Gaps in ductwork change airflow and pressure within the system, and allow odors and smoke to infiltrate common areas and adjacent units.
Clean air and proper ventilation in buildings is essential to health and comfort. Poor indoor air quality causes problems with odors and humidity, and can lead to health issues such as mold allergies and sick building syndrome. It can also affect fire safety and increase operating and energy costs.
Relying on short-term fixes such as window and door draft seals and adding bathroom/kitchen fans without proper evaluation may do little to help and may even exacerbate the problems. Determining the source of ventilation problems can be difficult and requires a methodical approach.
In RAND's latest Ask the Engineer column, we discuss:
- Common ventilation issues
- Evaluating your building's ventilation system and performance
- What is negative pressure?
- Preventing second-hand smoke and other infiltration/odors
- How to diagnose and address ventilation problems
You Ask, We Answer: For more on remedying ventilation issues, read the full article on our website. If you have questions or comments, a repair or upgrade question about your building, or a topic you would like more information on, send your queries to Ask the Engineer at info@nullrandpc.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Peter Varsalona, PE, is RAND's Principal and head of the firm's Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Team.
