ᐅ Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery: How to Install the Ductwork?
Created on: 25 Jan 2013 13:21
M
McCorc
Hello everyone.
We have just finished the shell construction (still without the floor buildup). Somehow, our architect failed to include the pipes for the mechanical ventilation system within the concrete ceiling, as we had originally wanted.
Now, our construction company has suggested installing a suspended ceiling and running the pipes underneath it. This would also make it easier to access the pipes if one were to break. However, we are not very keen on having a suspended ceiling.
As an alternative, the ventilation pipes could be installed within the floor buildup, directly alongside the underfloor heating, but this still needs to be discussed with the heating engineer.
What do you think would be the better option? How important is it to have access to the ventilation pipes?
Thanks in advance
We have just finished the shell construction (still without the floor buildup). Somehow, our architect failed to include the pipes for the mechanical ventilation system within the concrete ceiling, as we had originally wanted.
Now, our construction company has suggested installing a suspended ceiling and running the pipes underneath it. This would also make it easier to access the pipes if one were to break. However, we are not very keen on having a suspended ceiling.
As an alternative, the ventilation pipes could be installed within the floor buildup, directly alongside the underfloor heating, but this still needs to be discussed with the heating engineer.
What do you think would be the better option? How important is it to have access to the ventilation pipes?
Thanks in advance
As far as I understand, the ventilation ducts in our house are installed into the screed of the upper floor. Whether that’s good or bad: when it comes to technical details, I tend to stay quiet (blonde moment) and trust the people who install this every week.
Honestly, I don’t know why I would have to deal with it (except for the filters)... I also no longer touch the underfloor heating. Well protected, I would say.
Honestly, I don’t know why I would have to deal with it (except for the filters)... I also no longer touch the underfloor heating. Well protected, I would say.
Hello,
installing the ventilation ductwork would have been most practical within the concrete ceiling.
Now I plan to install the system using oval/flat duct sections directly onto the concrete ceiling below the screed layer.
I would not install a suspended ceiling solely because of the ventilation system, which also saves the cost of an expensive suspended ceiling.
installing the ventilation ductwork would have been most practical within the concrete ceiling.
Now I plan to install the system using oval/flat duct sections directly onto the concrete ceiling below the screed layer.
I would not install a suspended ceiling solely because of the ventilation system, which also saves the cost of an expensive suspended ceiling.
Hello and thank you very much for the information.
In the meantime, I have spoken with a few ventilation installation companies, and indeed, installing the system in the concrete ceiling would have been the most practical option. Most now recommend installation within the floor structure using flat ducts. However, with only 10cm (4 inches) of floor buildup, there is hardly any space left for airflow.
I have thought of another alternative that I would like to discuss:
Since the house has only 1.5 stories, I would route the air outlets on the ground floor through the basement, and the air outlets on the upper floor through the attic.
This means the ventilation unit would be located in the basement (or in the attic), and the connection between the basement and attic would be made using a service shaft.
Ductwork would run visibly under the basement ceiling. The air outlets into the rooms on the ground floor would be routed through openings made by core drilling.
From the attic, the rooms on the upper floor can be ventilated. Here, core drilling isn’t even necessary because the ceiling is made of wood.
This way, there is no need to lower the ceiling (the basement is non-living storage anyway) or to interfere with the floor buildup.
What do you think?
In the meantime, I have spoken with a few ventilation installation companies, and indeed, installing the system in the concrete ceiling would have been the most practical option. Most now recommend installation within the floor structure using flat ducts. However, with only 10cm (4 inches) of floor buildup, there is hardly any space left for airflow.
I have thought of another alternative that I would like to discuss:
Since the house has only 1.5 stories, I would route the air outlets on the ground floor through the basement, and the air outlets on the upper floor through the attic.
This means the ventilation unit would be located in the basement (or in the attic), and the connection between the basement and attic would be made using a service shaft.
Ductwork would run visibly under the basement ceiling. The air outlets into the rooms on the ground floor would be routed through openings made by core drilling.
From the attic, the rooms on the upper floor can be ventilated. Here, core drilling isn’t even necessary because the ceiling is made of wood.
This way, there is no need to lower the ceiling (the basement is non-living storage anyway) or to interfere with the floor buildup.
What do you think?
Similar topics