Parking facilities are in great demand concerning that most people own a car these days, especially in large towns and/or cities. Conventional, open-air car parks simply take up too much space. These types of car parks also invite other concerning situations like vandalism and damage through climate conditions, therefore the need for closed car parks arise in highly populated areas. Closed car parks can be built either above or below ground, though due to exhaust fumes/gases like carbon monoxide (CO) and benzene (among others) produced by vehicles, other problems start to come to light within the enclosed spaces. For health reasons the built up of these gasses need to be extracted from the parking areas.
There are three ways that air can be vented out of a building. Firstly one of the most effective methods used is ducting, moving the air by means of a fan that then either sucks/pushes the air through the duct. Secondly, air is known to move by what is called the chimney effect, where in response to the thermal differentials the air moves vertically. And lastly there is a mothed that utilizes thrust through jet ventilation.
In regards to ventilation there are two types of car parks that can be built, namely the open and closed parks.
Open-air car parks: These parking facilities are uncovered and therefore facilitates natural ventilation. Although some requirements must be met for a car park to classify as an open air park. Each country differs in their regulations about this, although if the regulations are not met and natural ventilation cannot be guaranteed, the car parking facility would be classified as an enclosed parking and means of a mechanical venting system would be implemented.
Enclosed car parks: These parks are typically characterized by; outside walls that are specific distances apart, vent openings that do not meet requirements or can be blocked, underground parks with no ventilation openings, a specific depth below ground level and any obstructions inside of the car park that prevent proper cross ventilation throughout.
Conventional ventilation methods used:
Currently there are four different venting methods that are used in car parking facilities;
Natural ventilation: by means of natural wind and thermal conditions in open parks.
Semi-natural ventilation: air enters the park naturally and is then exhausted mechanically/vice versa. Typically no ducts are needed.
Simple conventional ventilation: used in closed car parks, these systems include fresh air fans and exhaust fans. No ducts are used.
Conventional ventilation: used in closed car parks. Using both fresh-air fans and exhaust fans along with ducts for the transporting of the air.
Although there are some problems when using conventional venting systems. Like the fact that there is no guarantee that the system will provide sufficient ventilation and there may also be so called “dead corners” where little to no ventilation takes place.
Jet fan ventilation systems can be used in such a way to ensure CO ventilating needs are covered and in some circumstances adapt for smoke control In the case of a fire. Jet fans are typically hard mounted to a concrete ceiling of a car park.
This ventilation system offers multiple advantages over conventional ducted ventilation for car parks:
· Saving space
· Flexible installation
· No “dead spots”
· Optimal ventilation
· Saving costs
· Saving energy
· Possibility for smoke control systems.
Contact one of our specialists at SFE Services for a professional survey and solutions to your car park ventilation requirements.
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