What is ventilation - System ABCD
Ventilation and health go hand in hand
Air quality in the home is affected by five factors:
- Moisture - Per person, this is 300 to 700 grams of water vapour per hour
- CO2 - We produce 20 litres of CO2 per hour
- Particulate matter from cooking and gas and wood-burning stoves
- Volatile organic compounds/concentrations from building materials
- Radioactive gas Radon/Thoron coming from the ground/soil
The first three factors are influenced by "humans" and if ventilation is poor/lower, they affect the comfort of living.
Research also shows that poor air quality greatly affects:
- Concentration
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Poor sleep
- Reduced work ethic
Improving indoor air quality increases enjoyment and quality of life.
Ventilation in the home, what options are there?
The importance of ventilation has moved up the agenda of governments, housing associations and homeowners in recent years. Partly through measures prescribed by governments/municipal institutions, but also through subsidies and awareness of the effects of "poor ventilation".
Ventilating a home can be done through four different basic principles, also called "(ventilation) system ABCD". The four different ventilation methods are described as follows:
Ventilation system A
"Natural Supply with Natural Drain"
System A, the natural supply and removal of air. This method of ventilation depends entirely on the wind force (pressure) on the façade and positions of the wall, window or door grilles. In practice, especially in the (cold) winter period, we see that the majority of people with System A partially or even completely close the grilles. In this way, little to no ventilation takes place. The positive consequences are that no heat is lost, but will not outweigh the negative consequences such as breathing polluted air, concentration problems, poor sleep, headaches, dry to burning eyes et cetera.
Draining air (opening a window) also falls under System A.
Ventilation system B
"Mechanical supply with Natural exhaust"
System B, a ventilation method in which air is forced to the outside via positive pressure. The supplied air is blown into the house by means of a (mechanical) fan. The often colder outside air is circulated through the ductwork and enters rooms such as a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet et cetera. By creating a greater overpressure than outside, the air will be forced out through window or wall vents.
The disadvantage of this system is that in wet rooms, the air is not discharged properly
Ventilation system C
"Natural supply with Mechanical extraction"
System C, a ventilation method where air enters the house through underpressure via window grilles. The underpressure is caused by the extraction of the mechanical device. The extraction points are installed in wet rooms as standard. These include the toilet, bathroom, storage room and kitchen. The window or wall grilles for the natural supply are often found in living areas, such as bedrooms, kitchen and living room. The air will pass via overflow* from the living space to a wet room.
*overflow = the movement of air by negative pressure or positive pressure through one room into another room through a gap under the door.
Mechanical ventilation systems can be operated wirelessly and via sensors (humidity, CO2) as well as via a fixed three-position switch. View the options and the complete range of System C fans here.
Ventilation system D
"Balanced ventilation with heat recovery based on Mechanical Supply and Return".
System D, a ventilation method in which heat is recovered from the air. The principle is as follows: air is supplied in the so-called "living areas" and removed in "wet areas". This air passes through the heat exchanger and is reused. The recovered heat is then mixed with fresh air from outside. The warmed and filtered air will then be blown back into the living spaces via supply valves into the house. The D system is distinguished by four connections. Two connections go outside (intake and discharge) and two go inside (supply and return) of air.
The achievable thermal efficiency of this process depends on the ventilation system (wtw) used and ranges from 90% to over 98%. Most D systems can be controlled wirelessly and via sensors, see the different system D fans here.
Summary
The four different images of the systems (ABCD) do not say much about, for example, the differences in construction, approach, comfort, budget et cetera. To make the difference even better and visual, we have tried to compare the two most common systems 'system CD'. This is contrasted with the most common decisions when choosing or deciding on a home ventilation system.
What is the difference between airing and ventilating?
When you ventilate a room, you change a lot of air in a short period of time. For example, you open the windows and doors against each other for 10 minutes. When you close the windows and doors again, the dirt in the house starts to accumulate again. With ventilation, however, the dirty air does not accumulate because air is continuously refreshed.
It is best to ventilate with mechanical ventilation (system C) or a heat recovery system (MVHR, system D), where the heat in the house is not lost. This way, you are always assured of a good flow of air in a home. You can install ventilation not only in new buildings, but also in an existing house. Think for example of a decentralised MVHR, the Brink Indoor Mixfan, or ask about the possibilities.
Why is airing the house not enough?
When there is only ventilation in a house, proper air circulation does not take place. As soon as you close the windows, the fresh air is gone after half an hour. So this way, you can still suffer from various health complaints. So make sure you have good ventilation in your home!
Therefore, the best way to keep the air in your home healthy is constant air exchange through ventilation. This way, fresh air enters your home and moisture and pollutants disappear like snow in the sun. This sounds simple, but in many homes the air is unhealthy because there is not enough ventilation. If you don't do this, you may suffer from various health complaints. So make sure your home is well ventilated!
Advice on ventilation
With our large team of ventilation consultants, we deal with hundreds of people every day. We are therefore proud to be called the largest ventilation specialist in the Netherlands. With our free ventilation advice, we help homeowners, companies and municipalities take a step forward in improving and preserving air quality, resulting in a healthier Netherlands.
Need advice?
See our contact page and get to know us
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