Guidelines for Ventilation in Building

The provision of ventilation is essential while designing buildings to maintain health conditions. The natural ventilation through openings such as doors, windows and ventilation depends on direction and velocity of the wind prevailing outside the building. It also depends on the size and position of the openings. The buildings having maximum natural ventilation are considered the best buildings.

• In case of buildings where persons are working or sitting on the floor, the height of sill should be 1’-1/2’ from floor level.

Opening area should be 20 to 30% to the floor area.
Where the wind is quite constant than the area of opening should be 30 to 50 % of the floor area.
The window of living room should be in open space.
Open space may be created by providing courtyard where exists open space problems.
Provide 2 windows instead of single window in the room which has only exposed one wall.
Provide open space around the house to get maximum natural air and light where the flow of wind low.

In this way maximum air and ventilation can be availed for living better life.

Why we need proper ventilation in building

• Ventilation maintains healthy living environment by providing fresh air to homes and removing stale and polluted air at the same time.
• Proper ventilation helps in preventing dust mites away from home because this is a major concern for the people who suffer from dust mite allergies.
• Mold, mildew and rot can be grave problems in your homes when the humidity is high.  When the humidity is low, it can cause nose and throat irritation, dry skin, even shrink and crack hardwood flooring.
• The gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide from fuel burning appliances etc. can also become problem without proper ventilation.