Gravity ventilation for interior bathrooms

Abstract

Based on the extensive experience of a building cooperative with interior bathroom gravity (shaft) ventilation in existing apartment buildings, the replacement buildings constructed at the same location are also equipped with gravity ventilation. The aim of the project described here is to demonstrate the possibilities and limitations of gravity ventilation in one of the new replacement buildings by means of monitoring. Detailed monitoring over a complete year recorded the behaviour and effectiveness of the gravity ventilation in all seasons. In winter, gravity ventilation leads to higher air change rates in interior bathrooms than in summer. In general, humidity can be removed with gravity ventilation except in summer, when after a shower the bathroom door stays closed for 24 h. In summer when the indoor and ambient temperature is the same the gravity ventilation does not work. In this case, the interior bathroom should be ventilated by the main apartment ventilation, e.g., while the bathroom door and other room doors and windows are open at the same time. In summer, doors and windows are often open and the gravity ventilation summer problem can be viewed as negligible. Therefore, gravity ventilation is a good alternative to other ventilation systems in interior bathrooms.