Building Ventilation

As we continue to work together in the fight against Covid-19, our aim is to keep transmissions as low as possible. Therefore there has never been a better reason to make sure your building ventilation is as effective as it possibly can be: Mechanical ventilation in buildings is quickly becoming the most sought after ventilation solution across the globe.

Not only this, but maintaining high quality air ventilation in workspaces and office buildings also helps to create a comfortable environment for your employees and has actually been linked to higher levels of productivity and concentration, while also reducing stress and improving the general well-being among staff members. 

Mechanical Ventilation

By law, employers must make sure that there is an adequate fresh air supply (commercial ventilation) in work spaces and offices at all times. Obviously the most common way of doing this is simply by opening a window, door or through air vents. This is known as “natural ventilation” However, this isn’t always comfortable especially as we enter the colder months. 

The second way of doing this is by the use of fans and ducts that bring fresh air from the outside. This is known as “mechanical ventilation in buildings”

Mechanical ventilation that includes heating, cooling and humidity control, is usually referred to as Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) 

Air conditioners filter the air by removing pollen, dust and mould. They then distribute the air throughout the building. The advantage of mechanical ventilation over natural ventilation is that comfortable working conditions can be achieved even throughout the colder months as windows can remain closed. 

Maintaining Mechanical Ventilation

Unfortunately it’s not enough to simply install a mechanical ventilation in buildings and then call it quits. 

Certain considerations must be made, such as, the rate of ventilation or the volume of outdoor air provided into the area, as well as the quality of that external air. 

Another important consideration is the general direction of airflow in a building. It should always travel from clean to dirty zones. The airflow pattern must be set up in a way that external air is efficiently being delivered to each part of the building while airborne pollutants are being effectively removed. 

The overall efficiency of mechanical ventilation can be evaluated by how well the system is:

a). Providing clean air into dirty air by means of appropriate air flow 

b.) The efficiency of delivering outdoor air into each location 

c.) The effectiveness in removing airborne pollutants from each area. 

Issues are likely to occur when components of the HVAC system have been wrongly installed. This will create pressure differences. I.e. too much circulating air, which will create a draft or too little circulating air creating stagnancy. 

Therefore it is essential that your building ventilation systems (HVAC) are serviced and maintained. This will help to avoid filters becoming clogged with dust and debris. It will also help to avoid the deterioration of motors and impellers. 

It is important to note that building ventilation systems that are not electrically checked and serviced can cause issues that can result in serious health implications such as condensation, damp, mould growth. 

If your business is in need of a HVAC system be sure to get in contact with OKTO air today, you can contact us by calling 020 3978 0288 or filling out our contact form.