Effective ventilation is important to ensure proper air circulation, regulate temperature and humidity levels and eliminate harmful substances. This helps maintain a healthy work environment and comply with occupational health and safety regulations.
VELUX ventilation systems can combine natural and mechanical ventilation. These systems use ducts and natural driving forces for most of the time, with fans used for assistance when required.
Improved air quality
A ventilation system can help control moisture, reduce condensation and exhaust unwanted odors. It also introduces fresh air that helps dilute and control volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as paint fumes, cleaning chemicals and permanent markers. These VOCs are known to cause a variety of health issues including respiratory problems, headaches and nausea in some people.
Industrial Ventilation
Effective ventilation in an industrial setting can ensure proper air circulation, minimize odors, eliminate harmful substances, and improve overall work conditions. It can also help prevent fires and explosions, protect equipment and machinery from overheating, and comply with regulatory standards.
In homes, a ventilation system can eliminate excess condensation that can cause mold growth and damage to surfaces. It can also keep humidity levels low to prevent rashes and irritation of the skin. It can also help alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms in family members by providing a drier healthier environment.
Early studies of “bad air” included assumptions of oxygen depletion and carbon dioxide build-up, but research in human test chambers led to the conclusion that odors were the primary component of unacceptable indoor air. These conclusions led to modern space-by-space ventilation rate recommendations based on consideration of odor, room volume, age of occupants, cooling equipment implications and recirculation factors. The end result is a safe, healthy and comfortable home or business.
Increased comfort
Whether you live in an apartment or own your home, ventilation systems can help you enjoy a comfortable living environment. Good ventilation reduces the accumulation of different types of pollutants, moisture, unpleasant odors and bacteria in your living spaces. It also helps prevent problems like mold and mildew that can cause health issues.
Natural ventilation harnesses the force of prevailing winds and the pressure of heated or rising air to supply and remove air in an enclosed space. It uses a system of vents, windows, or breaches in the building envelope to create and control air flow. The resulting flows are called wind-driven, stack ventilation, and pressure-driven flows.
A balanced ventilation system supplies fresh air to bedrooms and living rooms and exhausts it from kitchens, bathrooms and laundry areas. It can also use filters to remove contaminants from outside air before it enters the house, significantly reducing allergens like dust, pollen and plant spores.
The type of ventilation system you choose depends on your climate and the type of building. In harsh climates or in newer, airtight houses, natural ventilation may not provide enough fresh air. A mechanical ventilation system may be required to replace the air in your building regularly. This is referred to as an air change and is necessary for optimum indoor comfort. The system is especially effective when used with a humidifier to control humidity in the winter.
Reduced energy bills
The use of ventilation systems reduces the reliance on air conditioning in hot climates and heating in colder regions. In addition, ventilation systems eliminate excess moisture buildup that causes condensation and mold in homes, minimizing energy consumption.
Ventilation-related energy accounts for 5-15% of total building energy consumption. By optimizing ventilation for efficiency and identifying energy inefficiencies, building owners and facility managers can save on operational costs.
Mechanical ventilation systems are a common solution for promoting ventilation while reducing energy consumption. A typical balanced system provides fresh air to areas where people spend most of their time while exhausting stale air from spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Some systems can even utilize heat recovery to pre-warm supply air during the winter, allowing for significant energy savings.
Alternatively, building owners and facility managers can take a more holistic approach to energy efficiency by incorporating a demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) strategy into their buildings. These systems work by using carbon dioxide sensors to monitor occupancy and air quality conditions in order to supply outside air only when it’s needed. By preventing unnecessary ventilation during low occupancy periods, these systems can significantly reduce energy waste.
In addition, reducing energy consumption through ventilation efficiency can also help businesses in meeting environmental regulations and standards while boosting overall occupant satisfaction and productivity. This can be achieved through a combination of measures, including regular air filter inspection and replacement to ensure a clean airflow; ensuring fans and motors are running properly; and conducting comprehensive facility audits.
Improved health
Ventilation systems help improve indoor air quality, regulate temperature and humidity levels, remove stale air, and reduce potential contaminants. These systems also help remove odors and dissipate heat from equipment and machinery. This is especially important in industrial applications, where proper ventilation is critical to worker health and safety and maintaining efficient operations.
Ventilation can also reduce respiratory illnesses by bringing fresh air into buildings and filtering or disinfecting it. This helps lower the concentration of viral droplets that can carry infections like COVID-19, chickenpox, measles, or smallpox. These droplets are breathed into the lungs and can cause respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia and other infectious diseases.
While the use of masks and physical distancing can be effective for reducing infection risk, ventilation is a much more practical tool that can be used in combination with these methods. Studies have shown that increased ventilation rates can lower transmission rate by lowering the concentration of infectious aerosols in an area.
Many older homes and commercial buildings have outdated ventilation systems that need upgrades. Modern whole house ventilation systems with filters can increase the flow of fresh air and keep pollutants out. They also keep the humidity low, which helps prevent rashes and dry skin. In addition, ventilation can reduce the level of Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) in the home. These VOCs can contribute to poor indoor air quality and may trigger allergies or asthma in some people.