Ventilation is the intentional introduction of outdoor air into a space

and is mainly used to control indoor air quality by diluting and

displacing indoor pollutants; it can also be used for purposes of thermal
comfort or dehumidification.Ventilation is of two types

Mechanical ventilation-

• Mechanical ventilation uses fans to drive the flow of outdoor air

into a building. This may be accomplished by pressurization (in the
case of positively pressurized buildings), or by depressurization (in
the case of exhaust ventilation systems).
• Many mechanically ventilated buildings use a combination of
both, with the ventilation being integrated into the HVAC system.

Natural ventilation-

• Natural ventilation is the intentional passive flow of outdoor air

into a building through planned openings (such as louvers, doors,
and windows).
• Natural ventilation does not require mechanical systems to move
outdoor air, it relies entirely on passive physical phenomena, such
as diffusion, wind pressure, or the stack effect.
• Mixed mode ventilation systems use both mechanical and natural
processes. The mechanical and natural components may be used
in conjunction with each other or separately at different times of
day or season of the year.
• Since the natural component can be affected by unpredictable
environmental conditions, mechanical systems may be used to
supplement or to regulate the naturally driven flow.
Categories of ventilation

• Mechanical ventilation refers to any system that uses mechanical

means, such as a fan, to introduce subaerial air to a space. This
includes positive pressure ventilation, exhaust ventilation, and
balanced systems that use both supply and exhaust ventilation.
• Natural ventilation refers to intentionally designed passive methods
of introducing subaerial to a space without the use of mechanical
systems.
• Mixed mode ventilation (or hybrid ventilation) systems use both
natural and mechanical processes.
• Infiltration is the uncontrolled flow of air from outdoors to indoors
through leaks (unplanned openings) in a building envelope. When a
building design relies on environmentally driven circumstantial
infiltration to maintain indoor air quality, this flow has been referred
to as adventitious ventilation.
Importance of ventilation

Ventilation is the essential process of replacing stale air with fresh air.
Without proper ventilation, buildings become susceptible to stagnant
air, where bacteria and carbon make the indoor air more polluted than
the air outside.
Sick-building syndrome is common fallout of buildings that do not
breathe-that is, the air does not circulate from the inside to outdoors
continuously. In poorly ventilated buildings, associated with no fresh air
supply and its circulation, indoor pollutants and toxins can cause health
issues for the inhabitants.
Building codes worldwide lay down standards for ventilation. The
Indian Building Code (IS: 3362) measures ventilation provided in
constructed buildings in the form of the number of 'air changes per
hour' or ACH. An air change is the ratio of volume of outside air allowed
in the room to the volume of the room in one hour.
This air change is necessary to remove effects of combustion due to
cooking, moisture due to water usage, odours in the home, chemicals
from printers and computing equipment in offices, and for replacing
carbon dioxide with oxygen.
While in living rooms the minimum ventilation standards may require
only 3 air changes per hour, this requirement increases to 6 air changes
per hour in kitchens due to the heat and fumes produced by cooking.
Creation of ventilating windows and keeping these windows on the
windward side, door openings, and balconies are meant to aid in
natural ventilation. The ideal height of windows is 3.6 feet, as it
typically allows wind-based ventilation of homes. Louvres with
adjustable angle slats made of wood are a common feature in many
buildings, which act as natural ventilation systems; they admit light and
fresh air but keep direct sunshine away.
Another natural ventilation system often used in architecture is
clerestories (a row of windows in the upper part of the wall).
Clerestories are high walls at upper levels of buildings that have many
windows above eye level.
This common feature in factory and building complexes helps as warm
air rises and escapes through the high windows while cooler, fresher air
comes in through the lower windows or vents. From ancient Roman
times, atria based design has been widely used as a way to naturally
ventilate buildings.
Atriums are large open spaces in the centre of the building. This feature
can be seen in large hotels, office complexes, and residential housing
and shopping complexes. The central atrium may be enclosed by glass
roofing on the top or open to sky. It creates a flow path for air and
ventilates it when warm air rises and escape through vents in the upper
levels. Atriums also help in optimizing light usage and imparting a light,
airy feel to the building.