Describes how Dutch regulations for ventilation in buildings have been updated to include information about the siting of air inlets in relation to contaminant exhaust locations. This is covered by the Dutch Code of Practice NPR 1088 and the regulation NEN 1087, "Ventilation of Buildings: Determination Methods for New Buildings".
The ventilation air intake (louver) is the first line of defence against an unfavourable outdoor climate. Unfortunately, the importance of this component is often an underestimated issue in the design process of many heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Field studies and inspections of a representative number of HVAC plants carried out between 1995 and 1998 in and around the city of Trondheim revealed that snow, and in several cases rain, easily passes through the air intake louver. Such intrusion of humidity can lead to unwanted microbial growth in the HVAC system.
ASHRAE Research Project 806, Design Criteria for Building Ventilation Inlets, reviews existing knowledge of the placement of ventilation air louvers, produces a design guide, and suggests additional research, all with the intention of improving indoor air quality in commercial and institutional buildings. Decisions about intake and exhaust placements made early in the architectural and H VAC system design processes will impact occupants over the life of a building. Such placement decisions, therefore, require proper consideration.
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