CHAPTER 3

VENTILATION
 CONTENT
1. Indoor Air Quality
2. Natural Ventilation
a) Wind
b) Stack effect
c) Combination wind and stack effect
3. Mechanical Ventilation
a) Exhaust
b) Supply
c) Balanced
d) Plenum
e) Types of fan used for ventilation systems

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
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 INTRODUCTION: VENTILATION
• The process of changing air in any space to
provide high indoor air quality. (i.e. to
control temperature, replenish oxygen,
remove moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust,
airborne bacteria, and carbon dioxide).

• Allows for the exchange of air from the

outside and circulation of air within
building.

•A proportion of air within the enclosed

space should be continuously withdrawn
and replaced by fresh air to maintaining
acceptable air quality in buildings.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
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 WHY VENTILATION IS IMPORTANT?
Maintaining the air purity
1. Preservation of oxygen content – this should be maintained at approximately 21% of air
volume.
2. Removal of carbon dioxide
3. Control of humidity- between 30-70% RH (Relative Humidity) is acceptable for human
comfort.
4. Prevention of heat concentration from machinery, lighting and people
5. Prevention of condensation
6. Dispersal of concentrations of bacteria
7. Dilution and disposal of contaminants such as smoke, dust, gases and body odors.
8. Provision of freshness – an optimum air velocity lies between 0.15 and 0.5 m/s.
Ventilation/air supply must able to
improved human comfort conditions.
Perfect ventilation depends on:
•Volume of air required
•Temperature of air
•Speed of air movement
•Humidity
•Purity
BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal
Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 CHARACTERISTICS OF INDOOR AIR
QUALITY (IAQ)
• ASHRAE (Standard 62.1,2007) has defined accepted IAQ as
“ air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as
determined by cognizant authorities and with which a substantial majority
(80% or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction”.
• Providing acceptable IAQ depends upon 4 major considerations:
I. Limiting pollution at the source (choosing material & equipment
carefully)
II. Isolating unavoidable sources of pollution
III. Providing for an adequate supply and filtering fresh air (and
recirculated air)
IV. Maintaining a building and its equipment in a clean condition.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
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IAQ PROBLEMS, POLLUTANT SOURCES AND
IMPACTS
• Indoor air pollutant can be described both in terms
of the types of contaminants (gaseous, organic, or
particulate) and the types of effects (odors, irritants,
toxic substances) involved.
• Types of indoor air pollutant:
 Odors
 Irritants
 Toxic Particulate Substances
 Biological Contaminants
 Radon and Soil Gasses
BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal
Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
6
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 IAQ PROBLEMS, POLLUTANT SOURCES AND
IMPACTS
1. Odors
√ The most immediate IAQ indicator/problems.
√ Unpleasant smells, with physiological consequences.
√ Visitors are more likely to detect odors than are the long term
inhabitants of a space.
√ Sources: body odors, grooming products, copy machines, food
products, cleaning fluids and outgassing from materials.
√ Odors problems worsen by the present of tobacco, and smokes
√ Simple measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is used as
a first indicator.
√ Filtering odors from indoor air is usually accomplished with electronic
or activated charcoal filters.
√ Odors problems can be reduced by increased outdoor air supply.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 7
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 IAQ PROBLEMS, POLLUTANT SOURCES AND
IMPACTS
2. Irritants (slight inflammation/distraction)
√ Symptoms: itching, burning eyes, sneezing, coughing, dry nose and throats, sore
throats and tightness of the chest.
√ Most irritants are present in the form of particles and gas dispersions.
√ Sources from the building itself and the equipment and occupants within.
√ New and newly renovated building are particularly prone to problems from out-
gassing of paints, adhesives, sealants, office furniture, carpeting and vinyl wall
coverings.
√ Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) ~chemical containing carbon molecules that
are volatile (off-gas or evaporate from material surfaces at room temperatures)
are found frequently in new buildings.
√ Types of VOC gas:-methane, ethane, methylene chloride, trichloroethane,
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrocarbons such as benzene, alcohols etc.
√ low humidity can exacerbate problems with irritants.
√ Problems can be reduced by increased outdoor air supply, using filters or
electronic air cleaners.
BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal
Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 8
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 IAQ PROBLEMS, POLLUTANT SOURCES AND
IMPACTS
3. Toxic Particulate Substance
√ Asbestos is widely used in buildings until its toxicity was realized in the 1970s.
√ Tightly-bound form such as asbestos cement, vinyl asbestos floor tiles; and loosely-
bound form sprayed on asbestos insulation.
√ Asbestos release toxic over the life of the material.
√ Method of increased ventilation nor filtering is acceptable; it must be either
removed under stringent isolation controls or sealed and left in place.
√ Besides asbestos, some of the respirable particles that result from incomplete
combustion are toxic.
√ Incomplete combustion can occur from tobacco smoking, in woodstove, fire places
and gas ranges.
√ For incomplete combustion isolate the source insofar as possible, exhaust air from
the immediate vicinity, increase the outdoor air supply and utilize particle filtering.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 9
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 IAQ PROBLEMS, POLLUTANT SOURCES AND
IMPACTS
4. Biological Contaminants
 bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae, insect parts and dust within building.
 Moisture encourage both the retention and growth.
 Standing water (in HVAC system components) and moist interior surfaces
are likely trouble sites.
 Results: allergy reaction and infectious & noninfectious diseases.
 Remedies begin with good design and end with vigilant maintenance.
 Exposure to ultraviolet radiation as control strategy and air filters as an
effective solutions.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 10
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 IAQ PROBLEMS, POLLUTANT SOURCES AND
IMPACTS
5. Radon and Soil gases
√ Radon is a radioactive gas that decays rapidly, releasing radiation at
each stage.
√ Colorless, odorless and thus undetectable by human sense and can
cause lung cancer
√ Other soil gases include methane and some pesticides.
√ Radon penetrates through floor and wall cracks and opening around
plumbing pipes.
√ Penetration of below-ground spaces (wall and floors) should be both
minimized and well sealed; providing under slab ventilation especially
in area with high radon risk.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 11
emedya@uthm.edu.my
BFC3072: BUILDING SERVICES 12
AIR MOVEMENT
Principles of air movement:

• Pressure difference between

inside and outside building allows
for the air to move from outside to
inside/inside to outside.

• Air flow rate through the building

affect by building resistance.

• Controlled natural ventilation and

infiltration are driven by pressure
difference across the building
envelope.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
AIR MOVEMENT
The pressure difference is caused by:
1. wind (or wind effect)
2. stack effect
3. combination of both wind and
stack effects.

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 NATURAL VENTILATION
• Process of supplying and removing air
through an indoor space by natural
means (without a fan or other
mechanical system)
• Two types:
1. Wind driven (wind effect) ventilation
2. Stack ventilation
• Most often used through operate able
windows for small spaces.
• Complex building using the stack effect
to allows the warm air to risen up and
flow to the upper opening and forcing
cold air at the outside to be drawn into
the building through openings in the
lower area.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 WIND EFFECT
• When air flow is due to
wind, air enters through
openings in the windward
walls, and leaves through
openings in the leeward
walls.
• The pressure distribution
patterns due to wind in a
number of cases are
illustrated in Figure 1.
• Wind pressures are
generally high/positive on
the windward side of a
building and low/negative
on the leeward side.
Figure 1 Air flow around a building
BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal
Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
Ways For Air/Wind To Flow Into Building

Window

Wall

Roof
 (a) Ventilation through window
WIND EFFECT
The occurrence and
change of wind pressures
on building surfaces
depends on:

1.Wind speed and wind

direction relative to the
building;

2.Location and
surrounding environment
of the building;

3.Shape of the building.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
WIND EFFECT

BFC3072: BUILDING SERVICES 19

WIND EFFECT

BFC3072: BUILDING SERVICES 20

STACK
EFFECT
In a completely sealed
enclosure, thermal differences
between the inside and outside
will result in a pressure
difference because warm air is
less dense than cold air.

Therefore when there is an

opening air will flow across the
roof terminals boundary to
equalise the pressure.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 STACK EFFECT
Benefits Limitations
• does not rely on wind • lower magnitude
• natural occurring force compared to wind
• stable air flow ventilation
• greater control in • relies on temperature
choosing areas of air differences
intake (inside/outside)
• sustainable method • Design restriction and
may incurs extra cost
• The quality of air may
be polluted.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 22
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 STACK EFFECT
Cold/winter season (see Figure 2a), the
following stack effect occurs:
indoor temperature is higher than
outdoor temperature;
the warmer air in building then rises
up;
the upward air movement produces
negative indoor pressure at the
bottom;
positive indoor pressure is created
on the top;
warmer air flows out of the building
near the top; and
the air is replaces by colder outside
air that enters the building near its
base

Hot/summer season, the reverse

occurs when indoor temperature is
lower than outdoor temperature.
BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal
Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 23
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COMBINATION OF WIND AND STACK EFFECT

In most buildings, natural ventilation relies on a combined wind force and

stack effects.
BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal
Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 THE STACK EFFECT WIND PRESSURE
Air movement in the attic may be caused by the stack effect, wind pressure or
both.
Balanced ventilation also uses the natural forces of wind pressure to create areas
of high and low pressure areas around a house.
High-pressure areas form where wind strikes the building and backs up.
Low-pressure areas occur on the downwind side.
Theoretically, air moves into the building through openings in high-pressure areas
and exits at low-pressure areas.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
Examples for attic ventilation…

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 26
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 Natural ventilation depends on 6 factors:
1. Building orientation and shape
– opening and air movement.
2. External elements
– house surrounding/tree.
3. Cross ventilation
– allow the air movement from one opening to
one opening…window, wall….
4. Opening location
5. Opening size
– high and width of window, double door…
6. Opening control
– types of opening : sliding/ram window
- full / half opening…

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
MAXIMIZE NATURAL VENTILATION THROUGH
WINDOW

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
MAXIMIZE NATURAL VENTILATION THROUGH
WINDOWS

Your Choice?....
give your
reasons

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin 29
emedya@uthm.edu.my
• Windows should be designed to admit natural ventilation.
The most important design issue is whether the windows provide single-
sided or cross-ventilation to interior spaces.

• The amount of air that flows through a window

(ventilation capacity) depends on the area and vertical
distribution of openings. These depend on the way the window
opens.

• Horizontal pivot windows offer the highest ventilation

capacity:
– For single-sided ventilation, place them as high as possible to exhaust
warm air at ceiling level.
– Air entering through the upper opening is directed toward ceiling, making
night-time cooling more effective.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
 ASSIGNMENT 1
Discuss natural ventilation in Malay
traditional house.

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my
THANK YOU

32
Explanation on natural ventilation in Vernacular Architecture: The Malay House

BFC 32603 Sistem Mekanikal & Elektrikal

Emedya Murniwaty Bt Samsudin
emedya@uthm.edu.my