How to Design Buildings with Effective Natural Ventilation

Ventilation is an oft-overlooked variable in building design, but its significance in maintaining the comfort levels of the internal environment is not something to underestimate.
For one, natural ventilation reinforces the cyclical flow of air within enclosed structures like sheds and garages, mitigating the risk of hot and humid air accumulating in the upper levels of these quarters and chipping away at the structure’s integrity.
Besides that, constructing a building with proper natural ventilation also helps conserve energy and saves on upkeep costs.
This is because it lessens the strain of mechanical ventilation systems by harnessing the law of physics to remove stagnant air naturally. It also extends the durability of the ceiling and upper-floor materials as moist and hot air can naturally escape through designated ventilation passages like roof vents.
Whether you’re designing a house or renovating a new extension like a garage, it’s essential to take some time to consider putting up a natural ventilation system that works on all corners and floors of the property.
If you’re keen to learn how to incorporate effective natural ventilation into your building, you’re in the right place. Placing windows randomly isn’t all there is to it. Let’s explore several ways you can effectively integrate natural ventilation into your building.
1. Place Windows in Strategic Locations
If you want to harness the wind to ventilate your garage or shed, then you’ll have to be intentional about where you put your windows and indoor vents.
Positioning your windows strategically can make all the difference in having natural airflow through your property and not making it stuffy and suffocating. Ideally, you should position windows where wind is likely to blow through.
A vantage point that overlooks the sea, for instance, is a good place to position your windows. This is because sea winds have likely not been obstructed by high and solid surfaces that obstruct their natural flow. A window facing a building wall or an elevated road, on the other hand, may not help in circulating fresh air inside your property.
Furthermore, using the cross-ventilation method also helps promote airflow within all parts of the home, including areas that don’t naturally have access to outdoor air. This method is one wherein a window and an opening, such as a door, are faced directly opposite to each other. This helps keep air flowing continuously and prevents dead zones from forming in corners around the house.
It’s also not only about window positioning; choosing the right types of windows can also help maximise the inflow and outflow of air. Some window types like louvered windows help control airflow better. Vented panels also do the same thing—particularly in keeping airflow out.
By placing windows in strategic locations, it’ll be easier for you to maintain fresh air throughout your building. In turn, this helps keep your furniture safe and your respiratory health in good shape.
2. Maximise Open Floor Spaces
If you’re still in the construction or building phase, or if you’re considering renovating the place, you should consider making open floor plans for your property.
Reducing barriers like solid walls allows air to become evenly distributed throughout the premises. It also reduces the amount of ventilation you’ll need to set up to keep each corner of your home well-ventilated.
For external settings, you can maximise ventilation by opting for carports instead of garages. This is a cost-effective way to keep your vehicle protected from the elements while still reaping the benefits of open air.
If privacy is a concern, you can always opt for a garage with low-partitioned walls or perforated panels to grant a degree of privacy while still maintaining a cool temperature throughout the space.
This approach is particularly effective in commercial office buildings and community spaces of housing units.
Open floor space isn’t only something to consider in a horizontal sense, but also in a vertical manner. A high and open rooftop sets the perfect backdrop for hot air to exit.
Putting a roof vent like a ridge vent can help remove hot air and keep the entire space cool—and having an open floor space allows hot air from a large section of the house to gather and dissipate in one central location.
By maximising your floor space, you can achieve a well-ventilated and comfortable environment within your premises more easily. With natural ventilation systems like Airocle installed, all dwellers can feel productive and comfortable within the property.
3. Remove Furniture Obstructions
Wide rooms like open-spaced living rooms or partitioned offices should have no large blocks or slabs of furniture anywhere along the middle of the window and an exit point. Think of large cabinets,
These furniture pieces obstruct the natural flow of air around your building’s central space, effectively creating dead zones that can cause certain areas of the structure to not get enough fresh air.
When there’s a temperature and humidity imbalance, mechanical systems like temperature control and mechanical vents may have to work twice as hard to maintain a pleasant indoor environment.
This not only increases the cost of upkeep, but it can also lead to a worse productive environment as employees and home dwellers may not be physically comfortable in certain areas of the space, thus hindering the livability and utility of the space.
To avoid this problem, simply take the time to remove furniture from obstructing windows, vents, and doors. If you prefer, you may even consider replacing high furniture pieces with lower-level ones to balance utility and healthy air circulation.
Fixing your furniture issue not only clears space for the wind to cleanse your interior’s air and cut maintenance costs, but it also allows you to give your building a little furnishing makeover. A win-win!
4. Add Shading to Roof Vents
Believe it or not, a good amount of shade can help optimise the functionality of natural roof vents. The primary reason for this is shade limits the effects of external conditions like weather effects (i.g. rain) and wind from working against the outflow of air from the vents.
Secondly, shading also keeps your interior (and its internal assets) cool, since—depending on the vent design—the shade doubles as a pathway wherein accumulated hot air from inside the house or building can naturally exit.
They also block harsh sunlight from entering your building, which decreases the ventilation load and the constant need for temperature regulation on hot days.
Some examples of nice shaded natural ventilation systems you can integrate into your building include cupolas and louvres. These shade structures inhibit outside elements like rainwater from seeping into the ventilation system and into the house. This saves on maintenance and energy costs and keeps your ventilation from getting damaged.
In the context of ventilated carports, shade protects your car from harmful UV rays and potential thunder and hailstorms. This helps in preserving your assets and ensuring a longer lease in life.
5. Utilise High and Low Vent Openings
One crucial building philosophy all property owners should follow if they want to maximise their natural ventilation is stacking ventilation. The laws of physics dictate that hot air rises and cold air sinks.
For open-air spaces with multiple floors, cooling the upper levels will naturally take more resources and energy, which can cost more. This is especially true if you lack enough ventilation on the roof or upper levels for hot air to escape.
To turn this into a non-issue, it’s essential to strategise your building’s ventilation system with this phenomenon in mind. You can start by installing enough high-level openings for warm air to pass through and exit.
You should also structure your low-level openings so that cool air can enter. Ensure that they’re placed in windy areas where winds can actually flow through and penetrate. By maximising the efficiency of your property’s ventilation, it’ll be easier to create energy-efficient and cool spaces without much upkeep on your part.
Best of luck building your latest functional and beautiful property!