Produced in Association with
SERIES 22 / Module 05 Ventilation
Advantages: Offers energy savings
while maintaining flexibility and comfort. Disadvantages: Two ventilation
systems are installed making the capital cost higher.
Ventilation regulations & standards Regulators address ventilation through guidance, standards and legislation. A sample of the current approaches taken by industry and regulators can be seen in Table 2 opposite.
The key components of a mechanical ventilation system In practice mechanical ventilation systems can be simple, comprising just a fan (e.g. in a sports hall), or a complex system comprising many components (e.g. a pharmaceutical laboratory). In this following section, a range of the commonly found components are reviewed.
1. Air Handling Unit (AHU) ● AHU is the name given to a number of ventilation component modules that are arranged together in an overall casing. The components work together to maintain a comfortable and healthy indoor environment by controlling temperature, humidity, air quality and air pressure.
2. Fans ● The supply fan moves air from the AHU into the ductwork for distribution throughout the building. ● The exhaust fan draws air back from the building to be either recirculated or exhausted outside. ● Fan efficiency is assessed by calculating and measuring its Specific Fan Power (SFP), which is measured in Watts per litre per second W/(l.s).
3. Filters ● Primary filters are located as air enters an air handling unit and captures large particles like dust and debris, providing protection to fans and heating and cooling coils. ● Secondary filters are provided to capture smaller particles and improve indoor air quality. ● Filter types vary and include General (‘G’ type filters), Medium (‘M’ type filters), Fine (‘F’ type filters), Efficient Particulate Air (EPA or ‘E’ type filters), High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA or ‘H’ type filters) and Ultra-Low Penetration Air (ULPA or ‘U’ type filters). ● The resistance drop across air filters
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance.
Regulator Guidance, Standards and Legislation
Provides recommendations and requirements to ensure that ventilation systems meet health and safety standards in workplaces.
Emphasises the importance of adequate ventilation to control airborne contaminants, including dust, fumes, and gases.
Provides guidance on the maintenance and inspection of ventilation systems to ensure continued effectiveness and compliance with health and safety laws.
Provides guidance on ensuring adequate ventilation in buildings, includingdwellings andnon-domesticbuildings.
Outlines acceptable methods for achieving ventilation, including natural, mechanical, and hybrid systems.
Building Regulations Approved Document F (Ventilation).
Emphasizes the importance of maintaining indoor air quality by controllingpollutants like moisture, carbondioxide(CO2) and volatileorganiccompounds (VOCs).
Specifies the ventilation requirements for new buildings, including minimum airflow rates, and the need for controllable ventilation systems.
CIBSE Guide A (Environmental Design)
Offers comprehensive guidance on the environmental design of buildings, including ventilation, heating, cooling, and indoor air quality.
Provides recommended ventilation rates for different building types and occupancy levels.
Focuses specifically on the design and application of HVAC systems, including ventilation.
CIBSE Guide B (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration)
Detailed guidance on the design, selection, and operation of ventilation systems.
Includes information on airflow calculations, system components,and theintegrationof ventilationwith other HVAC systems.
Provides standards for ventilation and air-conditioning systems in non-residential buildings.
BS EN 13779:2007 (Ventilation for Non-Residential Buildings)
Establishes performance requirements for ventilation systems to ensure indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and energy efficiency.
Discusses the design of mechanical and hybrid ventilation systems and their impact on energy use.
Part of a series of standards focused on the energy performance of buildings, specifically addressing ventilation.
BS EN 16798-1:2019 (Energy Performance of Buildings)
Specifies methods for calculating ventilation requirements based on occupancy, building use, and indoor air quality targets.
Includes recommendations for balancing energy efficiency with adequate ventilation to maintain indoor air quality.
BS 5925:1991 (Code of Practice for Ventilation Principles and Designing for Natural Ventilation)
Offers guidance on the design principles for natural ventilation.
Covers the use of natural ventilation to achieve adequate airflow in buildings, including considerations for window design, placement, and sizing.
Table 2: A Sample of current ventilation guidance, standards and legislation
vary significantly between different filter types.
4. Heating & Cooling Coils ● The heating coil warms the air by passing it over a heated coil, typically using hot water, steam, refrigerant or electricity. ● The cooling coil removes heat and
dehumidifies the air by passing it over a chilled coil, typically using chilled water or refrigerant.
5. Dampers ● Mixing dampers are located in air systems to regulate the amount of outside air and return air to be mixed and are altered according to either air
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quality or energy efficiency inputs. ● Isolation dampers are used to control the flow of air and are used to form zones in order to shut off sections of the ductwork when air flow is not required.
6. Humidifiers & Dehumidifiers ● Humidifiers add moisture to the air when the relative humidity is too low. These are usually required in critical environments such as pharmaceuticals or certain types of manufacturing. Humidifiers are typically direct electric or steam and are high energy using elements of an air handling system and their use should be avoided if tolerable and possible. ● Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, usually through using the cooling coils to control humidity levels.
7. Heat Recovery Devices ● Heat recovery devices capture heat from the treated exhaust air and use it to pre-heat the incoming fresh air. This improves the overall thermal energy efficiency of an air system. ● There are many different types of devices available and include thermal wheels, plate heat exchangers, mixing damper boxes and run around coils.
8. Sound Attenuators ● These reduce noise levels generated by the fans and air movement within the unit, improving comfort in occupied spaces.
9. Distribution Ductwork ● Ductwork distributes air from the air handling unit around the building. ● At ductwork branches Volume Control Dampers (VCD) are positioned and set up to balance the flow of air around the system.
10. Supply & Extract Grilles ● Supply air ductwork is connected onto supply air terminals to distribute air into a space. ● Extract grilles are connected onto extract ductwork to enable ‘used’ air to be fed back to the air handling unit.
The top energy saving options for mechanical ventilation systems 1. Undertake regular maintenance and fine tuning ● Regular maintenance of fans, including cleaning and lubrication, ensures they operate efficiently. ● Regularly replace or clean filters to
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