Ventilation for humidity control: Measurements in a ventilation test house

Abstract

Three ventilation systems were installed in a recently refurbished test house: full house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MHVR), passive stack ventilation (PSV) and extract fans in kitchen and bathroom. Humidifiers were installed to simulate normal occupancy and behaviour of the ventilation was monitored over the winter of 1993/94. The test house has a low leakage rate of 3 ac h-1 at 50 Pa pressure difference; this low rate was maintained over the duration of the tests. A comparison of ventilation rates provided by the three systems is given. MHVR was the most effective in maintaining low humidity.