Industry snapshot
Key public data points
Historical & forecast
Base year 2025. Each series is official through its own latest government-data year (shown in the legend on each chart), and years beyond that are Claight estimates. As of July 2026 the current year is still in progress (2026 annual data is not yet published), so the forecast runs to 2030.
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What does the Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing in the UK industry cover?
The industry formally falls under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (UK SIC 2007) code 28.25, which encompasses the manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment. This scope specifically captures industrial gas purification systems, catalytic converters, particulate filters, cleanroom filtration units, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) solutions. It excludes standard domestic electrical fans but includes integrated, continuous-operation air purification systems intended for commercial and institutional environments.
- •Classified under UK SIC 2007 code 28.25 for non-domestic cooling and ventilation manufacturing.
- •Covers heavy industrial filtering apparatus such as catalytic converters and gas purification housings.
- •Includes specialized high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems designed for healthcare and microelectronics cleanrooms.
Market Structure and Operators
Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?
The UK market is characterized by a moderate level of concentration, split between large publicly traded specialists, diversified construction product groups, and localized engineering firms. Manufacturing operations are heavily concentrated in traditional industrial hubs across England and Wales, where companies maintain extensive engineering campuses. These operators supply direct to mechanical and electrical contractors, commercial developers, and public housing authorities.
- •Operations include major localized facilities such as Nuaire's 18,000-square-metre manufacturing plant in Caerphilly, Wales.
- •Distribution relies heavily on business-to-business specification pipelines via building merchants and engineering contractors.
- •A mix of domestic engineering firms operates alongside specialized subsidiaries of continental European and global filtration groups.
Demand Drivers
What drives demand in the industry?
The primary catalysts for growth are the rising public and regulatory concerns regarding indoor air quality (IAQ), structural dampness, and building decarbonization. Following recent legislative adjustments, public housing and private refurbishments require advanced air movement solutions to prevent mold and condensation build-up. Furthermore, rising energy costs incentivize commercial operators to install premium ventilation units that reduce thermal loss through localized heat recovery.
- •Public housing mandates focus on damp and mold mitigation to protect tenant health.
- •Rising commercial energy costs drive adoption of higher-unit-value mechanical heat recovery solutions.
- •Post-pandemic corporate health policies place a premium on continuous room air change and aerosol dilution infrastructure.
Competitive Landscape and Notable Public Companies
Who are the notable companies in the industry?
The competitive environment features prominent London Stock Exchange-listed entities alongside major multinational subsidiaries. Volution Group plc is a major sector participant, driving market value through premium air quality and low-carbon ventilation brands. Genuit Group plc is another dominant force, anchoring its climate and ventilation division with well-established industrial names like Nuaire and Domus.
- •Volution Group plc (LSE: FAN) achieved a revenue of £419.1 million in 2025, operating key UK brands like Vent-Axia.
- •Genuit Group plc (LSE: GEN) posted gross revenues of £602.1 million in 2025, maintaining a substantial ventilation portfolio.
- •TROX UK Ltd manufactures high-capacity industrial air purifiers featuring large-scale H13 HEPA filters for commercial use.
- •Camfil UK provides highly specialized molecular contamination control and cleanroom filtration systems for the UK electronics and life sciences sectors.
Recent Trends and Outlook
What are the recent trends and outlook?
Recent product development trends emphasize the integration of smart monitoring sensors that track real-time particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5) and relative humidity. Manufacturers are increasingly redesigning products to incorporate high proportions of recycled polymers, aligning with corporate net-zero roadmaps. The outlook remains positive as buildings become increasingly airtight to fulfill insulation requirements, making artificial air purification an operational necessity.
- •Integration of web-based diagnostic sensors like the Camfil AirImage system for live air quality monitoring.
- •Increased focus on circular materials, with leading players shifting towards utilizing over 80% recycled plastics in product molding.
- •Rising demand for passive house (Passivhaus) certified educational and commercial filtration facilities across the UK.
Regulation and Compliance
How is the industry regulated?
Compliance within this sector is strictly governed by statutory UK Building Regulations, specifically Part F focusing on ventilation and Part L targeting fuel and power conservation. Manufacturers must ensure their hardware achieves specific acoustic and energy-efficiency thresholds to clear building inspections. Additionally, international validation standards like EN149 and cleanroom ISO criteria dictate performance benchmarks for heavy industrial filtering elements.
- •UK Building Regulations Part F and Part L serve as the core statutory mechanisms forcing specification of efficient systems.
- •Product certifications are heavily influenced by the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF) and VDI standards.
- •Corporate alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) dictates Scope 1, 2, and 3 decarbonization benchmarks for manufacturers.
Sources
Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) UK SIC 2007 Hierarchy ·
- Volution Group plc Annual Report 2025 ·
- Genuit Group plc Corporate Disclosures 2025 ·
- UK Government Construction Products Sector Evidence 2026 ·
- TROX UK Ltd Technical Specifications
Claight analysis of public industry data.