Chapter C2: Ventilation of residential buildings

The Figure below illustrates some of the problems related to natural ventilation system. As natural
ventilation is based on pressure differences created by temperature differences and wind in some
conditions pressure difference will reverse the air flows, and the exhaust air stacks, which may be
contaminated, become supply air routes, and spread the pollutant into the living rooms.

In some weather conditions

the flow in the stack may be
reversed (red arrows) in the
natural ventilation systems
which rely on temperature
difference as a driving force
for ventilation.

Disadvantages of nat vent systems

Also the use of cooker hood fan may overcome the pressure differences of natural
forces and reverse the flows

1)

4)
2)

3)

5)

Figure C2.2 Use of the cooker hood fan may

reverse the air flows (blue arrows) in the shafts
for natural ventilation.

1)Exhaust air in normal

operation
2)Extract air in normal
operation
3)Ventilation air in normal
operation
4) Reversed air flow
5)Transfer air due to
operation of cooker hood fan.

Mechanical exhaust ventilation

In mechanical exhaust ventilation systems air is exhausted from the rooms having
higher pollutant generation and lower air quality. Air infiltration through building
envelope brings outdoor air for ventilation to the building. In apartment buildings
exhaust from the different floors can be connected to the same duct if the pressure
drop in the exhaust grille is high enough to prevent air flow from floor to floor. Central
fan serves all apartments. Room air flows can be controlled with adjustable grilles by
humidity or CO2-concentation or other pollutants or by occupancy sensors.

Mechanical exhaust ventilation

The advantages of the mechanical exhaust are:

constant ventilation rate
small negative pressure in building prevents moisture mitigation into the constructions of
external walls and prevents condensation and consequently the mould growth.
Drawbacks of the mechanical exhaust system are:
air infiltration through the building envelope creates easily draught in winter in cold climate
heat recovery from the exhaust air is not easy to implement recovered heat can not be
used to heat ventilation air it can however be used to preheat the domestic hot water (using
a heat pump)
as the exhaust is usually from kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets ventilation supply air flow is
not evenly distributed in the bedrooms and living rooms
distribution of outdoor air for ventilation depends on the leakage in the building envelope.
Short circuiting
Exhaust

Bedroom
Kitchen

Hall

Perfect mixing

Livingroom

Bedroom

Bathroom
Bad ventilation

Exhaust

These problems are illustrated in the adjacent

Figure which shows that air may flow directly
from the locations of infiltration to the exhausts
(air flow in where the building envelope is less
air tight as in the kitchen window and entrance
door).

Mechanical exhaust ventilation

If the building envelope is air tight in bedrooms and living rooms the outdoor air does not ventilate
those rooms but flows directly to extract air openings in kitchen and bathroom. This kind of short
circuiting of air flow reduces the efficiency of ventilation and should be avoided. Specifically at
night when the bedroom doors are closed the ventilation may be very low and air quality
unhealthy. This short circuiting can be avoided by arranging supply air grilles into each bedroom
and living room as illustrated in the Figure below.

Exhaust

Bedroom
Kitchen

Hall

Outdoor air
grill

Outdoor air
grill
Bathroom

Bedroom

Livingroom

Exhaust

Mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation

In mechanical supply and exhaust systems the air is supplied via ducts and fans to bedrooms and
living rooms, and typically exhausted from kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms. Usually the exhaust
air flows through heat exchanger before it is discharged outdoors. In heat exchanger part of the
heat content of he exhaust air is recovered and used to heat the outdoor air for ventilation. Use of
the heating for the ventilation air is usually most economical as the need for heating is
simultaneous with the available heat. Another alternative for the use of heat is heating of domestic
hot water.

1)

7)

6)

3)
2)
5)

4)

1)Exhaust air
2)Extract air
3) Supply air to the bed room
4) Heat recovery exchanger
5)Kitchen exhaust
6) Sound attenuator
7)Outdoor air intake for ventilation.

Mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation

In an apartment building, the mechanical supply and exhaust system can be centralized (Figure
C2.7) or decentralized (Figure C2.8).

Ventilation with air heating

If the building has air borne heating, then ventilation is typically integrated with the
heating system. The supply air flow is usually higher than that of the outdoor air flow
rate for ventilation, and part of the extract air from the rooms is re-circulated to the
rooms as a part of supply air flow. The heat from the exhaust air is recovered to heat
the cold outdoor air for ventilation.

1)
7)
6)
2)
2)
3)
4)
5)

1) Exhaust air
2) Extract air
3) Supply air
4) Supply air fan
5) Heating coil
6) Sound attenuator
7) Outdoor air

Design ventilation rates

Indoor air quality in residential buildings depends of many parameters. Many sources of pollution
cannot be influenced by the building designers, e.g. emission from smoking, intensive cooking,
emissions from flooring materials, hobbies etc.
The ventilation rates are usually based on average use of a residence. In operation some
residences may need more ventilation and some may manage with lower ventilation rates.
National regulations as well as international standards help the designer to determine correctly its
assumptions made on standard residential sources and the correct airflow to achieve.
The ventilation requirements are given in the Table below (prEN 15251). The ventilation air flows
of the bedrooms and living rooms are expressed as an outdoor air flow rate supplied to the rooms.
The supply air for the kitchen, bathroom and toilet may be the transfer air from the bedrooms and
living rooms.

Table C2. 1 Ventilation requirements for the residences. Continuous

operation of ventilation during occupied hours (prEN 15251).
Category Air change
rate 1)

A
B
C

Living room and

bedrooms, mainly
outdoor air flow

Exhaust air flow, L/s

L/s,m 2 ACH

L/s, pers

L/s/m 2

Kitchen Bathrooms Toilets

0,49
0,42
0,35

10
7
4

1,4
1,0
0,6

28
20
14

0,7
0,6
0,5

20
15
10

14
10
7

Questions
11.

12.

Dimensions of a bedroom are 3.67x3.6x2.8 m. Two adults sleep in the

bedroom. What is the need for ventilation if the maximum CO2concentration is 1550 ppm (parts per million) and outdoor air
concentration is 350 ppm when the CO2 generation of a sleeping person
is 30 L/h?
What is the CO2 -concentration in the bedroom of the previous problem in
the morning after 8 hours when the door is tightly closed and the
ventilation is only due to leakage of the building envelope, and is 0.2
ACH?