The Silenceair building ventilation system was installed at the Shepherd's Bay Apartments in Meadowbank, Sydney delivering several advantages to the building. Designed to be fully air-conditioned, this upmarket apartment complex is located adjacent to a railway.

Similar to all air-conditioning systems, the system at Shepherd's Bay Apartments cycles a percentage of air as fresh air, also called 'make-up' air, which is intended to maintain oxygen levels and stop the build-up of toxins in the air. Old, stale air is expelled through relief ducts or vents in a conventional system.

Considering the noise issues associated with the railway, a traditional design solution would have called for a central pressurised fresh air supply system to be ducted through the building via the common hallways and corridors into each apartment. However, this would have required lowered bulkhead ceilings in the corridors and fire dampers where the air ducts penetrated the fire compartment of each apartment. This solution would have also led to higher and more expensive maintenance routines and ongoing operating costs.

Instead, the Silenceair building ventilation system was adopted with the existing bathroom exhaust used to draw air out of the apartment. The required 'make-up' fresh air is drawn directly into the apartment via the Silenceair units that are located in the bulkhead over the lounge room balcony door. The units are discreetly concealed behind an aluminium louvre.

The Silenceair building ventilation system removes the need for a central supply air system, allowing each apartment to have a locally-controlled air management system. Silenceair also eliminates the cost of extensive runs of ducting and the necessary fire dampers while allowing higher ceilings in the corridors and hallways, enhancing the visual appeal of the apartments and increasing their value.

The building will also benefit from reduced energy consumption and cost; lower ongoing maintenance costs; and minimal carbon footprint, which is achieved by decreasing the quantity of materials used and energy consumed.