Tag Ventilations

There are many scenarios wherein a bottle of spray can be troublesome. What if a bottle of pepper spray or mace ruptures outside your apartment? Or perhaps a bottle of spray was accidentally spilled inside your apartment. Even with just a small amount is spilled on the floor, it can already become irritating to the eyes and the respiratory system. You are going to experience coughing quite a bit. Perhaps you would ask what you can do about it.

When this happens, the best thing you can do is open all the windows in your apartment and turn on your ventilation systems such as the fan or your air conditioner. The process will allow the smell to be carried by the air or wind outside your apartment through the window. It is best to put your ventilation systems at maximum capacity so that the process can yield results faster.

It is important to take note that the whole thing may take a while to progress. You may have opened all the windows of your apartment and set the ventilation systems to their maximum capacity and still feel the irritation in your eyes and respiratory system. Remember that the contents of the pepper spray were meant to be strong enough to cause such irritation.

The best thing you can do under these circumstances is to wait for the air to neutralize. Unlike solid materials, air is not something you can just sweep like trash. Air is very dense and so it can come and go inside your apartment from time to time. Just keep your windows open and your ventilation on and wait for the bad air to be gone completely.

By this time you have done what you can and your apartment should be the way it is. But there is still one thing you should do. The foul air is going to come back if you don’t get rid of the source. Make sure you have taken care of the leaking pepper spray bottle wherever it may be located. It may still be leaking and it would be a waste of so much time doing the whole process of neutralizing the air again.

Once you have done all these things, you can then do the finishing touches. The air may seem already neutralized to you but there may still be residues of the contaminated air somewhere in your apartment which you are not aware of. To make sure, you can apply air freshener to your apartment to make it fragrant and more comfortable for you.

To avoid such occurrences, it is advisable to keep and store pepper spray bottles in areas where it cannot easily fall. Keeping it secured in a holster, or tightly locked inside the drawer will prevent it from unwanted use. It is best to keep it properly so you will not be harmed by its irritating smell.

Going through this kind of incident is really disturbing. Should these circumstances occur within your apartment, you can do something about and revive your home’s comfort by doing the things mentioned above.

Source by Joseph Pressley

HVAC, (the acronym that stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) means little more than a creature comfort, necessity, or a stiff repair bill to most homeowners today. Some homeowners don’t even know what the acronym stands for in full! That being said, it is the responsibility of every homeowner to both know the basics without having to call Handyman Hank for help.

As the old mantra goes the best place to start is from the beginning, so let’s begin by touching on a bit of history of the HVAC field. The systems inclusion in the home began way back in the industrial revolution when new methods of electronics and manufacturing became available, and lets face it, we got tired of sweating at work and at home. Heating and air-conditioning provides proper temperature and higher indoor air quality through mechanical engineering feats that are still being improved upon today.

The first portion of the acronym, heating, is most often used by way of a central heating system consisting of a boiler or furnace to heat water or air, and ductwork that provides a transport medium to move the warmed air throughout a structure. Typically the heating portion of the systems (i.e. radiators, heat pumps) is located in the coldest part of the home in order to provide proper circulation. Unsurprisingly, the invention of central air systems is credited to the ancient Romans, who created ductwork in homes and public baths.

Ventilating, also an important addition to HVAC, consists of the systems that exchanges, replaces, and filters existing indoor air in order to create a higher indoor air quality. Rooms in the home such as bathrooms use a more mechanical form of ventilation in order to reduce humidity and odors, while items such as ceiling fans seek to lower perceived temperatures and draw in fresh air through an open window. Your central air system also most likely uses ventilation in its process and provides high air quality through filters that eliminate and capture dust, mold spores, and other indoor allergens.

Lastly, air-conditioning systems work on the fact that cold air is the absence of heated air. These systems rely on principles such as conduction or chemical refrigerants to remove heat, therefore producing cool air. The ductwork that your central heating system uses is probably also used to disperse this cool air throughout the home. Some systems also use a dehumidifier to lower the temperature of the air as moist air seems warmer than dry air.

Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning does not have to be difficult, and through a little research you can become more informed and discuss your homes’ system with your repairman effectively enough to keep it in working order. Call your local repairman or the manufacturer of your system for tips on how to keep your system running great.

Source by Matthew Eddington

With an unconditioned crawl space (usually dirt covered with a plastic vapor barrier and open foundation vents) a home inspector does not want to see the vents below the level of the soil. When vents are below grade, rain and runoff water are likely to enter the crawl space — which can attract wood destroying organisms or lead to fungal issues such as rot or mold.

If vents are far enough below grade, the dirt can block the openings so air will not circulate. The vents will not ventilate! When home inspectors see this condition, if vents cannot be fixed by removing or grading soil, the inspector will probably recommend that the client put in vent wells. The most simple vent wells consist of frames made from pressure-treated lumber. However, metal or plastic vent wells, specially made for the purpose, can be purchased at building supply stores. The well is dug into the soil, in front of the vent and deeper than the vent, so there is an opening in front of and below the vent. Personally, I like to see the well dug a few inches deeper than the vent, then the space filled with pea gravel up until about 2″ below the vent.

Another issue is that often people block the vents in an unconditioned crawl space. Although this is sometimes justified in winter, when there is a danger to pipes from severe temperatures, in Washington State blocked vents in an unconditioned crawl space are defined by the Washington State Department of Agriculture as conducive to attracting wood destroying organisms. A state licensed structural pest inspector should, in most cases, site blocked vents as a conducive condition. In the Pacific Northwest, if pipes are wrapped, foundation vents can be left open year-round most years. This basic information might not apply in severe climates or in partially heated or “conditioned” crawl spaces.

Source by Steven L. Smith

Enclosed loading docks are necessary in a wide variety of capacities. Many companies choose enclosed loading docks for reasons such as weather, space constraints, or the handling of fragile or sensitive items. If you are considering building an enclosed loading dock, it is important to follow safety guidelines very closely. Our ventilation requirements for an enclosed loading dock will help you get started.

The first ventilation requirement for an enclosed loading dock is outdoor air of some kind. If you are not able to be outdoors for some reason, make sure your loading dock is equipped with windows, doors and other options for the release of toxic diesel exhaust. If you have to, you can install wide doors or windows in the space you have. Just make sure that the fumes are not getting trapped indoors where people are working.

The second ventilation requirement for an enclosed loading dock is fans. In order to properly ventilate an indoor space of any kind, the movement of air is necessary. Be sure to invest in multiple, good quality industrial fans. Or you may choose to install central air. Air vents with high powered fanning techniques can also do the job. These systems are great for smaller spaces because they are less noisy and less obtrusive than industrial fans.

The final ventilation requirements for an enclosed loading dock relate to disaster control. One of these techniques is sprinklers. Loading docks are simply not always disaster proof-even when you follow the most specific guidelines. And indoor loading docks always carry more of a risk. Make sure your loading dock area is equipped with high quality fire sprinklers and make sure they work! Install new ones if necessary. You should also install a high-tech fire alarm system and mark these and other fire equipment clearly.

Source by Sarah Freeland

In a number of different types of premises, the owner or the management company is responsible for the statutory inspection and maintenance of smoke and mechanical ventilation systems. This is to ensure that the system is working as well as it possibly can in order to provide a safe environment for occupants.

With maintenance and inspection such a large part of the responsibility that building owners have to bear, it is often a good idea to invest in a ventilation system maintenance service, as this will keep the premises in line with statutory requirements as well as identify and repair major problems in the system as early as possible; here are five services that are definitely worth investing in.

Firstly, look for a ventilation maintenance company that will help the building owner or manager establish service logs and test schedules in order to make sure that all statutory requirements are met in a timely fashion.

Making sure that this test schedule is adhered to and that the log book is kept up to date will ensure that smoke and mechanical ventilation systems are compliant and that occupants are safe. It will also mean that fire fighters will have easier access to the fire fighting lobbies and shafts in the case of an emergency.

A second service that is worth having is one that can supply spare parts and make repairs on a rapid basis. Many of the best ventilation installation companies out there have a huge range of ventilation equipment in stock, meaning that if any problems are detected they can be remedied quickly and easily.

This leads on to the third service that is highly recommended, and this is a 24 hour emergency callout service. All types of ventilation system can fail, and in many cases it is urgent to deal with these issues in order to have equipment up and running quickly. This can be especially important in areas where occupant safety is of paramount importance, such as in hospitals and schools.

Having a reliable company on hand that can travel out to repair problems in equipment is arguably a necessary component of responsible building management. When the company also has all the necessary replacements in stock to fix the issue in an instant, this is even better yet again.

Fourthly, look for a service that carries out preventative maintenance visits on a flexible timescale. This latter point can be very important, as in some buildings it may not be possible to carry out maintenance at certain times of the day.

A schedule of preventative maintenance visits should be established between the ventilation installation company and the manager or owner of the premises, as this will avoid the frequent need for emergency callout services; preventing issues from occurring in the first place is far better than trying to repair damage once it has been done.

Lastly, search for a ventilation installation company that can provide ongoing technical support and friendly advice whenever it is needed the most. Although some companies charge extra for this kind of service, many offer all-inclusive packages that mean that all questions can be answered by an expert in a timely and precise manner.

This can be very helpful if there is an issue with a smoke or mechanical ventilation system that the building owner is unsure needs repairing or not, or if the building manager has an important question about completing the service log or statutory requirements.

These are just five of the most essential components of a quality ventilation system maintenance service. As maintenance is required by law, it is in many cases worth relying on the experts to help building owners adhere to regulations much as possible to ensure the safety of their premises and all the occupants that are living, staying or working there.

Source by Lorenzo Jones

Exhaust fans are a type of exhaust or forced ventilation method. According to the ASHRAE Standard number 62.1 titled ‘Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality’, the air in homes must be of acceptable quality. The Government of Australia’s Department of Environment estimates that Australians spend about 90% of their time indoors. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) places the cost of poor indoor air quality at 12 billion Australian Dollars annually. This is borne both by the individual in their own capacity and as a taxpayer to the National Government.

So how can this be reduced significantly? One way is by using exhaust fans.

Exhaust fans fall under the category of exhaust only ventilation systems. This is how these systems work generally: they decompress the air in the room, creating an area of low pressure. As a result, outside air comes rushing in. Cleaner cooler air comes rushing in during the summer for instance, despite the heat. These fans can be fixed on the exterior part of the building, or with the ‘faces’ facing the air inlet or outlet.

Types of this fan are:

1. Inline Exhaust Fans

These line vents and propel the air that flows along them.

2. Ceiling fans

Fans that are fixed on the ceiling generally displace warm air downwards. In this case, that warm stale air is directed to vents on the roof of the basement where it is let out.

3. Exterior fans

These are installed and housed outside the building. Sometimes fans can be quite noisy, being mechanical devices. In this case, your home remains quiet since it works outside. They draw all the stale air from the home.

4. Wall fans

These are mounted on the walls inside the basement. They circulate the air in the room and expel the stale.

5. Multifunctional Exhaust fans

These have the ability to heat, light and ventilate. This feature is a big plus for this kind of fan.

Fans can also be graded as single point, two point or multiple point.

The required ventilation rate required by ASHRAE for an area like the basement should not exceed 200 feet per cubic meter.

The Department of Environment in the Australian Government lists organic compounds as the biggest pollutants. Some of these, concluded after research, are benzene, Carbon monoxide and mold. When carbon monoxide is inhaled in large volumes, it causes death. This is especially so in rooms with poor ventilation. It is the worst killer since it is odorless and colorless. The most likely sources of this gas are furnaces, fireplaces and cigarette smoke.

Exhaust fans, when used in basement ventilation, will solve these problems for you. They simply get rid of the pollutants and let in cleaner, fresher air.

As they work, these fans can be noisy as mentioned earlier. When selecting one, go for a silenced one or one with a sound rating of less than 1 on the sone scale. The last thing you need is constant banging and incessant grinding sounds when the fans rotate.

Source by Matt Reardon

Mould and bad odors, especially in your home’s crawl space or basement, are sure warning signs that you could be exposing yourself and the family members to illness. In our present times, more than ever, indoor ventilation has become an everyday necessity, as our homes are being designed to be completely air-tight. This has the consequence of trapping pollutants and moisture inside. When you install a basement dehumidifier, it will only re-circulate the very same polluted air.

Why the Need?

The solution lies in installing mechanical basement ventilation. Excessive moisture, musty crawl spaces and basements provide a very rich environment for contaminants like dust mites and mould to thrive in your home. Contrary to a popularly held belief, these hazardous contaminants don’t just remain confined to your crawl spaces and basements but they rapidly disperse their contaminated air to your whole home. The installation of basement dehumidifiers just reduces moisture in a small confined area with no impact on the rest of your house. This is not the end of the matter!

When your home has excess moisture and insufficient ventilation it promotes biological pollutants, gases and toxins which accumulate to possibly create Sick Home Syndrome situations. This is characterized by dizziness, rash, headache, nausea, asthma, several respiratory ailments plus difficulties in concentrating.

Additionally, your home could also be undergoing structural damage that is moisture-induced. When left untreated, these structural problems tend to get only worse with time.

If you are using your basement as a carpack, the Australian Building Code requires that a suitable carpark mechanical ventilation method get installed in your buildings as directed under Clause F4.11. Part 4 of that Clause specifically deals with Carparks Light and Ventilation. Whatever mechanical ventilation you opt to install should comply with AS 1668.2-2002 that tackles the use of ventilation and air-conditioning for indoor air containment control.

The Benefits

– Your basement could be utilized as an extra family room, recording room, storage room, art room or indeed any other type room. It is only when that room has got good ventilation system that you will be able stay down there for extended periods and enjoy whatever you are undertaking. Because of the dangers of mould, excessive dampness, whenever you are in your basement, you stand even more exposed. Ventilation in your basement is then essential for your health.

– Without adequate ventilation, your basement stands at higher levels of possible mould and mildew growth. It is only with a good system that you can be able to alleviate such potential hazards.

– The National Health and Medical research Council of Australia website advices you that whenever your basement has got bad air you’ll experience episodes of tiredness, headaches, dizziness, throat infections, eye and nose irritation plus a host of other respiratory diseases. In particular, mould growth will trigger sinus and respiratory infections. It becomes even more risky if you have small children down there. For this reason having efficient ventilation is a major plus.

– The good thing about installing mechanical ventilation in your basement is that it will work as well for you in winter just as in summer. It aids in making your basement to be a place of all seasons.

– An efficient ventilation system need not be expensive. In any case, when you think of the added benefits of an additional habitable room, this would outweigh any costs involved in the installation and running of the system.

Source by Matt Reardon

Correctly designed ventilation can reduce or eliminate odors, reduce bacteria buildup, and help maintain that fresh clean smell in the kennel. Your pets will be happier and you’ll spend less time trying to dry floors and eliminating the odors. If you have trouble understanding information in this article, email us on the web at Sun Hill Pet Supplies.

No matter the size of your facility, ventilation will play a key role in the first impression of visitors to the kennel. Simply stated, ventilation is controlled, directed air movement.

Design basics:

1. Air exchanges: change all of the air in the room four to six times an hour. Calculate the room volume in cubic feet, multiply the result by four, five or six, then divide by sixty to find the air volume, in cfm (cubic feet per minute).
2. Exhaust pick-up points: most kennel odors are created at the same level as the dogs so position your exhaust pick up points lower than 30 inches to insure the odors are pulled downward, away from your nose. However, not lower than twelve inches from the floor to prevent cleaning water from entering the ventilation system.
3. How many exhaust pick up points: Multiple points throughout the room insure air movement has the chance to properly circulate. Remember we are not talking about the return air duct to your heat system, we’re talking about exhaust vents to remove air from the room.
4. Air supply: Install your air supply vents, high up in the room. This allows the air to flow downward to the exhaust pick up points, thereby pulling the odors down, and away from your nose. Remember, supply air must be filtered and tempered, (heated or cooled), not be raw outside air. Your HVAC contractor can install a unit that provides sufficient fresh air into the ventilation system to meet the supply requirements.
5. Position of air supply and exhaust vents: Position the supply vents over the aisle ways and the exhaust pick up points at the back of the runs in the walls or as pipes coming down the walls. If the heating source is a “hot air” system, have one third of the heated air introduced at the floor and two thirds introduced via the vents over the aisle ways.
6. Type and design of the exhaust fan: You’ll want to use a blower with a centrifugal wheel as the air mover. Fans and blowers that use a blade similar to that of a window fan won’t be able to overcome the static pressure created by the ductwork required for multiple pick up points
7. Size the blower: Create a safety factor by multiplying the cfm you calculated in step #1, by 1.5 to insure your moving enough air, then choose the exhaust blower to move that amount of cfm at ½” of static pressure or higher. Static pressure is resistance to air flow, usually created by the duct system.
8. Duct sizing: High air velocity in the system will insure good air flow so size the ducts for around 2000 fpm (feet per minute) air velocity. The easiest approach to sizing is to determine the size of duct needed to handle the total air flow, then, install that size as the primary duct, throughout the building. Determine the number of drops you want and divide the area of the primary duct by the number of drops. Each drop is then sized to that area. Use this formula to determine primary duct size: (cfm / 1500fpm) x 144 = duct area in square inches

Formula information: · http://www.Grainger.com is a great source for blowers.

· Area of a circle: radius squared times 3.14 ( [r x r] x 3.14) Example of area of 3″ round duct: (1.5 x 1.5) x 3.14 = 7.065 sq inches

· Convert square inches to square feet: divide square inches by 144. From the example above 7.065 square inches divided by 144 = .049 square feet.

Example:

1. Kennel room is 20 ft x 15 ft with a 10 ft high ceiling: 20 x 20 x 10 = 4000 cubic feet

2. Five (5) air changes per hour = 4000 x 5 = 20,000 cubic feet

3. Determine cfm (cubic feet per minute) 20,000 / 60 = 333 cfm

4. Safety factor air flow: 1.5 x 333 = 500 cfm

5. From Grainger’s: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2C946 This blower moves 537 cfm at ½” of static pressure, and is only $165.38 and can be plugged into most outlets.

6. Primary duct size in square inches: (500cfm / 2000 fpm) x 144 = 36 square inch duct. You could use 6’x 6″ square duct, or 7″ diameter round duct.

Source by Glenn Adams

Your garage will always be in need of ventilation regardless of the time of year, and as such, you need to ventilate it. The garage will experience an increase in temperatures during the summers as well as a reduction during the cold months. Though wood is an excellent insulator, there are times when the temperatures can become unbearable, thus making it hard for you to work in your garage under those conditions.

A garage devoid of adequate ventilation will also encourage the increase of mildew as well as the build-up of chemical fumes which will affect your overall well-being and can make you sick. It is always good to work in ventilated environments which will enable you to be comfortable throughout the process and will also prevent occurrences of incidences such as heatstroke.

What problems can arise as a result of lack of ventilation?

Many serious problems could accrue from a non-ventilated garage, and they affect not only your health but also the lifespan of your investment.

Heat

During scorching summers, your garage can get so hot that working in it can become unbearable. You are looking at temperatures warm enough to cook an egg. Neither you nor any of your family and friends will want to be inside during the day, and this will limit the amount of time which you can spend in it.

People use these structures for fixing cars and many parents tend to bond with their children while fixing up cars in the summer. This bonding time will not be possible in such conditions. Your kids will be unable to practice their painting and music from the comfort of the garage, and it will be defunct in hot days, which is a waste of such an investment.

Cold seasons

The cold seasons can also make it hard for you and your family to enjoy the benefits of your garage by making the interior very cold. Once again, you would have to avoid it, therefore limiting its use to some months in the year when it is neither too hot nor too cold.

Another problem that comes with the cold seasons is that some supplies in the garage are susceptible to changes in the temperature and they can get ruined in the process.

Chemicals

Garages store a lot of supplies, some of which should not get exposed to heat. Take an example of paint. Paint should not be kept in an enclosed area as it can cause problems such as difficulty in breathing and dizziness.

Humidity

Your garage is an investment which can serve your needs and for the generations to come if well-maintained. Lack of ventilation can lead to humidity, depending on the region in which you live. Suppose you live in an area with high humidity and do not have any ventilation in place, mildew, as well as excess moisture, can build up and lead to rust and rot.

Sometimes, people notice the presence of such damage when it is too late, thus forcing them to reconstruct their garages. You can prevent this problem at an early stage and hold on to your investment.

Making the right choice

There are many ways which you can put to use to adequately ventilate your garage to avoid the above problems and more. When choosing the right ventilation for your garage, it is essential that you look at the material used in its construction, the size of the structure as well as the purpose.

You should also take the average temperatures as well as the humidity levels in your region of residence into consideration. For storage purposes, you can go for a simple ridge vent or a non-powered gable vent which will ensure that the temperatures remain controlled. However, if you plan to use the garage as a working space in an area where humidity levels are high, you should go for a powered vent as it will be more effective as compared to the previous options.

The size

The size of your garage will affect how much ventilation you require. Take an example of a small garage. This structure can maintain low temperatures with the use of a small solar-powered panel which would not work for a more massive space. In the same way, a turbine ventilator will be useful in the cooling of a large garage but it will not work for a small structure, and you have to make a choice accordingly.

How should you pick the right size?

You should consider the purpose of your garage as well as the type of vent you wish to use when making this decision. For storage purposes, a skylight or roof vent works just fine in maintaining the temperature at low levels and reducing the humidity levels.

For a space where you plan to spend a considerable amount of time working, use powered ventilation for enhanced efficiency. You can power the fans using solar or electricity to push out hot air while drawing in cold air from the outside. They also work to bring in warm air from the outdoors during the cold season.

Do not base your decision based on pricing as you could go wrong. First, delve into what you need, and from there you can work your way through the list of possible ventilators based on the pricing.

You will find that there are three popular ventilation options on the market and they all come with their set of advantages.

The Whirlybird Turbine Ventilator is a great option when looking for a ventilator which can quickly push hot air out during warm seasons. It does not require maintenance and can produce winds of up to 147 mph. The installation process is quite easy, and it can last a lifetime.

The Shed Cupola is another popular option, and it comes in a tower design for ease in pulling hot air out of the structure. With a vent on each side, you can get maximum airflow regardless of the direction of the wind. It is more aesthetically pleasing when compared to the whirlybird turbine, and it can move a lot of air.

The louver vent is more versatile regarding positioning when mounting and you can place it on one or both ends of your structure. You should install it towards the peak of your roof to enable hot air to leave the structure at a fast rate. Through the constant flow of air, humidity levels remain low as well as the temperatures.

Other options on the market include the venting skylight and the small solar-powered fan. Be sure to select a ventilator based on your purpose and the size of your garage to get one suitable for your wooden garage.

Source by Monika Mandeikaite