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. It ensures a safe, weather-resistant and aesthetically discreet transition of air between the interior and exterior of the house, protects the ducting system from the ingress of insects, rain and dirt, and, thanks to its precise dimensional match with the 210/180 mm EPP ducting, guarantees the tightness and declared performance of the entire ventilation system. Its regular, simple maintenance, consisting of a visual inspection and occasional cleaning, ensures long-term reliable operation without the need for professional intervention.