Ventilation heat losses have been investigated in an experimental low energy house with active and passive solar energy use and an auxiliary heater. A measuring method was developed and tested which gave the possibility of dispensing with long-duration tests in occupied dwellings. The heat losses are dependent on characteristic data of the room and the diminution of the room temperature with time. Measuring error is less than 10%.

Measurements were carried out on the heating and airing habits of the occupants of several flats. 9 flats in a 6 storey building in Berlin, using various ventilation systems were studied. Two of the flats also had an air heating system. 

Three blocks of flats on the outskirts of Worms were equipped with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, a mechanical ventilation system, and stack assisted natural ventilation, respectively. Building description, air quality, air change rate, draught protection, noise level, energy balance, individual heating costs, efficiency calculations, planning and installation experience and user behaviour were studied. Systems with heat recovery were found to permit a 15-20 per cent reduction of heat consumption. User behaviour in opening windows is dependent on habit.

Various ventilation systems have been examined in unoccupied test houses under natural climatic conditions. Two identical test houses were used to enable comparison of the effects of different ventilating systems on the air change rate and heat consumption. The systems examined were natural ventilating devices placed in the window area and centralized and decentralized mechanical systems. With the decentralized systems, draughts were generally unavoidable. Heat recovery from exhaust air at an air change rate of 1.0 h-1 gave a measured heat consumption saving of about 16 per cent.

This study investigates the structure and availability of ventilation systems in domestic housing. A measurement programme of natural ventilation efficiency was carried out and evaluated. Mechanical ventilation systems were compared. Their suitability for efficient ventilation of various house types is discussed.

Summarizes the main results of the seminar: 1 interdisciplinary collaboration is necessary, 2 a direct and intensive publicity campaign is needed to influence occupant behaviour, 3 an air change rate between 0.5 and 1 per hour (in relation to the total volume of the living quarters) should comply with normal requirements, 4 a method for measuring the airtightness or air change rate for individual buildings should be developed ready for application, 5 mechanical ventilation offers the best solution, 6 there exists a need for simple ventilation fittings which can be installed in existing buil

Discusses the findings of a nationwide radon survey carried out in W. German houses. The average radon concentration in 6000 houses is 40 Bqm/m3. Treats the incidence of radon in the environment, its sources, the consequences of inhalation of radon, physical processes in room air, and methods of radon measurement.

The text of a paper on ventilation equipment and systems for existing air-tight houses, presented at the Bouwcentrum/Vakinfo one-day conference, Rotterdam, November 1, 1984. Treats the application of 1. natural ventilation systems with vertical ducts and adjustable openings, 2. the same with mechanical exhaust via kitchen, bathroom, and toilet, 3. mechanical supply to all rooms and exhaust via kitchen, bathroom, and toilet, 4. balanced supply and exhaust. Treats the possibility of the private buyer or tenant estimating the quality of the house.

Natural ventilation has a specific significance in creating a tolerable environment in manufacturing plants with high technological heat loads. Equations for the calculation of natural ventilation for single storey industrial halls are derived from the mesh procedure, as well as other solutions for other buildings. Guidelines are given for the draught-free introduction of supply air. Reference is made to other design possibilities for the natural ventilation of buildings.

A steady state multi-cell calculation model has been developed in order to predict the interconnection between airtightness and ventilation rates. The model has been tested with measured leakage data of a detached house.