In autumn and winter we tend to increase the amount of time we spend indoors. Schools, offices, restaurants, sports facilities and other enclosed spaces will have significantly more people in them at the same time during these months. Fortunately, even in exceptional situations – such as the current coronavirus pandemic – a safe and healthy climate can even be created indoors by means of ample natural ventilation.
Removal of aerosols by means of regular air exchange
In rooms with automated ventilation, wearing a cloth face mask and adhering to the rules of hygiene and social distancing are complemented by the most effective component: stale air is replaced with fresh air from outside and aerosols are effectively removed. The most critical factor here is the amount of air replaced during ventilation. The required air exchange rate is always significantly higher whenever there are a lot of people in a room at the same time, such as in a classroom or restaurant, or when people are engaging in physically demanding activities. This is true in sports halls and in large rooms where there is a lot of loud talking, such as in a theatre or at a choir rehearsal.
Time-controlled, user-independent ventilation
Controlled natural ventilation (CNV) can reliably provide the required sense of well-being. This is especially true with respect to ensuring the correct room temperature and minimising heat loss during the heating season. Products from D+H feature customised ventilation solutions for providing a wide variety of spaces with fresh, healthy air at all times of the year – with considerably lower investment and operating costs than when a ventilation system or air-conditioning system is used.
Filter systems of existing air-conditioning systems are usually insufficient
A solution from D+H for controlled natural ventilation of rooms and buildings provides critical advantages, even when compared to air-conditioning systems. These advantages are becoming increasingly important, specifically with regard to the risk of infection due to microparticles (aerosols) which remain airborne, sometimes for hours. As can be seen from publications by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and of the German Environment Agency, air-conditioning systems are at a disadvantage here for two reasons. First, a ventilation system (HVAC system) frequently does not feed in enough fresh air from outside. As a result, the air exchange rate remains extremely low. Such systems only cool the indoor air and then circulate it continuously, almost like in a closed system. Second, these systems are usually only equipped with two-stage filter systems. But only highly efficient, expensive HEPA filters reliably guarantee that infectious particles are kept out of the indoor air. That is why HEPA filters used to be installed only in air-conditioning systems for particularly sensitive rooms, such as operating rooms.
A D+H model solution for time-controlled, automated ventilation of a classroom provides for fresh air at the MaxS school (Max-Schmeling-Stadtteilschule) in the Marienthal district of Hamburg. The MaxS offers all school-leaving certificates up to the university entrance qualification (Abitur) and is characterised by the social, cultural and ethnic diversity of its students. In this open environment it was easy to win support with a model application of the D+H ventilation solution for classrooms and offices.
Our reference solution at the MaxS protects health and promotes the ability to concentrate
The model classroom can be ventilated manually or automatically based on defined time intervals or after a predefined CO2-limit value is exceeded. This means that this D+H solution complies with the most important recommendations from the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK).
The ventilation system is controlled by an intuitive user interface with password protection and user administration. The five extremely quiet chain drives can automatically and seamlessly open and close all windows as well as keep them in an open position. D+H window drives are burglary-resistant and, equipped with closing edge protection, they meet all the necessary safety requirements.
Two sensors mounted on the ceiling additionally ensure the safety of everyone who is present in the room. Firstly, a CO2 sensor automatically opens classroom windows as soon as the proportion of CO2 in the air exceeds a default limit value. Secondly, the presence detector prevents potential danger if anyone moves into the swivel range of a closing window.
More information about the system solution (PDF)
For conventional room sizes and a relatively small number of people in the room, ample ventilation with a simple D+H ventilation solution leads to a sufficient, effective air exchange. The frequency and duration of ventilation can be specifically defined based on the time of year and weather. It is recommended to use ventilation cycles whereby the system switches on and off based on the air quality in the room – which can be determined by measuring the CO2 content of the indoor air, for instance – or based on the amount of precipitation outside. Of course, the ventilation can also be time-controlled, for example in the form of a ventilation purge before work begins. And for all those who feel uncomfortable when there are no windows that can be opened by hand, there are buttons and remote controls that offer the individual convenience of adjusting the window drives. An effective ventilation solution can be achieved even with just a few of the following components.
Big rooms where large numbers of people gather on a regular basis should be intensely ventilated at short intervals. In certain cases it may even be necessary to ventilate continuously. D+H ventilation solutions are always capable of providing sufficient air exchange – even for complex ventilation scenarios in large buildings. Even extensive ventilation systems can be integrated directly into the existing building management system. All components such as window drives, sensors, timers, regulators and buttons are reliably networked with each other using our efficient control panels.
The new analogue/digital module turns the digital CPS-M controller into the ideal control panel for automated ventilation of buildings. Thanks to this upgrade, both digital and analogue peripheral devices such as temperature and CO2 sensors, ventilation buttons and signal emitters can now be connected to the CPS-M and their signals can be evaluated. The practical ADM module has a total of 12 inputs and outputs available for reliably controlling complex, automated ventilation scenarios with the CPS-M.
Our strongest ventilation control panel in compact form. Optional additional modules for the powerful GVL 8408-M enable the control of convenient ventilation functions. The control panel can control up to 6 different groups of window drives individually.
The new analogue/digital module turns the digital CPS-M controller into the ideal control panel for automated ventilation of buildings. Thanks to this upgrade, both digital and analogue peripheral devices such as temperature and CO2 sensors, ventilation buttons and signal emitters can now be connected to the CPS-M and their signals can be evaluated. The practical ADM module has a total of 12 inputs and outputs available for reliably controlling complex, automated ventilation scenarios with the CPS-M.
Our strongest ventilation control panel in compact form. Optional additional modules for the powerful GVL 8408-M enable the control of convenient ventilation functions. The control panel can control up to 6 different groups of window drives individually.
Even in the tight space of a lift car, effective air exchange is achieved by means of adequate ventilation through the lift shaft. Sensors attached to the lift car continuously check the air quality and temperature in the lift.
The upgrade for your lift
The presence of people in the lift car is detected, as are the movements of the car in the shaft. The D+H ventilation solution uses this information, depending on the actual use of the lift system, to control the flaps of the ventilation ducts which lead to the outdoors. Then the stack effect or a fan mounted at the lowest level in the lift shaft effectively discharges contaminated air to the outdoors.
More about the product technology of BlueKit
When installed and operated according to requirements, they guarantee the recommended regular air exchange in enclosed spaces. In this way, controlled natural ventilation significantly reduces the risk of infection from virus-contaminated aerosols.
The Glucksman Library at the University of Limerick is one of the largest campus libraries in Ireland. The library's automated ventilation can be monitored and controlled directly from the building management system thanks to D+H ACB technology. Ultra-quiet D+H window drives ensure a continuous, comfortable study environment and the ideal indoor climate throughout the entire building.
The oval k29 building in Vilnius, Lithuania provides optimal working conditions at all times. This is ensured in part by a hybrid ventilation and cooling system. Exceptionally quiet D+H window drives open and close the windows of the interior façade for the natural ventilation of the office spaces. Other rack and pinion drives in the roof of the atrium provide plenty of fresh air and a maximum sense of well-being.
Quality air is critical for efficient learning and focused work. At Avila College, a secondary school in Mount Waverley, a suburb of Melbourne, a D+H ventilation solution ensures the necessary atmosphere of wellness within the building. An individualised ventilation strategy opens and closes all windows with perfect positioning based on the indoor and outdoor temperatures.
In the Henninger Tower, the state-of-the-art ventilation solution from D+H provides for a perfect indoor climate in a sophisticated urban space. Intelligently coordinated system components enable outstanding ventilation and optimal noise dampening.
