Special Areas

Focus on Expertise: Leading associations at the ISH

A diverse program of lectures and guided tours through the trade fair will be the focus of activities in hall 8.0 at booth F95. “Air as a vital ressource – healthy and hygienic”, “Cooling and heating – future-proof and efficient” and “Living space buildings – sustainable and safe” are the main topics at the joint booth of EVIA (European Ventilation Industry Association), FGK (Association of Air-Conditioning and Ventilation in Buildings), RLT-Herstellerverband (Association of Manufacturers of Air Handling Units), VDKF (Association of German Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Specialists) and VDMA Air Handling Technology. Visitors can expect three themed islands, where the five associations will provide insights on the above-mentioned areas of knowledge, answer questions and facilitate an exchange between experts. During the guided tours through the trade fair, participants will gain compact insights into the product innovations of several companies. The meeting and starting point is the trade fair booth F95 in hall 8.0.

The team of the associations will be available for discussions on all aspects of air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration technology on all days of the trade fair. The industry is facing a wide range of topics for discussion: Anybody who deals professionally with heat pumps or refrigeration and air conditioning systems can hardly avoid a discussion about refrigerants, PFAS and the F-Gas Regulation at the moment. Other key focus areas include energy efficiency, which is associated with renovation, heat recovery, eco-design and retrofitting, indoor air quality in residential and non-residential buildings. These topics are required by the European Buildings Directive (EPBD) and is closely linked to ventilation and air conditioning systems, air filtration, humidity and residential ventilation. Other important topics include fire protection and smoke extraction. Sustainability and monitoring are other areas of concern for the industry, as are digitalization and the shortage of skilled workers.

With the special area Wood Energy, ISH is sending a strong signal in favour of wood as a renewable energy source. Wood energy accounts for 6 per cent of Germany's final energy consumption and provides over two-thirds of the renewable energies used in buildings. Ninety per cent of the CO2-free renewable energy wood comes from German forests. These are sustainably managed on a legal basis.

The Wood Energy umbrella organisation is made up of the Initiative Holzwärme and its eight member associations. An attractive special area of around 220 m² is available where industry, trade and forestry and agriculture can showcase high-tech solutions for the sustainable, clean and efficient use of wood energy.

At the centre of the special area, a speakers' corner and a lounge provide an opportunity for a professional exchange between experts from industry and trade on the one hand and the movers and shakers of the special area on the other. An attractive and highly topical programme of talks, keynote speeches and presentations by the partners of the special area will address the current political situation in Germany and Europe with relevance for wood energy.

The debate will cover topics including the German parliamentary elections, which took place just three weeks earlier, and the impact of the newly installed EU Commission on the use of wood as a renewable energy source in Germany and Europe. In addition, the organisers will report on current technological trends, but also on political framework conditions, such as the GEG, the funding landscape and RED III, as well as Ecodesign.

The Special Area is organised by the BDH and ZVSHK associations and the Initiative Holzwärme.