LoginDiscusses how building ventilation is affected both by steady mean effect of air pressures and temperatures around and within the building and turbulent nature of the wind causing air diffusion through openings and cracks in the building envelope.
Bibliographic database Airbase
AIRBASE is the Bibliographic Database of the AIVC. It contains publications and abstracts of articles related to energy efficient ventilation. Where possible, sufficient detail is supplied in the bibliographic details for users to trace and order the material via their own libraries. Topics include: ventilation strategies, design and retrofit methods, calculation techniques, standards and regulations, measurement methods, indoor air quality and energy implications etc. Entries are based on articles and reports published in journals, internal publications and research reports, produced both by university departments and by building research institutions throughout the world. AIRBASE has grown and evolved over many years (1979 to present day, over 22000 references and 16000 documents available online). For most of the references, the full document is also available online.
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Points out that difficulty in calculating fortuitous ventilation in buildings caused by infiltration means that energy demand of a building contributed by it is scarcely ever known.
Points out that energy necessary to humidify air in a dwelling is usually far greater than consequent decreased sensible heat loss. Provides basic information necessary to calculate moisture deficit or surplus due to air exchange.
Discusses measurement of energy consumption and the large number of factors to be studied. Presents detailed measurements for two blocks of flats in Sweden taken partly during 1971/72 and partly during the oil crisis of 1973/74.
Describes measurement of wind pressures on low-rise buildings at Aylesbury.
Reviews methods of measuring infiltration rates. Describes tests made on a mobile home using carbon monoxide as a tracer gas and measuring the rate of decay.
Reports investigation to devise a simple method for measuring the airtightness of buildings which will provide clear results in conformity with a definite standard, swedish building regulations 1975.
Reports on the air leakage characteristics of the exterior walls of eight multi-storey office buildings in Ottawa.
Notes importance of air motion in shielded buildings in hot and humid climates. Describes wind-tunnel investigations on shielding effect of buildings for a group of buildings comprising parallel rows of identical blocks.
Describes method of measuring the air-change rates using sulphur hexafluoride as a tracer gas. The system comprises a highly portable gas chromatograph with an electron capture detector.
States that aim of research project is to develop a method of testing entire buildings for air infiltration.
States that considerable research has been carried out in Sweden in an attempt to conserve energy. Results of measurements of air infiltration obtained with tracer gas do not correspond well with those obtained by a pressure method.
Describes research project to find air leakage values of walls of elevator and stair shafts in order to use these values in the design of pressurization systems. Describes method of test and gives results.
Reports study of energy consumption of typical house in Texas. Computer-based model was used to simulate house under different conditions of insulation, infiltration, shading and operation. Gives tables of results of variation in energy use.
Reports detailed investigation of the interaction between group geometry, flow properties and resulting pressure forces on a group of buildings.
Describes test apparatus and method of testing windows for air leakage. This standard has been adopted by the following countries :- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Reports measurements of ventilation rates made in a nine-story office building. Two methods were used; tracer gas decay rate using sulphur hexafluoride and a direct method when air flow rates through roof vents and exhaust units were measured.