Ventilation Systems for Improved Indoor Air Quality

Ventilation systems are engineered to provide fresh air to indoor spaces, eliminating pollutants, odors, and excess moisture. These systems can be especially beneficial in buildings with little natural airflow.

Ventilation Systems FAQ

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What is ventilation & the flow of air into and out?

Definitions covering ventilation and the flow of air into and out of a space include: Purpose provided (intentional) ventilation: Ventilation is the process by which ‘clean’ air (normally outdoor air) is intentionally provided to a space and stale air is removed. This may be accomplished by either natural or mechanical means.

What is ventilation & how does it work?

Ventilation is the process of bringing in fresh air from outside and removing indoor air, which may: It does not cover the removal of harmful substances from the air such as welding fumes and dust generated by processes. For help with this, go to our guidance on:

What is a supply ventilation system?

Another popular option is the supply ventilation system. Unlike exhaust systems, these systems bring in fresh outdoor air into the building while simultaneously expelling stale indoor air. They often include fans or vents strategically placed throughout the home to ensure proper airflow.

What is a natural ventilation system?

It’s the most traditional form and involves the use of windows and doors, as well as other openings, to allow fresh outdoor air to replace indoor air. Natural ventilation is often preferred for its energy efficiency and ability to provide a connection with the outdoor environment.

What are the different types of home ventilation systems?

Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery – This is the probably most technically advanced of the home ventilation systems. They ventilate your house and recover the heat from the expelled air before reusing it by adding it to the fresh air coming in. You can get more details on MVHR systems in my MVHR article here.

What can a home ventilation system do for You?

Depending on the home ventilation system fitted you may even be able to filter the air coming into your home, pre-heat the air coming in and maybe even recycle the warm air already in your house and remove moisture, smells, pollen etc. There are lots of different ways of achieving controlled ventilation in your home.

How are buildings ventilated?

Buildings are ventilated through a combination of uncontrolled ventilation (draughts, air bricks and trickle vents, etc) and, increasingly in new homes, controlled ventilation solutions such as mechanical ventilation with heat recovery ( MVHR ). Another solution, which needs designing in from the start, is passive ventilation.

What is a whole house ventilation system?

Whole house ventilation systems provide the ability to refresh air throughout all rooms, distribute heat more effectively, and remove the risk of condensation and damp altogether. Fundamentally there are two types of ventilation system that are defined by the way in which they manage air flow through a building.