Josh Barrett 194537

10 Principles of Ventilation & Air-conditioning Design & Installation

P7 Discuss ventilation strategies for a given building.

There are several ventilation systems that can cater for various buildings needs. There are
many different types of buildings that serve various functions, as such there are several
systems and strategies that can be considered for a given building.1

1. Natural ventilation

Natural ventilation can be defined as the method of supplying fresh air to a building by
means of passive forces. These passive forces include wind speed or pressure differences
between the internal and external areas of a building.2

If natural ventilation is capable to achieving the fresh air requirements of a building whilst
not negatively impacting the heat gains during peak summer conditions. It can be
considered a favourable method. One reason why natural ventilation is considered
favourable, is that economically, the running costs are drastically lowered, without any
mechanical machinery to power and run, there is no requirement for incoming services and
therefore does not cost money to achieve a buildings ventilation requirement. This also
works in favour of energy consumption when considering the environmental impact, a
building has. Reducing energy consumption and therefore carbon emissions by using natural
ventilation is one large benefit of utilising this ventilation strategy. To further understand
natural ventilation, we must look at the various strategies that can be used when
implementing this system:

i) Wind-driven natural ventilation

As the name suggests, wind driven ventilation relies on wind pressure being applied to a
building and pushing an air flow through the building via windows, natural vents (such as
trickle vents or air bricks) or through leakage in the building’s fabric. Air flow will travel
through a building from areas of high pressure to low pressure, an understanding of this
allows a ventilation strategy to design air flow systems that travel from areas of high
pressure to low pressure. An understanding on the local climate conditions is required.

ii) Buoyancy-driven ventilation

Buoyancy-driven ventilation or ‘stack-driven’ ventilation describes the process where

pressure differences created between the inside and outside of a given building
encourage air flow. Warm air in a given zone rises and is then replaced underneath it
with cooler air. These temperatures and therefore pressure differences creates a ‘stack’
effect. This effect of natural ventilation is not dissimilar to wind-driven ventilation as
both methods rely on differences in pressure from internal and external areas to create
and air flow of fresh air.

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iii) Combined wind and buoyancy ventilation

When designing a natural ventilation strategy for a given building, the design should include
methods for encouraging a combination of wind and buoyancy ventilation. Having an
understanding of both allows a design to use wind- ventilation to manipulate an optimal
stack ventilation system.

iv) Atrium ventilation

An atrium is a central feature of some modern buildings which in terms of ventilation,

adjoins all the storeys of a given building. Atrium ventilation relies on the buoyancy driven
ventilation strategy to pass fresh air through a building creating one central large stack
through the centre of the building to create an enhancement of air flow through the entire
building. Atrium ventilation can be assisted by utilising vents in the atrium roof to allow
warm air to pass out through the top of the building.

v) Double façade natural ventilation

Double façade ventilation is a strategy whereby a cavity is created around the building
envelope between the two façades. This cavity acts as a natural ventilation air duct.
Similarly, to an atrium, this chimney-like effect, passes fresh air through a building through
the cavity as opposed to an atrium which passes the fresh air through an open central
feature. Outside air enters the cavity at low level, collecting cool air which rises to each
storey and can distributed to zones as it passes.

vi) Single-sided natural ventilation

Single sided ventilation is where natural ventilation is encouraged through openings in the
building envelope such as windows or trickle vents on top of the window frame. An opening
for single sided ventilation is restricted by the height of the zone the fresh air enters into as
the wind-driven ventilation must be able to achieve both supply and extract method of
ventilation.

See diagram displaying natural ventilation strategy4

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2. Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation is the use of mechanical fans that drive ventilation in and out of a
building. Various mechanical systems can be installed with various plant options based on
the purpose, requirements and feasibility of a given building. The type of mechanical
ventilation that can be used depends on the climate in which it is installed in. 3

There are several types of mechanical ventilation strategies that range in mechanical input.

i) Circulation system

This can be a series or singular fans used to encourage air movement in a given zone. This
strategy does not introduce fresh air.

ii) Pressure System

This is a system where fresh air from the outside is blown into a building by inlet fans, this
creates a higher internal pressure than the outside air.

iii) A vacuum system

A vacuum system uses an extraction system to remove stale air from the inside of a building
and creates a lower pressure inside the building that the outside air pressure.

iv) A balanced system

A balance system uses both inlet and extract fans, this maintains the internal air pressure at
a similar level to the outside which reduces the level of natural air infiltrations.

v) A local exhaust system

This is the use of extracting heat and contaminants from inside a building from plant
such as extraction fans from cooker hoods and fume cupboards in laboratories.

Ventilation system for a commercial Building

Mechanical Ventilation in commercial buildings is most commonly installed by using Air

Handling Units which are stored on the external of a building and through a system of
duct works, supplies fresh air and extracts stale air from various zones throughout a
building. This layout varies dependant on the building’s requirements and proposed
purpose. This extraction of internal air and replacing with fresh air from outdoors can
create the necessity for heating and cooling dependant on the outside temperature and
what temperature is required internally to achieve thermal comfort for the occupants.
This can be reduced by re-circulating a portion of the internal air with the fresh air from
outside, alternatively the use of heat recovery ventilation can be used which recovers
heat from the extracted air and uses this to heat incoming fresh air using counter-flow
heat exchanger.

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See diagram of Mechanical Ventilation 5

3. Mixed-mode or hybrid ventilation systems

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Mixed mode is a ventilation system that uses a combination of both mechanical and natural
ventilation. Using this strategy can achieve internal thermal comfort targets and reduce
energy consumption. The use of both natural and mechanical ventilation means that both
strategies can be used in the same building at different times of the day, month or year. The
system can be switched to suit the requirements of the building at different times. I.e.
Mechanical ventilation can be used during peak summer time and during peak occupied
hours and natural ventilation can be used during the cooler evenings.
This mixed mode system can give control to the occupants during occupied hours to
use mechanical or natural ventilation based on the thermal comfort levels at a given time.
Alliteratively, the system could be used where natural ventilation is chosen during the day in
summertime through opening windows and mechanical ventilation can take over in the
evening cooling the building ready for the following day.

See diagram of mixed mode ventilation, with mechanical supply and extract from the ceiling and natural
ventilation encouraged through cross flow with window openings. 6

P8 Present a ventilation and air conditioning design proposal for a given

building type.
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To be able to present a ventilation and air conditioning design proposal, we must consider
two things – the design data provided to us by the client on the property in which the design
will be installed We must also consider the ventilation and air conditioning systems available
to us and consider them against the design data. We can then make an educated decision
on what Ventilation and air-conditioning design proposal to produce.

First, we know that the following given building design data that must be considered when
making a proposal is:

Other data:
Client: Paddington Investments
Building: Three-storey block, built in 1964
Location: Central London
Staff: Accommodation for approximately 45 staff on each floor
Aspect: Faces busy road on eastern side
Services: Electrical services to be supplied by the client
Lifts: Single 1000kgs, 12 person lift
Security & Safety: Commissioner on duty 24 hours a day
Utilities: Electrical (400 / 230 volts, 50Hz.), natural gas and BT lines
Temperatures: Outside design:
Summer 28°Cdb / 19°Cwb
Winter -2°Cdb / -2°Cwb
Inside design: As per your recommendations to meet industry requirements.

Floor plans: attached as PDF file format.

Air Infiltration: In accordance with CIBSE Guides (which you must state)
Construction: Floor to false ceiling: 2.8m
False ceiling: 0.9m
External walls: 105mm brick, 50mm air gap, 100mm Aerated block, 13mm
Lightweight (Dense) plaster.
Internal walls: 100mm Aerated Lightweight concrete block, 13mm
Lightweight plaster each side.
Internal floors
/ceilings: 50mm screed, 150mm concrete, 13mm dense plaster.
Roof (flat concrete): Waterproof covering, 75mm screed, 150mm cast concrete,
13mm dense plaster.
Solid ground floor : 10mm carpet/underlay, 75mm screed, 150mm cast concrete
(in contact with the earth) on clay with R= 0.5(m²K/w).
Windows: 1.5m high double glazing (BS EN ISO 6946), 16mm spacing.
Occupancy: 1 person / 10m²
Lighting 15 w/m²
Equipment 15 w/m² (60 w/m² in ground floor sales/media area)

See below table for U-Values using various CIBSE Guide Tables;

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Building Fabric
U-Values

U-Value
Fabric Detail (W/m2K) Reference

105mm Brick, 50mm air gap, 100mm

Aerated block, 13mm Lightweight (Dense
External Wall Plaster) 1.01 CIBSE Guide (A): Table 3.48(9a)

100mm Aerated lightweight concrete

Internal Wall block, 13mm lightweight plaster each side 1.11 CIBSE Guide (A): Table 3.50(b)

Internal 50mm screed, 150mm concrete, 13mm

Floor/Ceiling dense plaster 2.19 CIBSE Guide A Table 3.51 (a)

waterproof covering, 75mm screed,

Concrete Flat 150mm cast concrete, 13mm dense
Roof plaster 2.19 CIBSE Guide A Table 3.49 (1a)

10mm carpet/underlay, 75mm screed,

Solid Ground 150mm cast concrete (in contact with the
Floor earth) on clay with R=0.5(m2K/W) 0.29 CIBSE Guide A Table 3.52 (1b)

1.5m high double glazing (BS EN ISO 6946)

Windows 16mm spacing 2.73 CIBSE Guide A: 3.23

Next, we can use this design data and revert back to our previously discussed strategies to
reduce the total cooling load calculated for the given building. We know that when
introducing a mechanical ventilation air conditioning and system alongside with natural
ventilation strategies that the primary source of supplying the building with fresh air will be
through a ventilation duct system with a supply of fresh conditioned air and an extract duct
system to remove stale air.

There are three main categories of duct systems:

1.Conditioned air-ducts

Conditioned air ducts carry conditioned air from the air conditioner and distribute it to the
conditioned area.

2. Re-circulating air-ducts

Recirculating air ducts take air from the conditioned space and distribute it back into the air
conditioner system

3. Fresh-air air-ducts

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Fresh air ducts bring fresh air into the air-conditioning system from outside the conditioned
space.

There are numerous air control systems which will utilise the ductwork supply and extract
system. The systems that can be considered for this given building are;

Constant Air Volume (CAV)

CAV is a means of delivering conditioned air around a given building. Constant air volume
means that the air is constant but the temperature supplied is varied. This system is
becoming less common in buildings. Although they are becoming less common in new
buildings, they are still a popular choice in smaller and older buildings. This is because they
are simple to operate and cheap to install.

See above a diagram of a CAV system showing the supply of fresh air and the extraction of
older stale air. These two duct systems lead and return from the Air Handling unit. The air
handling unit will store the components that can condition the air and release the stale air
back into the atmosphere or there can be systems in place to recover some of the used air
and recycle it back into the building.

As a CAV system has a constant air flow but a variable temperature, a limitation of this is
that if a given building as different sized zones to have air disturbed into, the volume of air
in each space will be the same. For smaller rooms such as the middle room in the diagram
above, this room will struggle to achieve its thermal comfort requirement as the cooling
load will likely be too high for the space. This is a reason why VAV systems are becoming
more popular in new builds and in more complicated building design layout.

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Variable Air Volume (VAV)

Variable Air Volume systems are considered a more energy efficient than CAV systems.
Variable air volume gives the system the ability to have separate zones with different
heating/cooling temperatures to meet the purpose of that particular zones’ needs. The
system still uses Air Handling Units and a supply and extract duct system, in addition though,
the VAV system has VAV terminals which are located on the different zoned branches of the
duct work distribution system. Each terminal serves the zone it is feeding with fresh air. This
terminal is then connected to a thermostat which can be installed in each room therefore
giving the room its own control of heating and cooling requirements.

See below a diagram of a VAV system showing the AHU, supply & extract duct work and
VAV terminals.

Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)11

A VRF system is a large-scale ductless HVAC system that can perform at a high capacity. A
VRF system has the ability for ‘zoning’ similar to the VAV system, with multiple zones for
different heating/cooling needs. A VRF system runs on either a heat pump or a heat
recovery system. A VRF system uses refrigerant as the cooling and heating medium. The
refridgerant is conditioned by a sigle outdoor condensing unit and distributed through the
buikding with multiple indoor units without using ductwork.

A VRF system utilises variable motor speed and ‘variable refridgerant flow’ to heat and cool.
They use inverter compressors which operate at a lower power consumption and provide

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multiple heat/cooling conditions for different zones. VRF systems are considered 55%
cheaper in running costs than other HVAC systems. See below a diagram showing a typical
commercial office set up for a VRF system showing the heat source unit and the refridgerent
cooling media distribtuon.

Summary

Based on the above strategies discussed (CAV,VAV,VRF) and the design data of the existing
given building. I will be proposing that the system installed is a CAV system using an AHU,
Duct work system of extract and supply. This decision is based on the age of the building, as
it is a older a building, a CAV system is more appropriate than a VAV. The budget and time
to install the system, the CAV system although is not as energy efficient, still allows mixed
mode to play a role in the system and if managed correctly, can still save utility bills and
energy consumption can be reduced. I will be looking to add heat recovery methods to the
CAV system in a bid reduce wasted energy. In order to fully determine with duct sizes we
must carry out a series of calculations based on the design data including the occupancy of
the building etc. These calculations can be done at a later stage.

M4 Compare different ventilation strategies to determine best practice.

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To compare the different ventilation strategies and determine best practice we must
evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy available.

Natural Ventilation

Advantages

- Natural ventilation can achieve the thermal comfort and indoor air quality
requirements under different seasonal conditions. Utilising natural ventilation
reduces the demand for energy and therefore reduces the carbon footprint of the
building
- Occupants will have control over the ventilation and air quality by being able to open
and close windows when are where necessary
- Natural ventilation is efficient in costs. Once the initial installations are complete, the
cost of running a building with purely natural ventilation is much less in comparison
to that of mechanical ventilation or even mixed mode.
- The maintenance of a naturally ventilated building is less than that of buildings with
mechanical installations. Maintaining natural ventilation is easier, needs to be done
less frequently and runs in to less issues than mechanical ventilation or mixed mode
- There are no components in a naturally ventilated building that facilitate high
humidity, this therefore poses less risk for biological growth.
- Acoustics – there is no plant installed which creates noise affecting the acoustic
comfort of a given building
- The lack of plant means there is more floor space in a building as a plant room does
not need to be accounted for.

Disadvantages

- Natural ventilation can be limited when there are low driving forces – this means the
wind-driven and buoyancy driven ventilation fluctuates with the weather, in certain
conditions this means a building can become under ventilated
- Occupants control means the building can fall victim to inadequate control if a
control strategy is not maintained. This means that if not monitored correctly a
building can become under ventilated
- Natural ventilation can bring cold draughts into a building, particularly during the
winter. This could mean excessive heat loss and wasted energy.
- Using natural ventilation means there are design limitations when sizing rooms in
order to achieve ventilation requirements, this limitation could mean smaller rooms
which may not be suitable for a given building.
- During peak summer times, excessive heat gains can cause poor thermal comfort.
Not having the ability to introduce mechanical ventilation and air cooling during
these times can become problematic. When considering the forecast for global
warming. Not having the ability to mechanically intervene when heat and solar gains
having become excessive can result in an unhabitable building during these times.
- Heat recovery is not possible which from a sustainability standpoint is poor, wasted
energy means adding to the buildings carbon footprint and reducing the efficiency of

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a building
- Acoustics – although the building may benefit from a lack of plant noise, using
natural ventilation can increase acoustic interference from outside the building,
depending on its location, traffic etc can create acoustic issues when naturally
ventilating a building
- Air filtration is not possible with natural ventilation which if air pollutants become an
issue, the building cannot cope with rising air pollutants and certain times in the
building’s life cycle.
- Layout limitations, when using a naturally ventilation building, the fresh air passing
form one zone to another may diminish in quality if the layout of building has a
steam of zones connected to one another relying on natural ventilation from one
zone to another.

Mechanical Ventilation

Advantages

- The main advantage of mechanical ventilation is that it can control the indoor
conditions regardless of what the external weather conditions are.
- Greater control over the system, different zones can be controlled separately to
meet their individual needs.
- Full flexibility, the buildings indoor temperature and humidity can be influenced at
will by the occupants or maintenance team.
- Consistency, assuming the plant is well maintained, the ventilation and air
conditioning can be relied upon for a consistency.
- Air filtration means that the mechanical system can deal with air pollutants and
contaminants.
- Suitable for all climates, hot or cold
- Suitable for larger building and building in urban areas and/or city centres.

Disadvantages

- Installation costs, there is a vast range of mechanical ventilation that be installed

into a given building. When considering a dual duct system with an air handling unit.
The costs of installation are drastically higher than that on natural ventilation
strategies
- Running costs, the use of a mechanical ventilation strategy, in any capacity, will
require fuel and energy to run, this will constantly cost money. The ongoing
maintenance of the system during it’s life cycle will also cost money, more money
than failing to maintain the system at all.
- Environmental impact, using this energy and fuel increases the carbon emissions
from the building and therefore has a negative impact on the environment, the more
the system is used, the more the output and negative impact the mechanical
ventilation system will have on the environment.
- Spatial requirements, the installation a mechanical ventilation system will typically
mean plan.

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- If the given building is to rely entirely on mechanical ventilation, more works will
need to be undertaken to improve the specification for the airtightness of a building.
To gain maximum efficiency from the system, the building must be airtight as to lose
minimal amounts mechanical ventilation to the atmosphere.

Mixed Mode Ventilation

Advantages

- Mechanical and natural ventilation become complimentary, when one isn’t required
or is unsuitable, the other can take over. For example, during peak summertime
temperatures, natural ventilation may be unable to handle the heat and solar gains
therefore the mechanical ventilation can be utilised to cover natural ventilations
limitations.
- Alternatively, natural ventilation can be used where mechanical is not necessary
therefore reducing running costs and energy consumption where possible
- As the mechanical system will be of a simpler specification as the building will not be
fully dependency on it, the installation costs will be lower and the spatial
requirements of the system will be reduced
-

Disadvantages

- There is less control over a mixed mode system than that of a full mechanical system.
- The operation of a hybrid system can become too complicated for maintenance team
or occupants to efficiently use
- The costs of running a system utilising a combination of the two can be costly,
although perhaps not as costly as a full mechanical system

Based on the above evaluation of the three main ventilation strategies, I can determine that
best practice would be to use a mixed mode or hybrid ventilation system. Using both
mechanical and natural ventilation strikes a healthy compromise between the two and they
can be complimentary of one another. There are mitigating factors to assist with keeping
costs down and increasing the energy efficiency of the building by having a more adaptable
system to all weather conditions. The mechanical ventilation system can handle the
extremes of the seasons and the natural ventilation can cover the buildings ventilation and
thermal comfort requirements in the off-peak of the seasons.

P9 Specify ventilation and air conditioning components, including ductwork

sizing for a given building.

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I have established that the Ventlation and Air Conditioning System I will be proposing for the
given building is a Constant Air Volume System (CAV)

There are several components in a CAV system:

Filters
Cooling coils
Heating coils
Humidifiers
Fans
Dampers
Boilers
Chimney
Chilled water plant
Cooling tower
Fan room
Outdoor fresh air
Exhaust louvers
Vertical supply and return ducts
Horizontal supply and return ducts
Supply diffusers
Return grills

CAV System parts – diagrams and whatnot.

1. http://constructionmanuals.tpub.com/14279/css/Types-of-Duct-Systems-281.htm

CAV – ENGINERRING MINDSET

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUtRYshItAo

P10 Justify the selection of components for a non-domestic ventilation and air
conditioning system.

P10 Could use terminal reheaters? Electrically powered heaters can heat the local incoming
air to suit a specific zone but it very energy inefficient as you are cooling air only to heat it
again.

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P10 Dual duct CAV system – two ducts supplying cold and warm air, mixed the air streams
to suit the indivudal zone. This system provides improved thermal control but there is little
control of gumidity and it is not very energy efficient. Higher frictional losses with additional
duct work. Can make this more efficient with a temperature reset.

M5 Discuss the effect of different duct sizing on the performance of a

ventilation and air conditioning installation.

D2 Critically evaluate sustainable options for inclusion in a ventilation and air

conditioning strategy for a given building type.

References

2. CIBSE Guide B2
3. https://ventive.co.uk/resources/natural-ventilation/#:~:text=Natural%20ventilation%20is%20a
%20method,Reduces%20carbon%20emissions
4. https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Mechanical_ventilation_of_buildings
5. https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/File:Schematic_section.jpg
6. https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/mechanical-ventilation-in-buildings-what-you-need-to-know/
7. https://cbe.berkeley.edu/research/mixed-mode-building-research/
8. http://constructionmanuals.tpub.com/14279/css/Types-of-Duct-Systems-281.htm
9. https://theengineeringmindset.com/constant-air-volume-cav/
10. https://theengineeringmindset.com/variable-air-volume/
11. https://www.ferguson.com/content/trade-talk/tricks-of-the-trade/what-is-a-vrf-system

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