Ventilation (architecture)Ventilation is the intentional introduction of outdoor air into a space, primarily to control indoor air quality by diluting and displacing indoor pollutants. It can also influence indoor temperature, humidity, and air movement, affecting thermal comfort and building energy use. Ventilation is important where combustion occurs indoors, as fireplaces, heaters, and other combustion sources consume oxygen and produce gases, smoke, and water vapor that may need to be removed.
Building envelopeA building envelope or building enclosure is the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building, including the resistance to air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer. DiscussionThe building envelope or enclosure is all of the elements of the outer shell that maintain a dry, heated, or cooled indoor environment and facilitate its climate control.
Atmospheric pressureAtmospheric pressure, also known as air pressure or barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as 101.325 kPa (1,013.25 hPa), which is equivalent to 1,013.25 millibars, 760torr (or about 760mmHg), about 29.9212inHg, or about 14.696psi.
ChimneyA chimney is an architectural ventilation structure made of masonry, clay or metal that isolates hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by a boiler, stove, furnace, incinerator, or fireplace from human living areas. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the stack, or chimney effect. The space inside a chimney is called the flue.
Tower blockA tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, residential tower, apartment block, block of flats, or office tower is a tall building, as opposed to a low-rise building; it is defined differently in terms of height depending on the jurisdiction. It is used as a residential or office building, or has other functions, including hotel, retail, or with multiple purposes combined.Infiltration (HVAC)Infiltration is the unintentional or accidental introduction of outside air into a building, typically through cracks in the building envelope and through use of doors for passage. Infiltration is sometimes called air leakage. The leakage of room air out of a building, intentionally or not, is called exfiltration. Infiltration is caused by wind, negative pressurization of the building, and by air buoyancy forces known commonly as the stack effect.
Flue-gas stackA flue-gas stack, also known as a smoke stack, Coal Stack, chimney stack or simply as a stack, is a type of chimney, a vertical pipe, channel or similar structure through which flue gases are exhausted to the outside air. Flue gases are produced when coal, oil, natural gas, wood or any other fuel is combusted in an industrial furnace, a power plant's steam-generating boiler, or other large combustion device.
Kaprun disasterOn 11 November 2000, a fire caused by a faulty hydraulic pipe, which atomized oil , that was sucked in and inflamed by the nearby fan heater broke out on a train of the Gletscherbahn Kaprun 2 funicular in Kaprun, Austria. The burning car came to a stop in a tunnel that funneled smoke and flames upward, killing 155 people. Most of the victims were skiers on their way to the Kitzsteinhornglacier. The incident remains the deadliest rail disaster in Austrian history.
King's Cross fireThe King's Cross fire occurred in 1987 at King's Cross St Pancras tube station in London, England, causing 31 fatalities. It began under a wooden escalator before spreading into the ticket hall in a flashover. The fire began at approximately 19:30 on 18 November 1987, at a major interchange on the London Underground.
BuoyancyUpward force that opposes the weight of an object immersed in fluid The forces at work in buoyancy. The object floats at rest because the upward force of buoyancy is equal to the downward force of gravity. Buoyancy (/ˈbɔɪənsi, ˈbuːjənsi/), or upthrust, is the force exerted by a fluid opposing the weight of a partially or fully immersed object (which may also be a parcel of fluid).
Passive ventilationPassive ventilation is the process of supplying air to and removing air from an indoor space without using mechanical systems. It refers to the flow of external air to an indoor space as a result of pressure differences arising from natural forces. There are two types of natural ventilation occurring in buildings: wind driven ventilation and buoyancy-driven ventilation.
Density of airThe density of air or atmospheric density, denoted ρ, is the mass per unit volume of Earth's atmosphere at a given point and time. Air density, like air pressure, decreases with increasing altitude. It also changes with variations in atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity. According to the ISOInternational Standard Atmosphere (ISA), the standard sea level density of air at 101.325 kPa (abs) and 15 °C (59 °F) is 1.2250 kg/m (0.07647 lb/cu ft).*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.