Underfloor Ventilation Fans

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Underfloor Ventilation Fans

Ventilation is a major need in all types of buildings, be it domestic or commercial environments. Ventilation systems have come a long way in terms of technology, from simple fans with rotating blades, to highly sophisticated machines providing round-the-clock ventilation to buildings.

What are Underfloor Ventilation Fans?

Similar to centralized air conditioning or heating provided from ceilings, ventilation can be provided from under the floor or underground. Underfloor ventilation fans are made use of for this purpose. This is an air circulation strategy to provide ventilation and conditioning to buildings.

This type of ventilation system is a part of the HVAC system. HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) refers to the type of technology used for the environmental comfort of indoor spaces. It is a part of mechanical engineering; the principles of fluid mechanics, heat transfer and thermodynamics are used.

Uses of Underfloor Ventilation Fans

Ventilation fans under the ground find several uses in different types of buildings these days. Let’s take a look at some of the applications of underground ventilation fans.
  • Office buildings: Most corporate office spaces are fully closed and do not have any means for natural ventilation. Spaces like bathrooms, showers and kitchens in offices also need ventilation. All the ventilation provided to offices is through mechanical means. Underfloor ventilation fans are widely used in office buildings. Open plan offices that have raised floors are most suitable for easy underground cable management.

  • IT data centers and Computer Rooms: Due to the large number of electronic equipment in such indoor spaces, a lot of heat is generated. These spaces need to be constantly kept cool and well ventilated. Underground ventilation systems are put to use in these types of buildings too.

Working of Underfloor Ventilation Fans

Now that we’ve taken a look at underfloor ventilation fans and their applications, we need to understand how exactly they work. Underfloor ventilation systems rely completely on air handling units to condition or prepare the air to the correct conditions, appropriate for supply. Once the air is prepared, it is ready to be transported to the occupied zone.

The transportation or distribution of air is where underfloor systems differ from overhead ventilation. In overhead ventilation, ducts are generally used for air flow. Underfloor ventilation fans make use of raised floors. Plenum is formed from the construction of raised floors that allows the distribution of air.

Floor diffusers installed in various places are used as supply outlets for air. Overall, an underfloor ventilation system can be described as a central unit handling air, and delivering it through pressurized plenum, up into the indoor space through floor diffusers.

Underfloor ventilation fans have been found to be quite effective when compared with other forms of ventilation. This ventilation system needs to be planned into the construction of a house, by engineers. Companies and brands providing such solutions for commercial and domestic places would send over a representative to look over the building plans. Most often, a mechanical engineer would be employed to seamlessly incorporate underfloor ventilation fans into the rest of the building design.

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