Specialist Services — Mechanical Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Lift Installations, Escalators and Fire Fighting Installations

Abstract

The interiors of buildings are ventilated in order to provide environmental conditions in which the occupants may operate with comfort, safety and efficiency. By the provision of ventilation we may ensure that:

• (a) Sufficient fresh air is available for respiration — the amount consumed by the occupants will be influenced by their natural metabolic rate, and this in turn is determined by the characteristics of the individuals and their rate of activity.

• (b) Provision is made for the extraction of pollutants which may accumulate

  • (i) naturally (for example, carbon dioxide)

  • (ii) through the processes of occupancy (for example, tobacco smoke), or

  • (iii) through the production processes undertaken by the occupants (for example, fumes from industrial processes).

• (c) The level of internal relative humidity can be controlled.

• (d) A suitable environment is created with respect to air temperature.

• (e) Air is available to support the processes of combustion (for example, to support complete burning of gas fuel at a domestic gas fire).

• (f) Fumes and smoke arising from accidental fires be controlled.