Ventilation performance often affects people's quality of life more than wall materials or window designs. Therefore, when building houses, special attention is paid to engineering systems. The main "blood artery" of any ventilation in a multi-storey building is a mine. Crossing all floors of the building, it sets the rhythm for the movement of air. Whether it is a two-story private house or a high-rise, a ventilation shaft is essential.
Types of ventilation systems
The design of the ventilation elements depends on the selected type of system. Moreover, any of them contains a mandatory set: air ducts, ventilation shaft, umbrella.
The following types of air exchange systems are used in apartment buildings:
- Air exchange is natural. Traction is caused by the difference in air indicators outside and inside the house. Air is supplied through slightly open windows or vents.
- Combined ventilation. Air supply or exhaust is provided by mechanical devices.
- Mechanical ventilation. The movement of air in and out of apartments is carried out only with the help of mechanisms.
With natural air exchange in a multi-storey building, ventilation shafts are an indispensable component of the system. Forced ventilation of low-rise buildings can only consist of air ducts that extract air from each individual apartment.
Requirements for ventilation shafts
Ventilation shafts take up a lot of space, so they are installed in multi-storey panel buildings. Less commonly in private cottages of two or more floors.
The same requirements are imposed on the arrangement of ventilation shafts in private houses, public and industrial buildings:
- complete tightness.
- ensuring the free passage of the air volume indicated by the project.
- compliance with hygiene and sanitary standards.
- incombustibility.
All joints between concrete modules are filled with cement mortar. The joints of plastic or metal pipes are made on flanges. The head of the ventilation shaft is decorated with a cap.
Arrangement of mines in multi-storey buildings
Ventilation shafts of panel houses are concrete blocks of a special design, stacked on top of each other, creating a perfectly vertical channel. Its cross section is usually 0.3 x 0.6 m. It begins in the basement and ends on the roof with a special umbrella for ventilation shafts, passing through all levels of the building.
In modern homes, air lines are made of plastic or metal boxes. They provide better aerodynamics, are easy to clean, and last long.
The ventilation shaft umbrella is made of stainless steel, it protects the trunk from rain, snow, leaves.
You can increase the draft in the ventilation shaft by replacing the hood with a deflector.
When creating a ventilation project for a residential building, the following factors are taken into account:
- quality of exhaust air removal from dwellings;
- preventing cold air from entering the apartment from the street in winter;
- the possibility of spreading smoke and carbon monoxide through the ventilation mines of panel houses during a fire;
- the possibility of using ventilation shafts of multi-storey buildings for air conditioning.
In modern buildings, non-combustible materials and valve systems are used to ensure fire safety requirements.
In panel high-rise buildings and five-story "Khrushchev" buildings, air exchange is carried out through mines and ventilation ducts through the use of physical laws, without mechanical stimulation.
Shafts are used to remove exhaust air - one of two important components of a ventilation system. The inflow is provided by slightly open vents or special devices.
The outlets of ventilation ducts are located in the kitchen and in the bathrooms. Horizontal ducts are combined with each other and go into vertical ventilation shafts. In houses with a height of up to 5 floors, all shafts are brought out into a common collector located in the attic.
Even knowing how the ventilation shaft of a panel house is arranged, residents do not have the right to independently carry out any work in it.
The mine is a common property, and if you suspect a malfunction, you must contact the management company.
The device of ventilation shafts of high-rise panel buildings is different - across the floor, "booster" shafts, also called "satellites", are adjacent to the main shaft. And only the ventilation of the last floors goes directly to the street, above the roof of the house. This measure prevents the occurrence of backdraft and the penetration of exhaust air from the lower floors into the upper apartments.
In more modern buildings, the following scheme is also widely used: from the risers, air enters the attic, which serves as a storage, intermediate reservoir. The temperature and humidity of the air here are always higher than outside, so, according to the laws of physics, it "looks for" a way out. And he finds it in the common ventilation shaft of a panel house.
Metal mines
In large public buildings, metal or polymer pipes are used as ventilation shafts. This method, as simpler and less laborious, is often used in the construction of ventilation shafts in private houses. Metal shafts have one serious drawback: the moving air stream causes a noticeable hum. Polymer pipes are much quieter.
The fewer turns in the system, the quieter it is. Use smooth adapters from one pipe diameter to another and obtuse bends.
Passage nodes
Ventilation shafts are installed at the places where metal pipes pass through the roof or wall covering. The roof tightness depends on the design of the exhaust ventilation shaft passageway.
The nodes of the passage of the exhaust ventilation shafts can be:
- simple without a valve;
- with mechanical valve and condensate collection tank;
- with manual valve and condensate collection tank;
- with insulated valve;
- refractory.
Mineral wool is used as thermal insulation for ventilation shafts. There are designs of nodes for the passage of ventilation shafts with a special platform for installing a mechanism that controls the valve.
Private house ventilation shafts
Ventilation shafts in private houses are built according to the same principles as in apartment buildings. The type of ventilation is initially selected. Next, the air exchange is calculated, depending on it, the diameters and shape of the air ducts are selected.
Ventilation shafts in private homes are often replaced with air ducts. The places where air enters the house and where it is discharged outside are determined by the scheme. It is very important to correctly position the chimney head in relation to the roof. An umbrella is always worn on the head of the ventilation shaft of a private house.
In cafes and restaurants, the head of the ventilation shaft must be 1 meter or more higher than the ridge.
Air ducts, as well as ventilation shafts, in private houses are made of plastic or metal pipes.
Other materials from which you can make a ventilation shaft yourself:
- boards upholstered with metal sheet;
- plastered brick.
To improve aerodynamics and prevent the accumulation of condensate, the walls are insulated from the inside with a thin layer of mineral wool or felt, which must be plastered. It is possible to insulate the mine outside, which greatly facilitates the further operation of the pipe.
Insulation progress:
- clean the surface of the walls.
- apply glue and apply insulation tightly.
- strengthen with dowels.
- plaster.
A fairly simple technology that any home craftsman can master.
Operation and cleaning of ventilation shafts
As mentioned above, it is forbidden to independently clean ventilation shafts in multi-storey buildings. The specialists are called by the management company.
The owners of private cottages must take care of themselves. Before cleaning the ventilation shaft of a private house, you should stock up on a stiff brush with long bristles attached to the cable.
Work progress:
- The hood on the ventilation shaft is carefully dismantled.
- A brush on a cable is lowered into the shaft and several times is carried up and down to the very base of the channel.
After the ventilation shaft is cleaned, you can deal with the exhaust ducts.
- Exhaust grilles in the kitchen and in the bathroom must be removed and thoroughly cleaned;
- Sweep the air duct with a brush on a long handle or cable;
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the debris from the pipe.
According to sanitary standards, ventilation must be periodically disinfected.
Many elements of the ventilation system can be made by yourself. For example, here is such a beautiful cap:
