Assessing the potential use of strategies independent from the architectural design to achieve efficient ventilation: A Spanish case study

Abstract

Increasing building tightness is one of the measures taken by the construction industry to reduce energy losses, but leading to unhealthy environments. Efficient ventilation strategies with low energy consumption are necessary in order to design and improve the existing forced ventilation systems. This paper assesses the potential use of different strategies, independently from the architectural design, to achieve efficient ventilation. To this end, the airflow pattern and the age of air have been assessed in an en suite bedroom within a Spanish house with the use of computational fluid dynamics predictions. The computational fluid dynamics model predictions were validated by the comparison against experimental measurements, with good agreement. An alternative ventilation strategy is proposed, not affecting the architectural design of the room. Statistical analysis is used to assess and compare the results obtained for the different cases simulated. Results show that although the room has a forced ventilation system, air stagnates and ventilation are not homogeneous. Statistical analysis shows that this strategy produces a significant impact on indoor air quality, particularly in bedroom areas where air tends to stagnate.Practical application: The Spanish Building Code provides a minimum level of air quality within the buildings although it does not ensure an efficient design of the ventilation system, being necessary the use of guidelines or other recommendations to advise the designers in order to achieve efficient ventilation designs. Implementation of strategies independent from the architectural design, as studied in this work, can improve the indoor air quality and therefore reduce the global building energy consumption. In addition, these solutions are recommended for construction works requiring quick-easy implementation without disturbing the inhabitants of a house and allowing the normal use of the building during the refurbishment works. © The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers 2013.