AIR CONDITIONING AND EXHAUST SYSTEM SCHEME

The main purposes of a Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system are to help
maintain good indoor air quality through adequate ventilation with filtration and provide thermal
comfort. The choice and design of the HVAC system can also affect many other high performance
goals, including water consumption (water cooled air conditioning equipment) and acoustics.

During the designing of HVAC these four things have the biggest impact on what size air conditioning
unit you'll need:

1. Room size: What's the length, width and ceiling height? While floor space is important, so is
total volume – a room with high ceilings will require more energy to cool.
2. Insulation: Are the ceilings and walls insulated? What's underneath and on top of the room?
Ceiling insulation is one of the biggest factors in making your home thermally efficient.
3. Location: Where do you live? A room in Darwin will need a more powerful air conditioner
for cooling, compared to an otherwise identical room in Hobart. 
4. Orientation: Which way does the room face? A large north- or west-facing window can let in
a lot of heat in summer, whereas a shaded, southern-facing window will be cooler. 

AIR CONDITIONING CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS PER ROOM SIZE

Here's our guide to the air conditioner capacity (size) you'll need to cool a particular room size

Room size (m2) Example Approx. capacity of AC

kw BTU
2
Small up to 20m Bedroom, study, small kitchen 2–2.5kW 6,826 – 8,532BTU

Medium (20–40m2) Bedroom with ensuite, small lounge 2.5–5kW 8532 – 17,065BTU

Large bedroom, mid-sized lounge, large 13,652 –

Large (40–60m2) 4–6kW
kitchen 20,478BTU
17,065 –
Extra-large (60+m2) Open-plan areas, large lounges 5–9kW
30,717BTU

Note, 1BTU=0.000293kW

BTU stand for British thermal unit, is an energy unit.

EXHAUST AIR

Quick removal of concentrated air contaminants and building pressurization are two ways that
exhaust systems affect. These areas should be maintained under negative pressure relative to
adjacent spaces.

Here are 5 very important factors that need to be considers when you're choosing the right bath
exhaust fan for your needs

1. CFM

CFM stands for Cubic Foot per Minute and it is perhaps the most important factor in choosing the
right sized exhaust fan. CFM tells us how much cubic foot of air is moved per minute. So the easiest
way to determine the right sized fan for your needs is to approximate one cubic foot per minute
(CFM) per square foot of bathroom. So if you bathroom is 50 square feet, you will need a bathroom
exhaust fan rated for 50 CFM.

2. Features

Some fans have features to help you realize additional energy savings such as Motion Sensing
capability which turns the fan off automatically once a person leaves the room. Another useful
feature is the humidity sensor which allows the fan to only turn on when moisture is detected.

3. Sones

Sones are the measure of the noise level. The higher the sones , the noisier the fan. A quiet fan will
be rated at 1.0 Sone or less. Expect to pay a little extra for a quieter fan.

4. Duct Size

An exhaust fan has to have proper ducting in order for it to function effectively. Not only does the
duct need to be routed to the right place (moist air always needs to be exhausted outside), it needs
to be the right size to fit the duct connector on the fan. So be sure to check the duct diameter on the
exhaust fan.

TYPES OF BATHROOM EXHAUST FANS

There's a difference between an exhaust fan and ventilation fan; an exhaust fan draws air out and a
ventilation fan brings fresh air in. If you have to replace a bathroom exhaust fan, your best bet is to
go with the type that's already in place. Four types of bathroom exhaust fans include:

 Ceiling mount: A ceiling-mounted bathroom exhaust fan is the most popular type of
bathroom exhaust fan. It works by connecting to an exhaust duct above the bathroom.
 Wall mount: A wall-mounted fan is used when a ceiling mount is not practical. The wall
mount fan vents directly outdoors without the need for exhaust ductwork.
 Inline: An inline exhaust fan is installed in a remote location and taps into the ductwork in
the attic. There's a grill installed in the bathroom ceiling connecting the system.
 Window mount: Though not as popular as other types, a window-mounted bathroom fan
can be inserted just like a window-mounted air conditioner.