Building Regulations For Interior Designers: Ventilation In Buildings Other Than Dwellings

Why are Ventilation Regulations Important to Interior Designers?

Interior designers, along with agents and contractors, are responsible for building work, and they should have the correct knowledge to implement regulations. If you are planning building work, you may also have to inform an approved inspector or the local authorities. However, the regulations are different for buildings of an unusual design, mixed-use buildings, or those of a historic nature. If you are unsure whether your designs meet regulations, you should seek the involvement of a building control body. If your designs do not conform with legalities, you could be prosecuted. 

What Type of Ventilation Should You Use ?

A few different types of ventilation systems should be used in buildings other than dwellings. These include: 

Extract Ventilation, which can include intermittent or continuous fans. It can remove water vapour and indoor air pollutants from rooms where they may build up and spread to other rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms. The performance criteria are different for offices, whose equipment can produce pollutants, as well as sanitary accommodation and food and beverage spaces. 

Whole Building Ventilation, which is used to remove any leftover water vapour and pollutants after extract ventilation, can introduce fresh air to the building. 

Purge Ventilation, which is used intermittently to remove powerful levels of pollutants and water vapour produced by occasional activities. 

It is important that your designs consider the acceptable levels of pollution and water vapour, as well as ventilation rates and equivalent area. 

The regulations for replacing windows differ depending on whether background ventilators are installed. After reinstalling windows, in most cases, any background ventilators should not be smaller than before and should be controlled manually or by the building’s users. If the windows did not previously have ventilation and the airtightness has now changed, you should ensure that these windows’ new background ventilators have the right provisions, including the appropriate equivalent area. There are extra rules for exposed facades. 

If you are designing a mechanical ventilation system, this should be tested and commissioned to offer the right level of ventilation. This commission should show that controls and systems are running appropriately. You should notify your building control body and the owner of this commissioning. Operation and maintenance instructions, as well as the commissioning sheet, should be given to the owner in a building logbook. 

Ventilation systems meet requirements if they limit external air pollution, extract and dilute water vapour and indoor air pollutants where they are produced excessively, stop the spread of pollutants throughout a building and into conjoining spaces, and track air quality. They should allow a minimum level of outdoor air flow. This ventilation must provide protection from rain and draughts and prioritize the health of building users. 

The document suggests that your ventilation designs should offer access, including for general maintenance, cleaning ducts and the replacement of filters and fans. 

When you are thinking about the placement of exhaust outlets, you should reduce the possibility of air pollutants re-entering the building, ensure there is no negative impact on the area, and place them away from courtyards, enclosures, and screens. Their location of also depends on wind direction.