French term (edited): ventilation m�canique contr�l�e

simple flow mechanical ventilation, individually regulated at desk level

air management is the generic term for buildings in general whether condition or simply forced

French term (edited): ventilation m�canique contr�l�e

as opposed to VMC (ventilation mechanique contrôlée)

http://www.vortice.ltd.uk/default.aspx?id=334
http://www.chaud-froid-delpech.fr/htgb/0008.htm

French term (edited): ventilation m�canique contr�l�e

<<continuous mechanical ventilation (CMV) - Mechanical ventilation with slow, quiet electric fans that run all the time; usually a ducted extract system>>

Cf <<mechanical ventilation - Basic air handling which moves fresh air into rooms and removes odours and humidity using electric fans. Domestic systems often work by extract alone, either directly or through ducts with continuous mechanical ventilation. Commercial systems can have combined extract and input and lack only the air-treatment equipment of full air-conditioning>>
[Scott/Penguin Dict of Building]

<<ventilation mécanique contrôlée - Ce dispositif ...[réduit] ... la consommation d'énergie des logements tout en préservant le confort et l'hygiène des locaux, par une ventilation minimum et permanente [cf "slow, quiet electric fans that run all the time"].

Dans le VMC à simple flux l'air frais est introduit dans les pièces principales ... [l'air] est extrait en plafond ... par l'aspiration d'un ventilateur dont le fonctionnement est asservi à une régulation du débit [cf "extract alone"].... Un dispositif à échangeur peut permettre de récupérer la chaleur ... afin de réchauffer l'air frais avant de l'insuffler dans les locaux par un autre ventilateur: c'est le système de VMC dit double flux [cf "combined extract and input"] >>
[Dicobat]

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Note added at 5 hrs 56 mins (2005-10-28 23:09:57 GMT)
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MECHANICAL ventilation is necessarily CONTROLLED, surely? (as opposed to leaving the windows open, which is uncontrolled ventilation). Of course it might be MORE controlled were it discontinuous, but it aint, though Dicobat does refer to flow regulation, so there must be some variation in fan speed, etc. (to make up for wind effects, say?). I would assume continuous mechanical ventilation would also have variable fans if external conditions were to disturb airflow in a manner that could be compensated by varying fan speed.

French term (edited): ventilation m�canique contr�l�e

Note, specifically in reply to Richard H's response to my peer comment:

Richard, I think you have misunderstood my comment.

I was trying to explain that it might be risky to use the abbreviation CMV, as it is likely to be taken to mean VMC (cf Bourth's answer) in its usual, common meaning of 'silent, continuous, background extract ventilation', whereas I think Michael's context makes it clear that it is specifically being differentiated from this (it says it is separately controlled from each office, meaning there must be one fan per office and a stop/start button, for example).

SO my point was that using the abbreviation CMV (all too easily confused with VMC) would in fact be to introduce an ambiguity in EN that is not there (IMO) in the FR.

On this point, I would beg to differ from Bourth (whose opinion, however, is a far more expert one than my own!) --- I do NOT believe the context here is referring to a 'standard' VMC system, but rather a simple, extract-only multiple AHU.