Uncontrolled air infiltration in buildings is compromising energy efficiency and wrecking attempts to reduce CO2 emissions. The time is right to act. This month, Building Services Journal announces a joint initiative involving the CIBSE, BRE and the BSRIA, aimed at improving building airtightness. In an exclusive report, ClBSE president Geoffrey Brundrett launches the airtightness campaign.
It is possible to make high wall inducing vents with low air resistance, combined with natural ventilation or a mechanical exhaust. By means of these vents draughts may be prevented and high efficiencies in fresh air and contaminant removal may be realised, the latter being determined by the position of the outlet. Existing equations related to air flow patterns and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) computer programs can be used, provided that the equations and the CFD program (Phoenics) are modified in order to get better agreement with measurements.
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