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hour
Recommended guidelines for room air changes per hour where mechanical ventilation is provided.
Location Room air changes/hour
Bathrooms and shower rooms 3 - 8
Cafes 10 - 12
Canteens 8 - 12
Cellars 3 - 10
Conference rooms 7 - 10
Entrance halls, corridors 7 - 10
Garages 6 - 10
Commercial kitchens 20+
Laundries 10 - 15
Offices 4 - 6
Restaurants 8 - 12
Shower rooms (sports halls) 10 - 15
Toilets (public) 10 - 15
Workshops 6 - 10
Laboratories where gases and/or chemicals are used 10
Not all the above locations will require mechanical ventilation, (e.g. offices may rely on natural ventilation
from opening windows) but laboratories where gases and/or chemicals are used should always have
mechanical ventilation. Cylinder stores, however are best designed with very good natural ventilation.
To ensure good air change rates:
Site fan as far away as possible from the air inlet point
Site fan to closest source of moisture and high on walls
Ensure there is adequate air leakage into the room to supply replacement air. (this may
Air changes per hour - University of Liverpool http://www.liv.ac.uk/oldsafety/safety_issues/air_changes_per_hour/
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require the provision of a fresh air grille)
Avoid siting fans near sources of heat
To prevent condensation forming in the duct, insulate ducting that runs through cold roof
spaces.
Avoid vertical duct runs that allow condensation to run into the fan - form an offset to act as a
condensate trap if necessary.
Air changes per hour - University of Liverpool http://www.liv.ac.uk/oldsafety/safety_issues/air_changes_per_hour/
2 of 2 8/30/2014 10:31 PM