Aerated concrete is a popular inexpensive material that is actively used to build houses. Due to its technical characteristics, it is increasingly used in construction. When arranging a home, it is important to pay attention to ventilation to ensure a comfortable microclimate. Aerated concrete blocks have their own characteristics that must be taken into account so as not to disrupt the structure and not to reduce their service life.
The need to install ventilation
Old air masses must be removed from the house so that fresh, oxygen-filled air can penetrate inside. Thanks to the air exchange, condensation will not accumulate in the apartment, which leads to the formation of mold and mildew. Fresh air is also beneficial for the health and normal functioning of the human body.
The standards for ensuring air exchange are spelled out in the joint venture, SanPiN and SNiP.
- Every residential building made of any material must have a ventilation system. This applies to both private and multi-apartment buildings.
- The ventilation system must be able to renew the air at regular intervals.
- Air outlet is provided through exhaust ducts in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Each room has its own air exchange values, which must be adhered to.
All values for air exchange are specified in regulatory documents.
Organization of ventilation in a private house
Existing air exchange rates must be met when designing ventilation. Excessive exchange of air masses can reduce humidity, and insufficient exchange will lead to a low oxygen content.
The required values can be achieved with the help of two types of ventilation - natural and mechanical. In the first case, the air circulates due to the difference in temperature and air density in the house and outside. This system is autonomous, but subject to weather conditions. In the mechanical method, different devices are used that create air exchange regardless of the climate. A combination of the two is most commonly used. With such a scheme, the disadvantages of each type will be eliminated.
The ventilation system needs to be thought out even at the design stage of a one-story or multi-story building. Otherwise, it will be difficult to create a normal air exchange, since it will be necessary to create holes in the walls and ceilings for laying pipes.
Optimal ventilation system in aerated concrete houses
Aerated concrete is a material with high hygroscopicity. For this reason, the best ventilation system layout is the installation of vertical ducts and shafts.
It is not recommended to make air valves in the wall. Because of them, the load-bearing function of the wall deteriorates and it becomes possible for moisture to enter the body of the house. Due to condensation, mold forms and aerated concrete is destroyed.
You can also use a circuit with an outlet through the central riser or use only window structures. It is better to choose supply ventilation, since it works better in aerated concrete houses than exhaust ventilation.
In a house made of aerated concrete, you can put a device with recuperation or a heater.Cold air will be heated when it gets inside, which eliminates the possibility of condensation. But such systems are notable for their high price and energy consumption for obtaining warm air.
System calculation
An example of a calculation will be a one-story house in which there is natural air exchange, and an extractor hood is installed in the kitchen and bathroom. Separate bathroom. The inflow of air masses occurs through three living rooms with a total area of 100 sq.m and a ceiling height of 3 m.
In such a situation, both the supply and exhaust volumes are calculated. Further, these indicators are compared and the larger one is selected as the main one.
According to SNiP norms, air exchange of 30 cubic meters per hour must be maintained in the living room. Then, for three rooms, the total value will be equal to 90 cubic meters / hour.
The value for the kitchen and bathroom is 60 cubic meters / hour and 25 cubic meters / hour, respectively. The total air outflow will be 60 + 25 + 25 = 110 cubic meters / hour.
From the obtained values, the larger one (110) is selected and used in further calculations. Further, according to the table, the area of the ventilation ducts is selected. This requires the height of the roof (4 m) and the temperature in the rooms (+ 20 ° C). The optimal value will be an area of 204 sq. Cm. with a passage of 46 cubic meters / hour of air. To determine the number of ventilation ducts, 110 is divided by 46 and the resulting number is rounded up.
DIY ventilation installation
Installing a ventilation system in an aerated concrete house is not an easy process. It is required to assemble the channel together with the wall or assemble a modular scheme in the attic or attic with the installation of a fan. You will need to create holes in the slabs to pass the pipes. All this requires skills and professional tools from the master.
Installation of air valves
This is the easiest way to create ventilation in an aerated concrete house. Aerated concrete is characterized by softness and porosity of the structure, so it is not difficult to drill holes in it. To do this, you will need a crown or a conventional drill, with the help of which small holes are made around the circumference.
Installation of ventilation ducts
Algorithm for assembling the ventilation duct:
- Determination of the duct installation scheme. The main line should cover all service premises with one air duct. It is carried out horizontally above the ceilings.
- Determination of the cross-section of air ducts.
- Calculation of the number of fasteners and connectors with the designation of the length of the sections.
- Purchase of materials and tools for the installation of the pipeline.
- Assembly. It is better to start the process from the outermost room. Holes for pipes are made in each wall between rooms. Pipes are assembled on clamps (for metal pipes) or couplings (plastic pipes).
- Laying the outlet through the kitchen and outside wall.
- Creation of duct windows in every room. They need to be covered with a lattice.
Then you can proceed to the selection of additional equipment, the calculation of its capacity, purchase and installation.
Exhaust fan assembly
Fans are different. If you choose a duct model, you will need to install it in the wall in the exhaust hole. Wall-mounted devices are mounted on the wall from the inside. This is an option for bathrooms.
Common mistakes
Novice specialists often make a number of mistakes when installing ventilation in a gas block house:
- Installation of ventilation in a load-bearing wall. Then its strength weakens and the load on the entire structure increases.
- Do not install a supply and exhaust valve in the boiler room. Installation of both devices is required. It is also required to install a supply and exhaust valve in rooms that are separated from the room by two doors and in which there is a ventilation duct.
- Insufficient size of the ventilation shaft section. The minimum cross-section is 0.015 square meters, which is equal to a diameter of 150 mm.
In the absence of tools and skills, you should entrust the installation of the system to professionals. Incorrect installation threatens to disrupt air exchange.
