Securing the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings

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1 International workshop Brussels, March, 2013 Securing the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings Existing approaches in various countries An initiative of AIVC, TightVent and INIVE EEIG edited by A. Janssens (UGent), F.R. Carrié (INIVE EEIG) and F. Durier (CETIAT)

3 Edited Proceedings AIVC-TightVent International Workshop, Brussels, March 2013 Securing the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings: existing approaches in various countries edited by: A. Janssens Research group building physics, construction and services, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University (UGent), Belgium F.R. Carrié INIVE EEIG, Belgium F. Durier CETIAT, France

4 This publication is the outcome of a workshop which received financial support from: the Flemish Energy Agency as part of a project dealing with the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings the technological guidance service green building and sustainable development of the Brussels Region financed by the Brussels Institute for Research and Innovation (InnovIRIS) EVIA (European Ventilation Industry Association) ( Ventibel (Sector organisatie voor ventilatie Fédération pour le secteur de la ventilation) ( The workshop was also supported by REHVA. Reference to papers: Securing the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings: existing approaches in various countries (A. Janssens, F.R. Carrié, F. Durier, ed.), Edited proceedings of the AIVC- TightVent international workshop, Brussels, March 2013, ISBN , INIVE, Belgium. ISBN EAN Cover pictures courtesy by Systemair (top left), Codumé nv (bottom left), BSRIA Limited UK (middle), S. Kolari VTT (top right) and Rekuperatory.pl (bottom right).

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Preface 3 A. Janssens, R. Carrié, F. Durier Securing the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings: existing approaches in various countries 7 P. Van den Bossche, A. Janssens, D. Saelens PART 1: QUALITY OF RESIDENTIAL VENTILATION: CONTEXT AND CHALLENGES Detailed analysis of regulatory compliance controls of 1287 dwellings ventilation systems 15 R. Jobert and G. Guyot Why we ventilate? 23 M. Sherman, J.M. Logue, P.N. Price, B.C. Singer Technical guidelines for residential ventilation systems (HealthVent project) 31 O. Seppänen The role of standards to improve the quality of ventilation systems 41 M. Jardinier Quality assurance of ventilation systems in residential buildings 51 J. Hogeling PART 2: SECURING THE QUALITY OF VENTILATION SYSTEMS IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS: STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES Status and perspectives in Belgium 55 P. Van den Bossche, S. Caillou, A. Janssens, J. Laverge Status and perspectives in Canada 67 I. MacDonald, R. Magee, D. Fugler Status and perspectives in Estonia 79 A. Mikola, T.-A. Kõiv, T. Kalamees Status and perspectives in Finland 89 P. Pasanen, H. Hahkala, R. Holopainen, M. Hyttinen Status and perspectives in France 99 L. Mouradian, E. Brière Status and perspectives in Germany 107 C. Händel Status and perspectives in the Netherlands 113 M. Hofman, K. de Schipper

6 Securing the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings Status and perspectives in Norway 127 P.G. Schild Status and perspectives in Poland 139 T. Trusewicz Status and perspectives in Romania 149 I. Silviu Dobosi, I. Colda, H. Petran, A. Damian, C. Andreica Status and perspectives in Sweden 159 J. Andersson Status and perspectives in the United Kingdom 167 A. Gilbert, C. Knights Status and perspectives in the United States 175 W.J.N. Turner, M. Sherman 2

7 Introduction PREFACE Arnold Janssens 1*, F. Rémi Carrié 2, François Durier 3 1 Research group Building physics, Construction and Services, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University (UGent), Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 44 B9000 Gent, Belgium *Corresponding author: arnold.janssens@ugent.be 2 INIVE EEIG Lozenberg 7 B-1932 Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, Belgium 3 CETIAT 25, avenue des Arts BP VILLEURBANNE cedex France IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF RESIDENTIAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS While it is generally accepted that ventilation -whether natural, mechanical or hybrid- is needed to provide acceptable indoor air quality and prevent building damage, there are debates about the actual performance and use of these systems and how deviations observed affect the overall building performance and the well-being and health of the occupants. These debates are increasingly active given the sensitivity of new and renovated buildings on energy use and indoor air quality depending on the field characteristics of ventilation systems. For this reason the Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC) and the Building and Ductwork Airtightness Platform (TightVent Europe) have taken the initiative to manage a project entitled Improving the quality of residential ventilation systems. The objectives of the project were the following: collect information on the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings, define causes of quality problems, discuss pros and cons of existing approaches to improve the quality of ventilation systems, discuss the role of product, system and process innovations to improve the quality of ventilation systems. The project was launched with a topical session during the 33rd AIVC-Conference in Copenhagen in October 2012 [1, 2]. The session discussed results of large-scale field studies showing striking evidence that installation quality of residential ventilation systems is typically insufficient. Common shortcomings were insufficient supply ventilation capacity compared to design standards, increased noise levels in case of mechanical ventilation systems, and poor operation and maintenance. An overall conclusion was that together with increased building airtightness, more attention should be paid to ventilation system performance and installation quality, in order to guarantee healthy indoor environments. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP In March 2013 an international workshop was organized in Brussels to discuss the status and perspectives of approaches to secure the quality of residential ventilation systems in various countries. Since field studies have shown evidence that installation quality of residential ventilation systems is typically insufficient, it is important to develop frameworks to improve the situation. In total 13 experts presented the status and perspectives in their country, with a 3

8 Securing the quality of ventilation systems in residential buildings major focus on the voluntary and regulatory schemes developed to secure the quality of ventilation systems in residential construction practice. The results of the workshop were also presented during a topical session at the AIVCconference in Athens in September 2013 [3]. During the session a critical review of the pros and cons of existing quality approaches presented at the Brussels workshop were given. Some examples of solutions to tackle the challenges in ventilation system quality were discussed more in detail. OVERVIEW This publication collects papers presented at one of the activities organized in the context of the AIVC-project improving the quality of residential ventilation systems, primarily at the international workshop. First an introductory chapter presents a synthesis of experiences and quality approaches related to residential ventilation in various countries. Then the first part of this publication deals with the context and challenges in ventilation systems quality, such as the observed ventilation system dysfunctions in the field, the development of health-based ventilation standards, and the role of standards and certification schemes to improve and secure the quality of ventilation systems. The second and main part of this publication contains an overview of the quality assurance approaches in each of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States. Each contribution discusses the development of quality labels and performance display for ventilation products, design and installation guidelines, training and qualification schemes for installers, as well as the implementation of commissioning protocols, maintenance protocols, regular inspections and real performance of residential ventilation systems. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We like to thank all the authors who have contributed to this publication and all the following institutes for their support: the Flemish Energy Agency, the Brussels Institute for Research and Innovation (InnovIRIS), EVIA (European Ventilation Industry Association), Ventibel (Sector organisatie voor ventilatie Fédération pour le secteur de la ventilation) and REHVA. This publication together with the workshop and conference sessions that have contributed to it, are an initiative by INIVE EEIG (International network for Information on Ventilation and Energy Performance) and its members on behalf of the AIVC (Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre) and TightVent Europe (Building and Ductwork Airtightness Platform). REFERENCES [1] 33rd AIVC Conference - Optimising Ventilative Cooling and Airtightness for [Nearly] Zero-Energy Buildings, IAQ and Comfort, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 2012, Topical session Quality of domestic ventilation systems, Conference Proceedings, p [2] Heiselberg, Per, Willem de Gids, and Arnold Janssens Summary of the AIVC- TightVent Conference Rehva Journal 50 (1): [3] 34th AIVC Conference Energy conservation technologies for mitigation and adaptation in the built environment: the role of ventilation strategies and smart materials, held in Athens, Greece, September 2013, Topical session Quality of domestic ventilation systems, Topical session Quality of ventilation systems, Conference Proceedings, ISBN , p

9 Introduction About INIVE EEIG INIVE EEIG (International Network for Information on Ventilation and Energy Performance) was created in 2001 as a so-called European Economic Interest Grouping. The main reason for founding INIVE was to set up a worldwide acting network of excellence in knowledge gathering and dissemination. At present, INIVE has 11 member organisations (BBRI, CETIAT, CIMNE, CSTB, ERG, ENTPE, IBP, SINTEF, NKUA, TMT US and TNO), and there is interest in joining among other organisations ( The original reason for creating INIVE was the availability of a strong entity able to act as the Operating Agent for the IEA Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC). AIVC is the IEA Information Centre that deals with the topic of energy efficient ventilation and air tightness of buildings. Since 2001, INIVE has been the Operating Agent for the AIVC ( As a service provider to the European Commission and the European Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, INIVE EEIG has been coordinating the European Buildings Platform since 2006 and, since 2009, BUILD UP, which is THE European portal on Energy Efficiency ( INIVE aims to stimulate and contribute to the creation of new knowledge in key areas of ventilation and energy efficiency. In the ASIEPI project ( which finished in March 2010 and was coordinated by INIVE, several critical areas related to energy-efficiency policies were analysed, with a whole range of new findings as a result. INIVE also wants to facilitate structured collaborations, which go beyond the duration of single projects. The best example of such collaboration is the DYNASTEE-PASLINK network ( which is the leading network of use and development of system identification techniques and related applications. The DYNASTEE-PASLINK network is a part of the INIVE Activities. 5

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COMPARISON OF THE USE TRICKLE VENTILATORS IN EUROPEAN RESIDENTIAL VENTILATION STANDARDS

COMPARISON OF THE USE TRICKLE VENTILATORS IN EUROPEAN RESIDENTIAL VENTILATION STANDARDS Jelle Laverge 1, Arnold Janssens 1 1 Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium. Abstract