Ventilation of industrial buildings: solutions and regulations

The correct ventilation of industrial buildings is fundamental to meet optimal working conditions. Firstly, it provides the people who stay inside -especially those present for several hours a week- with a comfort and health to operate safely. Furthermore, it is indispensable to comply with the current regulations , whose provisions clearly establish what conditions must be met.

The regulation

◾ ◾ ◾ ◾ The NTP 742 on General Ventilation of Buildings establishes the following:

"Without prejudice to what is provided regarding the ventilation of certain premises in the Royal Decree 1618/1980, which approves the Regulation on heating, air conditioning, and hot water, the minimum renewal of air in workplaces will be 30 cubic meters of clean air per hour and worker , in the case of sedentary work in non-hot or non-smoke contaminated environments and 50 cubic meters , in other cases to avoid stale air and unpleasant odors. The ventilation system used and, in particular, the distribution of clean air inlets and stale air outlets, must ensure an effective renewal of the air in the workplace ."

◾ ◾ ◾ ◾ In the Royal Decree 486/1997 regarding ventilation of industrial buildings establishes the following conditions for any working environment in enclosed spaces:

"a) The temperature of the premises where sedentary office work or similar is performed will be between 17 and 27 ºC.

The temperature of the premises where light work is performed will be between 14 and 25 ºC.

100. b) The relative humidity will be between 30 and 70 percent, except in premises where there are risks from static electricity, where the lower limit will be 50 percent.
101. c) Workers shall not be exposed frequently or continuously to air currents whose speed exceeds the following limits:

1.^o Work in non-hot environments: 0.25 m/s.

2.^o Sedentary work in hot environments: 0.5 m/s.

3.^o Non-sedentary work in hot environments: 0.75 m/s.

These limits shall not apply to air currents expressly used to prevent stress in intense heat exposures, nor to air conditioning currents, for which the limit will be 0.25 m/s in the case of sedentary work and 0.35 m/s in other cases."

Types of ventilation for industrial buildings

• Forced ventilation

It is achieved through the use of mechanical extractors that expel air to the outside to achieve an optimal temperature. One of its biggest advantages is that it allows the extraction of air directly from the heat source or any area that may need more ventilation. It also allows for precise and constant regulation of the space.

Conversely, these installations tend to generate noise and entail a fixed cost in terms of electricity consumption, especially in larger spaces. They are generally desirable in spaces where air is often stale or when it is necessary to ensure specific temperature levels.

• Mixed ventilation

Mixed ventilation systems combine natural and mechanical ventilation . That is, the presence of a forced air intake or outlet and a natural air intake or outlet. Although it can be a very recommended option depending on the characteristics of our building, it does not achieve the precision of a 100% mechanical system. In any case, it requires a more moderate initial investment.

• Eolic ventilation in industrial buildings

In buildings located in warm, windy places , the installation of eolic extractors may be interesting. These rotate thanks to the force generated by the wind and help expel hot air from the interior. Its main advantage is that it does not require electrical energy to function, but its effectiveness is conditioned by climatic conditions.

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