Office Ventilation

How comfortable the office environment is has a direct impact on the productivity of its workers. That’s why most employers install ventilation systems in office spaces to ensure optimal climate conditions. The microclimate is especially important for people whose work involves intellectual tasks. If the temperature in a room exceeds 26°C, employees are less productive. A lack of fresh air, high humidity, and high temperatures make staying in an office space unbearable.

When creating a project our specialists at Kliwenta take into account the following features:

• The estimated number of employees who will be in the space;
• The size of the space;
• The presence of machines that can generate heat;
• The presence or absence of industrial spaces near the office.

If the office is small, a supply unit like Breezart or Colibri, along with one or several simple air conditioners, will suffice.

Medium-sized offices need a more efficient ventilation system. Therefore, it is reasonable to install a multi-zone air conditioner or a multi-split system in conjunction with a supply unit or a supply and exhaust system with cooling units.

Large offices should have high-capacity systems, such as central air conditioning. A supply and exhaust system with evaporative cooling can also be installed.

Air exchange requirements for offices

Office ventilation, supply and exhaust ventilation system

This system consists of an exhaust unit and a supply unit. The former extracts contaminated air from the room. The supply part of the ventilation system draws air from outside, filters it, and then channels it into the room through ventilation ducts. At the point where the air is delivered, diffusers or special grilles are installed to direct the airflow. Additionally, this equipment can also heat, cool, and dehumidify the air.

A supply and exhaust ventilation system allows you to control the airflow in a room. If needed, you can change the system’s function by specifying a particular capacity for each room.

Supply and exhaust ventilation setup in an office

Only specialists can properly design a ventilation system because this work requires attention to detail. For example, a separate ventilation system should be installed for the restroom, not connected to the main system. To minimize heating costs, recuperators are recommended. While manual control might be convenient for residential spaces, in an office, an automated system is preferable.

Normal “Breathing” in the Office

For a ventilation system to maintain an optimal microclimate in a room, engineers need to consider many factors that influence the choice of equipment. For example, they must take into account the layout and size of the space, the anticipated number of employees, technical and economic feasibility, the presence of heat-generating devices, and building code requirements.

The required air exchange must be correctly calculated for each room in the office.

You should also keep in mind other regulations, such as:

• The minimum amount of air needed per person (60 m³);
• Nuances related to air supply, as it must be delivered directly to the administrative space;
• When the area of an administrative room is less than 35 m², air can be exhausted into a common space, such as a hallway. If the area is greater than 35 m², the air must be exhausted directly from the room;
• Natural exhaust ventilation is permitted only in buildings with fewer than 3 floors and a maximum of 300 employees;
• Centralized air recirculation is not permitted in office spaces;
• A separate mechanical ventilation system must be installed in conference halls.

Ventilation equipment for offices

• Monoblock supply units;
• Individual supply units;
• Individual supply and exhaust units;
• Channel supply units;
• Supply and exhaust units with heat recovery;
• Complete ventilation systems;
• Ventilation based on ducted air conditioners.

Of course, each of these devices has both advantages and disadvantages. That’s why it’s important to turn to professionals who will properly design and install the equipment, taking into account the layout and space of the specific building.

Conference hall ventilation

Ventilation installations in conference halls, as well as auditoriums and exhibition halls, are grouped together. However, the first option is distinct because the system operates only when someone is in the room. When it’s empty, the system minimizes its operation. The ventilation installation in conference halls must be quiet, and air exchange typically occurs from top to bottom or in a cycle of top-to-bottom-to-top.

To select the right equipment, Kliwenta specialists consider the room’s area, its characteristics, the maximum number of people, the presence of heat-emitting devices, and more during the design phase. To achieve savings on heating and air conditioning in conference halls, deflectors, diffusers, and dampers are used.

Server room ventilation

A server room is a space where multiple telecommunications devices are installed. Given that there are no specific criteria defining the type of such rooms, the responsibility falls on the IT system installer or the client.

Microclimate

• Ventilation and air conditioning must ensure normal operating conditions for the equipment.
• The system must run without malfunctions round the clock.
• When the central system can’t handle the load, an autonomous system is recommended.
• Air parameters should be checked at a height of 1.5 meters when the equipment is on and in the zone where cold air is supplied.
• For air-cooled devices, parameters are measured in the mounting structure.
• The pressure in the server room must be higher than in other nearby rooms.
• It’s important to select equipment that can filter and purify the air entering the control room.
• If there’s a backup power system, the air conditioning should also be connected to it.

Since designing and installing such complex equipment is a time-consuming process that requires expertise, specialists from Kliwenta recommend not cutting corners on quality but turning to experts in this field.