The Evolution of Building Ventilation system

In Bangladesh after Independence

Assignment of M.A in Interior Design

Submitted by: Farhana Islam

ID: 172123002

Batch: 05th, Semester: 04th

Session: Summer 2018

Department of Interior Architecture

Shanto - Mariam University of Creative Technology

Course Module: Style & Culture in Interior design

Module Code: DES 604

Submitted to: Ar AFM Mohiuddin Akhand

Introduction: Ventilation plays an imperative role in providing good indoor air quality and thermal comfort
of the occupants. In buildings, it is necessary to remove state air and replace it with fresh air. Ventilation
helps to reduce the accumulation of moisture, odors and other gases that can build up during occupied
periods. It’s usually heightens the indoor air quality, control impurities and safeguard occupants health. The
specific approach and design of Ventilation system is usually based on building type and local climate.
Besides, the demand of energy consumption depends on the economic development of a country as well
as standard of living of the inhabitants. A significant change in the ventilation system has occurred in this
tropical land, especially after the Liberation war in 1971.

Former Ventilation system In Bangladesh: The 70’s era was the most remarkable period for this country.
In the year 1971, the emergence of a new land, “Bangladesh “brings possibilities and prosperities along
with freedom for the citizens of this country. From 1971 till now this country changes drastically and the
living stander changed a lot as well. In previous era in particular, during 70s & 80s the buildings were
basically ventilated naturally. Apart from windows and doors the use of Ventilator grill or mould made of
cement, was the typical practice for air circulation. This practice is still being exercised. Besides, rural areas
and some urban areas as well used to employ air chimneys or wind catchers to outlet the smokes or
contaminants from the kitchens & stores. Besides, apart from ceiling & table fans, the use of air conditioner
and exhaust fans were not that popular till 90’s.

Pic: The process of hot wind outlet through chimney Pic: Traditional ventilator mould

Pic: Traditional ventilation system

Type of Ventilation systems in Bangladesh: The architects and building service engineers are usually
practicing various types of ventilation systems after the liberation war till now .These are, natural ventilation,
mechanical or artificial ventilation, Hybrid or mix ventilation , AHU & HVAC systems.

Generally, the natural ventilation in buildings can be categorized into two types, which consists of, air
pressure ventilation or known as wind force and stack effect ventilation or thermal force. In Bangladesh,
buildings were basically constructed based on the concept of stack effect. It’s also called Buoyancy
ventilation. Stack Ventilation is induced by humidity or temperature. In summer, the warmer indoor air of the
room rises up and allows the lower area of the room to be replaced with cooler air. The warmer air usually
flies away through the perforated surfaces or the ventilator moulds or grills. However, in winter the stack
effect works reverse, but due to lower temperature the difference does not feel that much.

Pic: The process of stake ventilation system in room and the whole building

Typically this system was being practiced till the beginning of 21 st century. The rising popularity and the low
cost of air conditioner, steer the developers and building owners to construct the building with the provision
for air conditioner. Consequently, this system leads to block the perforated surfaces of the building.

Furthermore, urbanization and the ever changing population of Bangladesh increased the demand for more
buildings and housing for shelter. The concept of real estate and construction of high rise buildings in
Bangladesh is emerged after the liberation war. Over the years, the sprawling cities and increased
population caused the climatic change which resulting the inadequate natural ventilation system in the
buildings. Besides floors having common walls or close by three sides are quite difficult to have proper
natural ventilation. That’s why apart from natural ventilation, the need of mechanical ventilation emerges to
provide adequate ventilation in high rise buildings, commercial space & residential apartments in
Bangladesh.

Mechanical ventilation is usually conducted by mechanical fans, ducts, vents etc. Fans can either be
installed directly in windows, walls, and roof or installed in air ducts for supplying air into or exhausting air
from a room. The advantage of mechanical ventilation is that the required interior atmosphere can be
achieved with changing the settings of the system despite the extreme outdoor weather condition. Various
types of Mechanical Ventilations can be used such as, circular system, supply system; vacuumed system &
balanced system etc. Basically in Bangladesh, a circulation system such as a ceiling fan is used by most of
the people. It creates internal air movement but does not introduce any fresh air.

In addition, a typical balanced ventilation system is use in Bangladesh to supply fresh air in common rooms
and corridors. It also exhausts air from rooms where moisture and pollutants are most often generated,
such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and the laundry room. However, this system does not use filters to remove
dust from outside air before introducing it into the house. A hybrid system or mixed mode system is
required when natural ventilation alone is not suitable enough to provide ventilation properly. It extracts
local sources of heat & contaminants and release to the outside. Some significant examples are cooker
hoods, fume cupboards etc. The uses of these mechanical appliances are increasing greatly. The usually
installed where room air can be exhausted directly to the outdoor environment through either a wall or the
roof. The size and number of exhaust fans depends on the targeted ventilation rate.

Pic: The process of balanced ventilation system in rooms’ insight the building Pic: Kitchen Hood
In Bangladesh, air conditioning is often provided by air handling unites (AHU) connected to duct work that
supplies air to and extracts air from internal space. Air handling unites that consist of only a fan and a
heating or cooling element located within the space they are serving. Cooling can be generated either
within the unite itself, or can be provided by connection to central chillers. Again, in commercials, hotels
and other high rise buildings mechanical ventilation includes heating, ventilation and air controlling which is
referred as, HVAC. Usually HVAC controlled by a building management system to maximize occupants
comfort and minimize energy consumption.

Pic: The process of AHU & HVAC System in Buildings

From the last few years in Bangladesh, the people of slam areas start using an Eco air cooler. It is made by
unused plastic bottles of soft drinks and a few pieces of boards, a small sized fan along with electrical
wirings for joining and connection. This perforated eco air cooler just need to fix with the house envelope
through where the air can pass easily. It’s a quite unique and cost effective way for the working class
people to enjoy the fresh & cool air in their compact dwelling.
Pic: ECO Air Cooler and the production process

Nowadays, in Bangladesh, all the commercial & residential buildings furnished with electrical appliances
used for cooling, ventilation and other utilities. The excessive energy consumption creates acute shortage
of energy which leads frequent load shading. Architects are now more concern about green building and to
create provisions to invite natural winds for instance, perforated wall design as a surface envelope is being
practice. In Bangladesh, Architects and other building services engineers taking keen interest to utilize a
passive cooling system in residential & high rise buildings such as, the idea of using wind tower or solar
chimney to reduce the dependency on energy.

Pic: Perforated wall design proper ventilation Pic: The method of solar chimney ventilation

Pic: The method of solar chimney ventilation

Pic: Kutubdia wind turbines,1st wind power project in Bangladesh and Future project plan of wind turbine.

Moreover, to reduce the depletion of natural gas and the rising dependency of energy consumption,
Government of Bangladesh is looking for renewable energy sources to meet up the total power demand in
this country. Wind energy has the potential to provide mechanical energy or electricity without generating
pollutants. Wind is actually another form of solar energy. Wind turbine converts the kinetic energy of wind to
generate electric or mechanical energy .The wind energy began to employ only a few years ago, in some
southern districts of Bangladesh as an electrical energy.