Predictika · Building ventilation · Heat recovery

An AI sales agent's MVHR order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order of Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Sentinel Kinetic heat recovery units for a housing scheme: the unit, how many dwellings, their bedrooms and wet rooms, the ducting and drain, and the filter, humidity and efficiency the scheme needs. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the UK ventilation rates and the unit limits and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Sentinel Kinetic MVHR units: Kinetic B, Kinetic BH, Kinetic Plus B, Kinetic Advance S, Kinetic High Flow and Kinetic FH. See everything this validator covers

This validator models an order of Sentinel Kinetic whole-house heat recovery units for new dwellings, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Ventilation rate — the larger of the whole-dwelling rate by bedrooms and the extract rate of the kitchen, bathrooms, utility rooms and WCs (UK Approved Document F), against the airflow of the unit or units ordered, with a request to confirm when the unit would run close to its maximum.
  • Installation — the ducting size, the longest duct run, the number of extract rooms the unit can serve, and the condensate drain.
  • Options and performance — an F7 pollen filter, humidity-controlled running (the BH version), the heat recovery percentage and the specific fan power the scheme requires, and a high flow unit on a small dwelling, which goes to a person.
  • Order figures — dwellings, units per dwelling and bedrooms of at least one, and the total number of units the order states, which must equal dwellings times units per dwelling.

Any order for these six units that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (this page shows no price build-up), other Vent-Axia and Volution ranges, ducting and valve components, controls, commissioning and non-domestic buildings.

The AI sales agentBuilds the MVHR order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

6 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
A ventilation rate that is the larger of two calculationsOnly with workarounds
The whole-dwelling rate by bedrooms and the sum of the wet-room rates both have to be computed, and the larger compared with the capacity of however many units are ordered.		Both rates are computed from the dwelling in the request and the larger is compared with the unit capacity on every call.
Several problems in one order, such as a drain missing, a duct run too long and too many extract roomsOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a person often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.
Limits that differ for each of 6 unitsOnly with care
Every unit has its own airflow, ducting, extract rooms, efficiency and fan power, so a table or a set of rules is needed per unit.		The unit arrives in one request and every limit for it is checked together.
Running close to the maximumOnly with care
A warning near the limit needs a separate rule that goes to a person rather than failing.		Block and approval are separate outcomes of the same check.
Total number of units the order statesOnly with care
The stated total is derived from dwellings and units per dwelling, so a rule has to recompute it and compare.		The stated total is a field in the request, compared with the computed one on every call.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The order has 0 dwellings with 1 unit(s) each and 3 bedroom(s); at least 1 of each is needed.
2The dwelling needs 49 litres per second (the larger of the whole-dwelling and extract-room rates); the unit(s) deliver at most 45.
3The dwelling needs 51 litres per second, over 90 percent of what the unit(s) can deliver; a person should confirm the margin.
4The dwelling needs 61 litres per second (the larger of the whole-dwelling and extract-room rates); the unit(s) deliver at most 55.
5The unit needs ducting of at least 125 mm; the order has 100 mm.
6The unit needs ducting of at least 160 mm; the order has 125 mm.
7The high flow unit is far larger than a dwelling of up to 3 bedrooms normally needs; a person should confirm it.
8The longest duct run is 35 metres; this unit is limited to 30 metres.
9The dwelling needs 59 litres per second (the larger of the whole-dwelling and extract-room rates); the unit(s) deliver at most 55.
10The dwelling has 7 extract rooms; this unit serves at most 6 per unit.
11The dwelling needs 51 litres per second (the larger of the whole-dwelling and extract-room rates); the unit(s) deliver at most 45.
12The dwelling has 6 extract rooms; this unit serves at most 5 per unit.
13The unit needs a condensate drain and the order has none.
14An F7 pollen filter is not offered for this unit.
15Humidity-controlled running needs the BH version of the unit.
16The order needs 93 percent heat recovery; this unit achieves 91 percent.
17The order allows a specific fan power of 60 hundredths of a watt per litre per second; this unit uses 70.
18The order states 25 units in total; the dwellings ordered give 20.
19The unit needs ducting of at least 100 mm; the order has 80 mm.
20The longest duct run is 30 metres; this unit is limited to 25 metres.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Large detached homes: 24 Sentinel Kinetic FH units for five bedroom homes with four bathrooms

    
The agent's request. Please quote 24 Sentinel Kinetic FH units, 1 per dwelling, for 5 bedroom homes with 1 kitchen, 4 bathrooms, 1 utility room and 2 WCs, 100 mm ducting, and a longest duct run of 32 metres. The scheme needs an F7 filter and 85 percent heat recovery. The order states 24 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Airflow above the unit capacity. The dwelling needs 65 litres per second (the larger of the whole-dwelling and extract-room rates); the unit(s) deliver at most 45.
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  • Duct run too long. The longest duct run is 32 metres; this unit is limited to 25 metres.
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  • Too many extract terminals. The dwelling has 8 extract rooms; this unit serves at most 5 per unit.
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  • No condensate drain. The unit needs a condensate drain and the order has none.
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  • F7 filter not offered. An F7 pollen filter is not offered for this unit.
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2. Large detached homes: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 24 Sentinel Kinetic High Flow units, 1 per dwelling, for 5 bedroom homes with 1 kitchen, 4 bathrooms, 1 utility room and 2 WCs, 160 mm ducting, and a longest duct run of 32 metres. The scheme needs an F7 filter and 85 percent heat recovery. The order states 24 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 24 dwelling(s), 1 unit(s) each, 24 unit(s) in total; design airflow 65 litres per second.
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3. Apartments: 60 Sentinel Kinetic High Flow units for two bedroom homes

    
The agent's request. Please quote 60 Sentinel Kinetic High Flow units, 1 per dwelling, for 2 bedroom homes with 1 kitchen and 1 bathroom, 160 mm ducting, and a longest duct run of 20 metres. The order states 60 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • High flow unit on a small dwelling. The high flow unit is far larger than a dwelling of up to 3 bedrooms normally needs; a person should confirm it.
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  • Order summary. 60 dwelling(s), 1 unit(s) each, 60 unit(s) in total; design airflow 25 litres per second.
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4. Apartments: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 60 Sentinel Kinetic FH units, 1 per dwelling, for 2 bedroom homes with 1 kitchen and 1 bathroom, 100 mm ducting, and a longest duct run of 20 metres. The order states 60 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 60 dwelling(s), 1 unit(s) each, 60 unit(s) in total; design airflow 25 litres per second.
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5. Family homes: 40 Sentinel Kinetic B units with humidity-controlled running

    
The agent's request. Please quote 40 Sentinel Kinetic B units, 1 per dwelling, for 4 bedroom homes with 1 kitchen, 2 bathrooms, 1 utility room and 1 WC, 125 mm ducting, and a longest duct run of 22 metres. The scheme needs humidity-controlled running. The order states 40 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Humidity sensing not on this unit. Humidity-controlled running needs the BH version of the unit.
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6. Family homes: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 40 Sentinel Kinetic BH units, 1 per dwelling, for 4 bedroom homes with 1 kitchen, 2 bathrooms, 1 utility room and 1 WC, 125 mm ducting, and a longest duct run of 22 metres. The scheme needs humidity-controlled running. The order states 40 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 40 dwelling(s), 1 unit(s) each, 40 unit(s) in total; design airflow 43 litres per second.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares an order of Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Sentinel Kinetic heat recovery units for a housing scheme: the unit, how many dwellings, their bedrooms and wet rooms, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the UK ventilation rates and the unit limits and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
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  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote 24 Sentinel Kinetic FH units, 1 per dwelling, for 5 bedroom homes with 1 kitchen, 4 bathrooms, 1 utility room and 2 WCs. The scheme needs an F7 filter and 85 percent heat recovery. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with five findings, all in one answer. The dwelling needs 65 litres per second (the larger of the whole-dwelling and extract-room rates); the unit(s) deliver at most 45. The longest duct run is 32 metres; this unit is limited to 25 metres. The dwelling has 8 extract rooms; this unit serves at most 5 per unit. The other two are on screen.
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  6. The validator returned five blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for several problems in one order, such as a drain missing, a duct run too long and too many extract rooms, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the unit to Sentinel Kinetic High Flow, the ducting to 160 mm and the condensate drain to yes.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. All five earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  13. Five problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    14.