Ventilation strategies for small buildings, the trend to airtightness
Reardon, J. T., Shaw, C. Y. and Chown, G. A.
1990
This article was published as part of the technical documentation produced for Building Science Insight '90, "Small Buildings: Technology in Transition", a series of seminars presented in major cities across Canada in 1990.
Reardon, J. T., Shaw, C. Y. and Chown, G. A., (1990), "Ventilation strategies for small buildings, the trend to airtightness", This article was published as part of the technical documentation produced for Building Science Insight '90, "Small Buildings: Technology in Transition", a series of seminars presented in major cities across Canada in 1990.
| Abstract: |
| CSA Standard F326 and Future NBC Directions
"Small buildings have traditionally relied on air leakage to provide ventilation. Improvements in construction, such as tighter sealing windows, continuous air and vapour barriers and greater attention to details have led to more airtight buildings. As airtightness has increased, air leakage may no longer be able to provide the total ventilation needed in these newer buildings.
This paper is intended as an update on recent developments that affect provision of ventilation air to the building interior for the occupants. It does not address the issue of the combustion air required by various appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters and fireplaces, or dilution air required by their chimneys or exhaust vents. It also does not deal with the make-up air requirements of special appliances that remove air from the building but are not normally regarded as ventilation devices; these include indoor barbeque ranges, central vacuum systems and clothes dryers.
Background information is provided on the trend to airtightness in small buildings, how it is reflected in building regulations and why this issue should interest practitioners. Following this is a discussion of current responses to these issues, namely ventilation systems, and how these systems interact with the building. Finally, some practical design considerations are presented. |
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This publication in whole or part may be found online at:  here. |
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