Natural Ventilation Systems.
An integrated system utilising the concept of natural, controlled
ventilation providing a healthy alternative to air conditioning systems in modern buildings.
The benefits of a reduction in carbon emissions and a reduction in running costs allow designers
the opportunity to develop more environmentally friendly buildings. |
Advantages of Natural Ventilation:
- Creation of healthy room conditions as precondition for physical and mental wellbeing
- Prevention of structural damage because of moisture through natural ventilation
- Saving in potential investment costs by without air conditioning plant
- Reduction of energy consumption and operating expenses
- Low repair and maintenance expenditure
- Increase in value of property
- Positive image for companies by ecological design of buildings
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Ventilation Concepts:
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Single Sided Ventilation:
Rooms with windows on one side only. Cold air will stream in, and warm air will stream out again
through the same window. This kind of ventilation is normal and generally practised, but it is only
useful up to a certain room depth. |
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Single Sided Double Opening:
An advancement of the single sided principle provides a double opening, which is considerably
more efficient. |
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Cross Ventilation:
In the case of cross-ventilation, (windows open on both sides of the room/building) the pressure
difference is used between the side of the building facing the wind and the side away from the wind.
The positive pressure on the windward and/or a vacuum effect on the lee side of the building, causes
air movement through the building from the windward to the lee side.
In order to obtain the optimal airflow with minimal draught, the windows on the windward side are
opened less than on the lee side. |
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Stack Ventilation:
In a similar way to smoke ventilation, the natural buoyancy of hot air is used to allow venting
through high level vents. Replacement fresh air enters from the lower vents.
An advancement of this
system is via a double façade. This works on the same principle as above (utilising both cross and
stack ventilation) but also offers an ideal solution when the building is adjacent to roads and areas
of high acoustic emissions. |
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Passive Cooling:
Floor slabs can absorb heat build-up during daytime usage through a combination of solar gain,
electronic equipment and user occupancy. As the external temperature drops at night, the building
can be cooled by partially opening the vents around the building - often called night-cooling or
night-purging.
The example shown below uses an atrium design (utilising stack and cross ventilation)
for this effect. |
Smoke Ventilation Systems
Natural Ventilation Systems