VENTILATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1939, Page 8

VENTILATION

ADDRESS AT ROTARY CLUB BY MR T. A. RUSSELL.

NEED FOR COMMON SENSE.

“Ventilation is a subject that is receiving considerable attention in these days,” stated Mr T. A. Russell, borough sanitary inspector, in an address at the Masterton Rotary Club’s luncheon today. “We frequently hear of air conditioning and in Ihe more advanced countries, even trains and buses are air-conditioned, the term simply meaning suitably ventilated. The importance of a plentiful supply of fresh air is recognised when we consider that we can live without food for' several weeks, without water for a few days but without air we could only survive four or five minutes. Our natural environment is the open air apd it was in the open that man has developed what physique he possesses. Primative man sought his cave for shelter from the tempest and protection at nightfall. The eave has developed into a house and modern ventilation is an attempt to combine the best"outside atmospheric conditions with the warmth and protection of the house. Today the science of ventilation is developing and in modern construction the ventilating engineer is working hand, in hand with the architect and the structural engineer, although at times handicapped by false economy.” Ideal ventilationmight be' defined, said Mr Russell, as the removal of vitiated air from a building or its dilution. by the introduction of fresh air at proper temperatures, of relative humidity and having a gentle continuous movement through suitably arranged inlets and exits. Natural ventilation of buildings was brought about firstly by the wind, secondly by the difference in weight of volumes or air at different temperatures and thirdly, by diffusion. New Zealand’s temperate climate permitted schools, hospitals and institutions to take full advantage of cross ventilation, allowing the rooms to be constantly flushed with fresh air in the summer and if judicious use was made of the windows in conjunction with a heating system fairly satisfactory ventilation was obtainable in winter. In New Zealand all residences were ventilated by natural means and openable windows should extend to within one foot of the ceiling so as to prevent a stagnant pocket of air near it. It was of no advantage to have lofty rooms with the window openings several feet down. Mr Russell proceeded- to deal in detail with mechanical means of ventilation and to refer to the systems in operation in various buildings in New Zealand. “Good ventilation is just common sense,” said Mr Russell “and provided the body is kept reasonably comfortable as regards warmth, the more fresh air and sunshine we get into our rooms the better and in our climate natural ventilation should be used for the home and the Plenum or vacuum system or a balanced system combining the best features of the two with a positive supply for ci'owded auditoriums.”