Comfort and safety when indoors are paramount to any Australian, especially in a country prone to unpredictable weather and heat waves. That is why most buildings, especially commercial structures, require the installation of ventilation systems throughout.
These systems promote continuous airflow, removing moisture, odours, air pollution and other contaminants from building up indoors. The flow of air also offers thermal comfort, which is crucial for those working indoors.
The benefits of a ventilation system are evident, but which type of system to choose for your building?
This guide will walk you through mechanical and natural ventilation, the two most popular options in Australia. We will compare crucial factors like energy savings, improving indoor air quality, and many more to help you determine the best option for your infrastructural comfort and safety.
Mechanical ventilation systems are referred to as such because they rely on mechanical components and energy sources to direct air movement indoors. A series of fans and ducts carefully control air circulation, meaning the airflow is artificial.
With the air exchange throughout a building being completely controlled through continuous operation, mechanical systems can set ventilation to particular standards. This level of control makes them popular in residential buildings with multiple occupants that have their own indoor temperature preferences. However, mechanical ventilation can still be used in commercial spaces to ensure temperature and air quality meet Australian standards.
There is a wide range of ventilation equipment and components that can be used to supply air throughout a building mechanically. These components can be combined to create mechanical ventilation systems that focus on particular areas of temperature or air quality concern.
Some of the more notable examples of mechanical systems in the Australian market include:
There are plenty of components and factors to consider if deciding to choose a mechanical ventilation system for installation. The design of the system should always be considered first, including which type would suit your chosen building.
When looking into mechanical ventilation systems, consider the following design elements:
These considerations can help you determine whether mechanical ventilation suits your building and the occupants’ needs. From there, you can better determine what mechanical type and/or product you would like to install.
Natural ventilation systems greatly differ from mechanical ones as they do not use manufactured energy or components to generate airflow. Rather, natural forces like wind and temperature difference are used to direct air around an indoor environment.
It is a type of passive ventilation that does not need mechanical equipment to remove airborne pollutants or control internal temperature. This works through two methods:
With a strong reliance on the presence of outdoor air, natural ventilation systems are typically designed for installation in a building’s wall or roof space. These products can be divided into two main designs, of which there are variations to best suit a building’s needs and health concerns:
Commonly relying on the stack effect, natural vents are installed in areas of a building that require routing of hot, stale air to the outside. Without the use of mechanical exhaust fans, these vents are instead installed in an ideal position to draw in cool external air and remove unwanted internal heat or pollution.
Notable examples of natural vents are:
Akin to a window shutter, these tall ventilation systems allow light and fresh air to enter buildings. This provides a source of comfort and a healthy atmosphere to most occupants. The variety of products means that louvres can be installed in various building locations and designs.
Notable examples of natural louvres are:
Much of the initial design elements for natural ventilation systems match with those of mechanical ventilation. Namely, the considerations around the building’s structure, usage, size, and amount of occupants.
However, since natural ventilation does not use energy sources like electricity or mechanical components, there are alternate considerations around natural wind and/or heat transfer. These key factors include:
To comprehend whether or not mechanical ventilation may offer the benefits your building and its occupants are looking for, it is best to analyse its main features. The following features are unique to mechanical ventilation and its use of energy sources, mechanical components, and controllable functions.
While mechanical ventilation systems can be installed in both new and existing buildings, particular architectural designs work best. Namely, building designs that support controlled indoor environments and/or require complete climate control.
These requirements mean that buildings with tightly sealed rooms and exteriors best suit mechanical ventilation. This means rooms with minimum windows or exterior openings, as well as other passive-style structures.
There are several benefits to choosing mechanical ventilation for your building. If you are looking for consistency and controllability, this system may be the one suitable for the comfort and health of the building’s occupants.
The main advantages of installing mechanical ventilation are as follows:
Just as there are advantages to installing a mechanical system of ventilation in your building, there are also disadvantages. These issues mainly focus on the reliance of a consistent energy source and the higher costs associated with it.
The specifics are as follows:
To determine if natural ventilation systems are better suited for your building and interior environmental needs, a closer look into its features is needed. Comparing the following with mechanical ventilation system features can help you make a more informed choice in what to install.
Since natural ventilation tends to rely on incoming air flows and wind directions, buildings that channel these flows are better suited for natural systems. This tends to mean that narrow and/or taller buildings better distribute natural airflow.
New buildings can be more easily designed to match the local climate’s typical wind flow and pressure differentials. However, even existing buildings can be analysed to determine where open windows and vents can be added for optimal airflow.
While annual energy savings are one of the more notable benefits of choosing natural ventilation, there are plenty of other advantages to take note of. If the following advantages match your building’s and occupants’ needs, you may want to consider installing a natural ventilation system:
The use of natural air flow may be beneficial in many circumstances, but it still comes with some drawbacks. Many of the disadvantages can be worked around with careful design practices and planning, but it is important to be aware of the following:
Uneven Distribution of Airflow: When buildings are large, and contain multiple or deeply planned rooms, consistent and fresh air distribution may not be possible. In turn, this can cause thermal inconsistency in a building.
Understanding not just what mechanical or natural ventilation is, but also how they differ, is crucial for choosing the right system for your building. By comparing the above features, you can determine what system is the most cost-effective, energy-efficient, and suitable for your local environment.
Ultimately, however, the right choice depends on the type of indoor environment your building and its occupants need. For example, a building used for the storage of delicate equipment or products would prefer a highly controlled climate like that of mechanical ventilation. In turn, a building with plenty of occupants and limited space would benefit more from the simple effectiveness of natural vents.
The choice between ventilation systems should also consider the Australian standards of ventilation and indoor air quality. Buildings are mandated to live up to certain codes in ventilation design, with stipulations made based on the number of occupants, the building’s use, its layout, and many more.
Proper ventilation in a commercial building is a legislative concern in Australia for many reasons. Mostly for the health and comfort of said building’s occupants.
The importance of ventilation, whether done mechanically or naturally, can be summarised in three points:
The temperature and humidity levels of a building need to be maintained for many reasons. Without proper ventilation, stale air and moisture can build up indoors, leading to general discomfort as well as health risks.
Common health problems and risks associated with improper ventilation systems include:
Without a ventilation system that provides sufficient fresh air and circulation, occupants’ health is significantly more at risk. However, high amounts of moisture and heat can also cause harm to delicate equipment and machinery. Business’s means of operation or products can be at risk of water damage or short-circuiting without air filtration.
In conjunction with the health standards of buildings, indoor air quality must also meet a particular set of standards. This is because some commercial environments, such as restaurants or factories, can introduce harmful airborne pollutants like chemicals or gases. When combined with high amounts of indoor occupants, carbon dioxide can also build up, resulting in dense amounts of polluted or stale air.
Sufficient ventilation systems can filter out these pollutants, keeping the indoor air quality fresh, healthy, and comfortable for all.
Poor ventilation already poses health risks to a building’s occupants, but this becomes a further area of concern for commercial buildings due to the amount of time workers spend indoors. Whether it is an office or warehouse space, poor indoor air quality can greatly affect workers’ productivity and comfort.
By investing in proper ventilation systems, you can ensure your workers take fewer sick days, have better concentration, and feel comfortable in their workspace. Overall, morale and productivity can be greatly improved.
Take the step to installing a new ventilation system with the professional guidance of Airocle. Our company has been providing Australians with natural ventilation solutions for over 100 years. Each customer has walked away not only with a properly ventilated building, but a space that is both comfortable and healthy for all.
Airocle does not stop our professional services at the initial consultation either. We will be a supporting force throughout the design, installation, and maintenance process for all of our clients, no matter the project at hand.
Get started today by giving us a call at 1800 805 062, or filling out our handy contact form. Fresh air is just a few clicks away!
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