Lu Aye & Fuller, RJ 2006 ‘The Ventilation System in the CH2 Building’ Report to Melbourne City Council, Melbourne, pp. 1-20.

Summary

The following is a summary of the principles of ventilation explored in paper 4, addressing the relationship between air handling in Council House Two (CH2) and air pollutants in a city environment. In the last 10-15 years, our understanding of ventilation requirements in commercial buildings has been significantly revised. Studies of office buildings fitted with conventional HVAC systems have shown that energyintensive space conditioning equipment and sophisticated control systems do not necessarily provide healthy working environments. Studies of buildings with higher ventilation rates, however, have shown reductions in short-term absence of staff. Links between health, productivity and increased fresh air use have been established by certain research projects, and this underpins the ventilation philosophy adopted for CH2. CH2 also aims to demonstrate how natural forces can assist to ventilate a building. The result should be a substantial reduction in energy requirements, and an improvement in occupant health and productivity.

Keywords: Office buildings; indoor air quality; ventilation; productivity.