Why is ventilation important

Nowadays, there is a lot of talk about the importance of proper ventilation in relation to the risk of corona infections.

According to researchers, there is a risk of airborne corona contamination in poorly ventilated areas. It is therefore important to continuously exchange indoor air and to properly ventilate.

It is often difficult for restaurants, bars, gyms, halls, etc. Thanks to their flexible nature, fans are often easy to use in various applications as extra support.

Our wide range of fans can contribute to:. In buildings such as schools, offices and restaurants, it is recommendable to translate the advice to your specific situation and to make smart choices about what to do and what not to do.

Do you have any questions about the use of fans? Feel free to contact our specialists! Check out our range of fans that are used for ventilation here: Exhaust Fans In addition, our mobile fans that can be used flexibly can be found here: Mobile Fans.

Approved document F includes standards for ventilation and air quality for all buildings and requirements for the prevention of condensation. The types of ventilation covered include; mechanical, passive stack, background and purge rapid.

It is supported by the Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide, which provides detailed guidance about the installation, inspection, testing, commissioning and provision of information when installing fixed ventilation systems in new and existing dwellings.

Mechanical systems are often regarded as unnecessary for dwellings, but, as our Star ratings encourage us towards better-sealed dwellings, these systems become important. Here I hope to outline the reasons why a truly comfortable and efficient home would include mechanical ventilation with heat recovery MVHR, also called heat recovery ventilation, or HRV systems.

Air infiltration in homes can account for a significant component of the total heating and air conditioning loads in a building around a third to a half , and this load can be particularly significant in low-energy buildings where all other loads have been reduced. This involves using basic passive solar design principles in conjunction with insulation and building sealing.

Relying on natural ventilation to provide adequate conditions for good health, as well as comfort, is likely to be insufficient in a well-sealed building. This is because the amount of air infiltration relies on a number of factors, including the time windows are open, openable area and prevailing weather conditions. A number of studies have also shown that the use of MVHR can be more efficient, in terms of reduced energy use and the resultant carbon emissions, than relying on natural ventilation.

As with any system, appropriate system selection and design is key. Adequate ventilation within a building ensures good air quality, by removing toxins and CO2, and also helps to control humidity, thus reducing the risk of condensation.

Energy efficiency and thermal comfort can also be enhanced. Air quality can be affected by a number of impurities, such as low-level irritants dust, pollen right through to radon and volatile organic compounds.

In humid or colder areas, and particularly in uninsulated buildings, there is also a significant potential for condensation when humidity levels are too high, and this can result in mould growth and various health issues.

Building fabric can also be affected by moisture and deteriorate, reducing the life of a building and adding to life-cycle costs.

Studies show that to ensure adequate ventilation by natural means, the windows in a reasonably well-sealed building would have to be opened at least four to six times a day for a reasonable amount of time. One of the most important things to get right before introducing a MVHR system is your building sealing—for what is the point in controlling the ventilation and attempting heat recovery when your building leaks like a sieve anyway? In order to be successful, ultra-low energy buildings require a very good level of airtightness.

Once a building is airtight, it then becomes necessary to introduce ventilation in order to make the building habitable. The simplest mechanical ventilation system uses exhaust fans only, with fixed inlets to provide makeup air. There is no heat exchange on this system, so incoming air is the same temperature as ambient. Exhaust points would likely be provided in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Another simple system is a two-way ventilator, which operates on a push-pull basis to generate a flow of supply and exhaust. These ventilation systems operate with one fan unit exhausting and the other supplying air. An integrated heat recovery heat exchange bank is used to transfer heat between exhaust and supply air streams.

At the other end of the scale, a fully-ducted ventilation system is the most effective solution, and utilises fully controlled and balanced ventilation. This type of system is most effective when applied in a well-sealed building, where other infiltration sources are reduced note: this does not preclude openable windows! These systems supply fresh, filtered air to the building, where it then flows through the building before being exhausted back to outside, thereby removing hot or humid air.

The air volume supplied is balanced with the exhaust. The most efficient way to operate such a system is to include heat exchange, whereby thermal energy is transferred between the outgoing and incoming air streams, keeping the internal conditions stable and retaining that energy.

A well-ventilated room will instantly be more comfortable - creating a more relaxed environment, while also making for a more productive workplace.

Health benefits Another benefit of good ventilation systems is the positive impact it as on health and well-being. Indoor air pollution coupled with bad ventilation can lead to a number of health problems including headaches, allergies, asthma, rashes and sinusitis.

However, this can be avoided with the installation of a good ventilation system. Ready to find the perfect ventilation system for you? Browse through our selection of Climate Control Products from Biddle today. Alternatively, get in touch with a member of our helpful team for more information on ventilation systems. What is ventilation? Why is ventilation important?