a vehicle seat having a backrest component which is ventilated, the backrest component having an air-permeable trim surface at the occupant contact areas of the seat and a cushion, wherein the cushion comprises at least one opening through the cushion;

a back support adjustment assembly including one or more wires that form a portion of a lumbar guide disposed within the backrest component;

an insert located between the trim surface and the cushion of the backrest component, wherein the insert comprises:

i) forward barrier layer and a rearward barrier layer made of an air impermeable material, wherein the forward barrier comprises a plurality of ventilation holes and the rearward barrier comprises at least one port; and

ii) a spacer material located between the barrier layers and defining an open space that permits fluid communication between the cushion and the trim surface of the ventilated component, wherein the spacer material is less than coextensive with the barrier layers; and

a fan in fluid communication with the open space of the insert through the opening in the cushion, wherein the fan is attached to the one or more wires that form a portion of the lumbar guide;

wherein the spacer material is a polymeric strand material interwoven with a opposing honeycomb structure and interconnected by several additional polymeric strand materials to provide an open space.