Exhaust ventilation systems are a crucial part of the building for maintaining indoor air quality and controlling air moisture, odours, and pollutants. In most cases they are a centralised system that continuously exhausts air from apartment bathroom, ensuite toilet and laundry areas to maintain air quality.

The exhaust ventilation system is installed into the fabric of the building during its construction. Maintaining the system at prescribed intervals is paramount to its operational functionality by removing build-up and blockage to enable free air. Without ventilation in apartment wet areas, heat, toilet odours and air-moisture are unable to escape and build-up within personal apartment spaces such as bathrooms, ensuites, toilet and laundry areas.

Understanding the System and How It Operates:

Exhaust Fans:

These are usually installed on the roof structure of the building, however in some larger buildings they can also be located in a plant room. Roof exhaust fans connect on to the buildings riser and duct system and create a negative pressure, which in turn draws air out of apartments to atmosphere.

Risers and Ductwork:

This network of ducts connects to the exhaust fans. It transports the stale air from apartment bathroom, ensuite, toilet and laundry areas via air vents/grilles or circular diffusers.

Vents/Grilles/Diffusers:

These are the openings through which the air is expelled within apartments to outside the building. They are usually a square vent with an egg-crate grille, they may also be a circular diffuser, plate-type, or louvred style. Egg-crate vents are standard and allow for maximum removal of air with no obstructions across the face of the vent. A control damper is usually fitted at the rear of the vent to enable an equal distribution of air to be removed at each floor level.

Control Dampers:

These fittings are designed with adjustable blades that can be opened or closed to ensure the correct volume of air is extracted at each level of the building. Control dampers corrode and break-down over time due to age, salt-air and air-moisture leading to breakage and inoperability. It is important to check the condition of these fittings and replace any damaged control dampers with new to ensure efficient operation throughout apartments and the building.

Intake Air Paths:

While exhaust ventilation systems primarily focus on expelling air, it’s essential to have pathways for fresh air to enter the building. This can be through intentional openings like windows, doors, or cracks and gaps in the building itself. Nearby construction and infrastructure upgrades allow debris to be sucked through these gaps, into the system, and contribute to internal build-up within ducts, especially in wet areas.

The ventilation system can be configured to operate continuously at a low speed, providing constant ventilation throughout apartments and the building, or in some instances, the system can be operated intermittently on a timer for reduced power consumption.

Planned maintenance of ventilation systems in apartment buildings is crucial for adhering to BCCM guidelines for health and safety reasons. Lint, dust, and other debris accumulate in the ducts and exhaust fans, leading to reduced airflow and decreased efficiency. This buildup not only hinders the system’s ability to remove pollutants and moisture but also poses a potential fire risk. By cleaning these systems at set intervals, risk is minimised, and the system’s performance is maintained, ensuring a safe and healthy living environment for all occupants.

Click here to read about BCCM’s guidelines and responsibilities towards maintaining ventilation systems in apartment buildings.

How Can SafeAir Help?

Talk with a SafeAir Projects Team member today and arrange a free site survey and quotation for deep-cleaning your buildings exhaust ventilation systems.

Click here to learn more about the deep-clean process, read reviews and feedback from our valued customers or follow @SafeAirAU on Instagram for the latest posts and updates.