Design regulations for your home's ventilation system
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Do you know the steps that need to be followed to develop a suitable ventilation system? In this article, we explain the steps to be followed both in the preliminary phase and during the project phase of the system.
Before designing the ventilation system of a building:
According to the UNE-CEN/TR 14788 IN standard, the designer must consider a series of factors, namely:
- The external weather conditions.
- The levels of contaminants present in the outside air, as this air will be supplied inside the building, and the maximum acceptable contaminant levels inside (the air quality, IDA, will not be the same for a healthcare building as it is for a residential building).
- The noise level coming from outside and the noise level produced by the ventilation system.
- The airtightness of the building and its thermal and acoustic characteristics, as well as thermal and acoustic comfort.
- The number of occupants.
- The cleaning and maintenance requirements for the installation.
During the project phase of the system:
It is the designer's responsibility to carry out the following actions:
- Detail the minimum ventilation rates. In this case, the applicable regulation is the CTE DB HS3 Indoor air quality. Minimum admission rates are established at 5 l/s per occupant in rooms and 3 l/s per occupant in dining rooms and lounges. Extraction rates are 15 l/s in bathrooms; 2 l/s per m2 usable in kitchens; 0.7 l/s per m2 usable in storage and common areas; and 10 l/s per m2 usable in warehouses.
- Select a ventilation strategy. The designer can opt for natural, mechanical, or hybrid ventilation.
- Design the duct layout, locate the supply and extraction outlets, and size the installation according to current regulations.
- Fire safety. It should be noted that ventilation installations, like other installations, must be designed and constructed in such a way that smoke and fire do not spread between compartments. Additionally, all components of the system must be assembled and made of fire-resistant materials.
- Noise protection. The ventilation system must be designed so that acoustic requirements are met between dwellings, or between a dwelling and the outside.
Indoor air quality
Regardless of the ventilation system, the main objective is to achieve an optimal level of indoor air quality, minimizing energy losses as much as possible. To achieve this, care should be taken to maintain the concentration of carbon dioxide below permitted levels, namely between 2000 and 3000 ppm (parts per million); to keep humidity levels between 40 and 60% (below this, excessively dry atmospheres occur, and above this, mold and condensation form, with negative consequences for the health of occupants); to eliminate bad odors as quickly as possible; and, finally, to prevent the proliferation of pollutants and microbiological agents.
- The external weather conditions.
- The levels of contaminants present in the outside air, as this air will be supplied inside the building, and the maximum acceptable contaminant levels inside (the air quality, IDA, will not be the same for a healthcare building as it is for a residential building).
- The noise level coming from outside and the noise level produced by the ventilation system.
- The airtightness of the building and its thermal and acoustic characteristics, as well as thermal and acoustic comfort.
- The number of occupants.
- The cleaning and maintenance requirements for the installation.
During the project phase of the system:
It is the designer's responsibility to carry out the following actions:
- Detail the minimum ventilation rates. In this case, the applicable regulation is the CTE DB HS3 Indoor air quality. Minimum admission rates are established at 5 l/s per occupant in rooms and 3 l/s per occupant in dining rooms and lounges. Extraction rates are 15 l/s in bathrooms; 2 l/s per m2 usable in kitchens; 0.7 l/s per m2 usable in storage and common areas; and 10 l/s per m2 usable in warehouses.
- Select a ventilation strategy. The designer can opt for natural, mechanical, or hybrid ventilation.
- Design the duct layout, locate the supply and extraction outlets, and size the installation according to current regulations.
- Fire safety. It should be noted that ventilation installations, like other installations, must be designed and constructed in such a way that smoke and fire do not spread between compartments. Additionally, all components of the system must be assembled and made of fire-resistant materials.
- Noise protection. The ventilation system must be designed so that acoustic requirements are met between dwellings, or between a dwelling and the outside.
Indoor air quality
Regardless of the ventilation system, the main objective is to achieve an optimal level of indoor air quality, minimizing energy losses as much as possible. To achieve this, care should be taken to maintain the concentration of carbon dioxide below permitted levels, namely between 2000 and 3000 ppm (parts per million); to keep humidity levels between 40 and 60% (below this, excessively dry atmospheres occur, and above this, mold and condensation form, with negative consequences for the health of occupants); to eliminate bad odors as quickly as possible; and, finally, to prevent the proliferation of pollutants and microbiological agents.
- Detail the minimum ventilation rates. In this case, the applicable regulation is the CTE DB HS3 Indoor air quality. Minimum admission rates are established at 5 l/s per occupant in rooms and 3 l/s per occupant in dining rooms and lounges. Extraction rates are 15 l/s in bathrooms; 2 l/s per m2 usable in kitchens; 0.7 l/s per m2 usable in storage and common areas; and 10 l/s per m2 usable in warehouses.
- Select a ventilation strategy. The designer can opt for natural, mechanical, or hybrid ventilation.
- Design the duct layout, locate the supply and extraction outlets, and size the installation according to current regulations.
- Fire safety. It should be noted that ventilation installations, like other installations, must be designed and constructed in such a way that smoke and fire do not spread between compartments. Additionally, all components of the system must be assembled and made of fire-resistant materials.
- Noise protection. The ventilation system must be designed so that acoustic requirements are met between dwellings, or between a dwelling and the outside.
Indoor air quality
Regardless of the ventilation system, the main objective is to achieve an optimal level of indoor air quality, minimizing energy losses as much as possible. To achieve this, care should be taken to maintain the concentration of carbon dioxide below permitted levels, namely between 2000 and 3000 ppm (parts per million); to keep humidity levels between 40 and 60% (below this, excessively dry atmospheres occur, and above this, mold and condensation form, with negative consequences for the health of occupants); to eliminate bad odors as quickly as possible; and, finally, to prevent the proliferation of pollutants and microbiological agents.
Siber Ventilation
Manufacturer of High Energy Efficiency Ventilation Systems. Siber provides a set of high energy efficiency solutions in wind and mechanically intelligent ventilation, improving the Health, Hygiene, and Comfort of people, being respectful of the environment.