Garage Ventilation
Ventilation in underground garages is key to maintaining air quality and ensuring safety. Systems designed for these spaces remove pollution produced by vehicles, evacuate smoke in the event of a fire, and ensure a healthy and safe environment. At Siber, we implement solutions that comply with international standards, such as the Technical Building Code (CTE) and BS-7346-7, optimizing energy efficiency and protection in any type of project.
Why is a garage ventilation system essential?
Garages are enclosed spaces where the accumulation of toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), can pose a serious risk to health and safety. Additionally, in the event of a fire, smoke evacuation is key to protecting people and enabling emergency services to respond.
A well-designed ventilation system:
- Eliminate pollutants:
Such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), which directly affect health. - Safe smoke evacuation:
In case of fire, they help clear evacuation routes and facilitate the work of firefighting teams. - Comply with current regulations:
Such as CTE and BS-7346-7, which establish clear criteria to ensure safety and hygiene. - Optimize energy consumption:
Through efficient systems that reduce operational costs.
Benefits of using a garage ventilation system
Ventilation for parking garages
Natural ventilation
Natural ventilation is the simplest and most economical solution, using air movement through strategically placed openings. This method relies on pressure and temperature differences between the inside and outside, and is ideal for garages under 100 m² or with fewer than five spaces.
Additional features:
- Does not require mechanical systems, minimizing energy consumption.
- Limited in effectiveness if optimal design conditions, such as unobstructed airflow, are not met.
- Suitable for projects with direct outdoor access and low vehicle load.
Mechanical ventilation
This system uses fans to extract stale air and supply fresh air, ensuring constant and controlled renewal of the environment. It is mandatory in enclosed or underground spaces where natural ventilation is not viable.
Additional features:
- Includes air quality sensors (such as CO detectors) that automatically adjust airflow as needed.
- Fans are designed to operate efficiently and quietly, adapting to the dimensions of the garage.
- It is the most versatile solution, suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial garages.
Hybrid ventilation
Hybrid ventilation combines the advantages of natural and mechanical ventilation, maximizing efficiency without compromising performance. It is ideal for projects where part of the garage has outdoor access but requires mechanical support in critical areas.
Additional features:
- Reduces operating costs by using mechanical fans only when necessary.
- Ensures a balance between sustainability and functionality, adapting to buildings with strict regulations.
- Useful in renovation projects where fully mechanical systems cannot be installed.
Impulse ventilation (Jet Fans)
Specifically designed for large underground parking lots, impulse ventilation uses Jet Fans to move air without the need for extensive ductwork. This method allows efficient airflow distribution, optimizing space and installation costs.
Additional features:
- Capable of evacuating smoke and heat during emergencies, facilitating evacuation and firefighting efforts.
- Jet Fans are strategically placed to cover wide areas, eliminating dead zones.
- Enables more flexible architectural design by reducing the number of ducts required.
Importance of storage room ventilation
Ventilation in storage rooms is essential to ensure air hygiene and fire safety in these enclosed spaces. According to the Basic Document HS3, all storage rooms and their common areas must have proper ventilation, whether natural, hybrid, or mechanical, to meet regulatory standards and protect users.
Applicable Regulations
Ventilation systems in storage rooms must comply with the CTE and RIPCI (Fire Protection Installations Regulation).
Depending on their risk level, they are classified as:
- Low: Surface up to 50 m² (sector EI 90).
- Minor: Surface between 11 and 99 m² (sector EI 90).
- Medium: Surface between 100 and 499 m² (sector EI 120).
- High: Surface from 500 m² onwards (sector EI 180).
For medium or high-risk storage rooms:
- The minimum flow rate is 3 air changes/hour.
- Fans must be fire-resistant F300 90 minutes .
- Internal ducts must have a minimum resistance of E-600 90 .
Equipment for Storage Rooms
Mechanical Extraction Fans:
Ensure the required flow and operate during emergencies.
RCF EI-90 Intumescent Grilles:
Prevent smoke from spreading between sectors in case of fire.
E-600 90 Ducts:
Designed to resist fire, complying with strict regulations.
Proper storage room ventilation is not only a regulatory requirement, but also a guarantee of user safety and comfort.
How We Apply Our Systems
Residential Garages
Commercial Garages
Storage Rooms in Garages
Emergency Evacuation
Staircase Pressurization
A pressurization system aims to ensure safe, smoke-free spaces, essential for protecting lives and property in emergency situations. This type of system is crucial both for the safe evacuation of people and for facilitating the effective intervention of firefighting teams.
Why Staircase Pressurization is Essential?
Staircase pressurization ensures that evacuation routes remain clear by creating positive pressure that blocks smoke from entering areas affected by a fire. This pressure differential prevents leaks through doors and joints, ensuring a safe and operational environment during emergencies.
Its operation consists of:
- Generation of positive pressure:
A fan pushes air into the staircase, maintaining a pressure differential of at least 50 Pa on closed doors and 10 Pa on open doors. - Dynamic control:
A differential pressure sensor adjusts the fan speed using a variable frequency drive, ensuring optimal system performance in all conditions. - Automatic management:
Integrated with the fire control panel, the system automatically activates in case of an alarm, enabling evacuation without manual intervention.
Applicable Regulations
To ensure its effectiveness, pressurization systems must comply with specific regulations that guarantee proper implementation and operation:
- Building Technical Code (CTE):
Defines the minimum requirements to ensure fire safety. - UNE EN 12101-6:
Establishes technical conditions for differential pressure systems in protected staircases. - SP 138:2017 (Catalonia):
Regulates control panels designed for the exclusive use of firefighters in pressurized staircases.
Main Components
Fan that generates positive pressure.
Detects the pressure difference between the staircase and adjacent areas.
Manages the system and allows monitoring by firefighters.
Designed to withstand high temperatures in case of fire.
Where We Apply Our Systems
Systems designed to evacuate occupants to ground level, with air supply grilles spaced no more than 11 meters apart.
Protect escape routes in underground parking garages, with fans capable of withstanding temperatures up to 300°C for 60 minutes.
