Mark Salerno, CMHC Key features of and issues with effective corridor ventilation systems as well as corrective actions and an alternative approach

1. Mark Salerno
Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation
Effective Mechanical Ventilation
for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

2. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
Agenda
1. CMHC Research
2. Effective Ventilation
3. Corridor Ventilation Systems
4. Corrective Actions
5. Alternative Approach

3. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
1. CMHC Research
About Your Apartment Consumer Fact Sheets:
• Solving Odour Transfer Problems in your Apartment
www.cmhc.ca
Search Engine Driven
• Reducing Noise in Your Apartment Available upon Request
Research Highlights:
• `99 – Corridor Air Ventilation System Energy Use in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
• `02 – Field Testing of Positive Pressure Ventilation for Smoke Control in a High-
Rise Apartment Building
• `03 – Ventilation Systems for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings: Performance
Requirements and Alternative Approaches;
• `03 – Reduction of Air Intake Contamination in High-Rise Residential Buildings
• `04 – Field Testing of an Integrated Ventilation Space Conditioning (VSC) System
for Apartments
• `05 – Assessment of Suite Compartmentalization and Depressurization in New
High-Rise Residential Buildings
• `06 – Evaluation of Air Leakage Control Measures to Compartmentalize Newly
Constructed Suites in a High-Rise Residential Building

4. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
2. Effective Ventilation
Typical Dwelling Section
Key Features:
 Supply Circulation
 Filtration
 Distribution Distribution
 Circulation Exhaust
 Exhaust Supply Circulation
Filtration

5. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
3. Corridor Ventilation
Typical MURB Section
Key Features: Filtration Operable Suite
Window Exhaust
 Supply Corridor
Supply
 Filtration
 Distribution
 Circulation Undercut
Doors
 Exhaust Corridor Apartment Parking
Garage
Exhaust
Parking

6. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
3. Corridor Ventilation
Typical MURB Section
Key Issues: Filtration Operable Suite
Window Exhaust
 Systems can be
Corridor
overpowered by: Supply
 Wind Effect
Stack Effect
 Stack Effect Wind Wind
 Corridor Supply Air
may escape through: Undercut
 Elevator Shafts Doors
 Garbage Chutes Corridor Apartment Parking
Garage
 Stairwells Parking
Exhaust

7. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
3. Corridor Ventilation
Typical MURB Section
Key Issues: Filtration Operable Suite
Window Exhaust
 To save energy,
Corridor
parking garage exhaust Supply
systems may be run
Stack Effect
intermittently Wind Wind
 When off, stack effect
can move exhaust Undercut
odours from garage up Doors
into apartment units Corridor Apartment Parking
X
Garage
Exhaust
Parking

8. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
3. Corridor Ventilation
Typical MURB Section
Key Issues: Filtration Operable Suite
Window Exhaust
 Systems may not
Corridor
effectively ventilate Supply
corridor areas thus
Stack Effect
allowing: Wind Wind
 Smoke / CO transfer
 Odour transfer
Undercut
 Particulate transfer Doors
 Dust Build-up in Suite Corridor Apartment Parking
X
Garage
 Noise transfer Exhaust
Parking

9. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
4. Corrective Actions
Typical MURB Section
Seal Leaks: Filtration Sealed
Envelope
Door Operable Suite
Filter Window Exhaust
 Building Envelope
Corridor
 Plumbing, Electrical & Supply
Duct Penetrations
Stack Effect
 Apartment Entry Door Wind Wind
 Fully Sealed
 Partially Sealed Undercut
Fully
Partially
Doors
Sealed
 Add Door Filter
Parking
Corridor Apartment Garage
Exhaust
Parking

10. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
5. Alternative Approach
Heat
Integrated Ventilation Typical MURB Section Recovery
VSC Space Conditioning Filtration Sealed
Suites
VSC
Unit
Filtration
Suite
Exhaust
 Supply Corridor Suite
Supply Supply
 Filtration
(Reduced
Flow)
 Distribution
 Circulation Fully
Sealed
 Exhaust Corridor Apartment Parking
Garage
Exhaust
Parking

11. Effective Mechanical Ventilation for MURBs
5. Alternative Approach

12. Mark Salerno
Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation
Effective Mechanical Ventilation
for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings