How can you design a place of worship ventilation system for optimal indoor air quality?

Architecturally speaking In hot climates when designing consider to -provide higher ceilings -provide clerestory operable panels -provide cross ventilation . - make sure the mechanical ventilation system can handle the sudden occupancy of the hot bodies into the space . In colder climates in Design consider -lower ceiling heights or vaulted ceiling . - circulate the hot air at the top by providing fresh air at the top and ventilating air from the bottom of the spaces to assist the mechanical system in providing comfort zone temperature in shorter time .

The existing conditions are the foundation of starting any form of design, the climatic conditions will allow you to understand the latent percentage of the air and hence address that later on when selecting the ventilation system and fresh air quantity being supplied to the worship place. This will diminish any possibility of causing the place to be too humid that could harm occupants’ comfort level. A metering system could be studied to discover any leakages or flaws. An occupant comfort survey could also be conducted to help understand occupant needs that can be addresses through this renovation.

To design a ventilation system for a place of worship, it is important to assess the existing conditions of indoor air quality (IAQ). This evaluation can be done by utilizing tools like IAQ monitors, carbon dioxide sensors, and air flow meters. These devices measure pollutant levels, humidity, temperature, and ventilation rates within the building. Additionally, it is crucial to inspect the current ventilation system for any leaks, blockages, or damages that may impact its effectiveness. By analyzing the collected data and observations, you can identify the primary sources of indoor air pollution and determine the areas that require improvement.

This is a place of worship, it must be well-ventilated and willing to occupy a high capacity of people at once even in warmer weather. With that in mind you need to test the weather flow, can it withstand all the breathing at once, the heat? what kind of activities are carried inside, etc. Based on that you know what to look for and focus on. Check the air flow and any blockages, is the ventilation natural or electrically powered? if electrically powered, check the technology of the ventilation system, its status,etc

Need to understand the occupancy levels and the size and layout of the worship space. Later conduct a thorough analysis to determine the air exchange rate required for maintaining acceptable IAQ based on the occupancy.

Consider the following ventilation methods for your place of worship: Natural Ventilation: Uses natural forces like wind and buoyancy for airflow through openings. Mechanical Ventilation: Utilizes fans, ducts, and filters to supply fresh air and exhaust stale air. Hybrid Ventilation: Combines natural and mechanical methods for a balanced approach.

Choosing the right ventilation method is a vital step in the overall design for any application; Regarding places of worship, you can expect the occupancy to spike during prayer times or holy days, however, it’s expected to be somewhat occupied throughout the whole day. In this case, the design needs to lean on an accredited standard such as ASHRAE to determine metrics such as fresh air requirement per person based on “prayer area/place of worship” application. Based on that, it can be decided whether a natural ventilation system would help satisfy that or a mechanical or hybrid system is to be installed. This ensures occupant satisfaction and thermal comfort.

There is a lot to consider when choosing your ventilation method. Choose the hardest situations, that is when the venue is most occupied in the worst conditions outside. It matters where you are, for example in African countries, heat is a major issue and you will need to consider how the ventilation can cool the place, reduce humidity and make the weather pleasant in the hottest summer days. While if the venue is in Europe for example you need to consider the coldest days and rain tolerance. How to keep the place warm and cosy, make sure rain drainage is suitable, make sure ventilation ducts don't get blocked by ice, etc.

Explore advanced air purification technologies such as UV-C light or bipolar ionization to neutralize pathogens and improve air quality.

Before the invention of mechanical heating and cooling devices, heating and cooling was passive The methods are exclusively adopted to achieve the required thermal comfort in residential homes. Today, mechanically operated active appliances ensure indoor comfort but are highly dependent on energy entrance. This is evidenced by the total energy consumption distributed among economic sectors Residential buildings consume about 78% while industrial and other buildings consume less energy The remaining percentage is 22% (Ezema, Olotuah & Fagbenle, 2016). When passive cooling occurs, we talk about the technologies and strategies that enable it Which would bring about a positive change in the thermal performance of the building.

To design for adequate ventilation rates in your place of worship: Determine appropriate ventilation rate following guidelines from reputable sources like ASHRAE, EPA, or WHO. Avoid excessively high or low rates to prevent energy waste, discomfort, or noise issues. Consider occupancy, building size, and specific activities. Consult HVAC professionals for expert guidance.

One of the most important things in places of worship is that they need to be cosy and sirene so that people can connect spiritually and carry out their activities in peace. The ventilation rate is important to consider to make sure the people are not too warm or too cold. Also, noise is a critical factor, imagine listening to the prayers with the background humming noise of a compressor!

Air cleaning devices are important to make sure the air quality remains consistent and pleasant. The choice will be highly influenced by the venue size and the possible funding. Since places of worship are usually mainly funded by charity activities, it is important to choose options that are convenient, affordable and with minimal maintenance.

To enhance indoor air quality (IAQ) in your place of worship, consider incorporating air cleaning devices. These devices can be categorized as passive or active. Passive Devices: These devices use filters, screens, or media to trap or capture pollutants. Examples include air purifiers, which remove particles and allergens from the air. Active Devices: These devices employ chemical, physical, or biological processes to destroy or transform pollutants. UV lamps can neutralize airborne microorganisms, while ionizers release charged particles to attract and remove pollutants.

Air quality is not a one-size-fits-all use case. A crowded meeting room, a school class, a medical waiting room where the cross contamination from virus and bacteria is high raises a different challenge from an hairdresser where VOCs are a threat for employees and customers. A protocol, integrating different solutions that address different issues in different indoor spaces, would be the best strategy. For example a combination of safe on the skin UVCs and nature based air purifiers - named Pure Air Zone - is the ideal balance for the average office. The good news is that the rise of As-A-Service models is lowering the barriers to adoption of such solutions and making it accessible for companies of all sizes.

A key value to look at when designing ventilation equipment is the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) of the filter or filters. Higher MERV values (we typically do 13 and above for higher air quality) mean higher air quality, but that can bring up these two issues: 1. Higher cost of filters: A way to decrease the affect of this is to have a lower MERV (6-8) pre-filter on your air handlers. This significantly reduces the large particles that reach the better filter and increases the life of the more expensive filter. 2. Higher energy cost to push the air through the filters: One way to reduce this effect is to use an electric filter that uses static electricity to capture the particles. These often have lower pressure drops.

To maintain optimal indoor air quality (IAQ) in your place of worship: Regularly inspect the ventilation system for wear, malfunctions, and contamination. Clean or replace filters, ducts, and vents as needed. Utilize IAQ sensors to monitor air quality and make necessary adjustments. Schedule professional maintenance to address complex issues. By following these steps, you can ensure a healthy and comfortable environment for your congregation.

Anything without maintenance goes into ruins. Since places of worship are sacred and always filled, we need to keep the maintenance as regular as possible to avoid any discomfort or system failure during worship periods.

Consider what activities are carried out in the venue for example will there be weddings? sometimes such events have fireworks, etc this will have an impact on the indoor air quality. Will there be physical activities carried out in the venue? all this can vary the needs required from the ventilation system, hence impacting your choice. Will there be candles? consider the air quality and safety too.

Keeping Indoor Air Quality high starts during construction. Construction activities often produce a lot of dust and other contaminants, and these can end up in the air distribution system. Consider having the mechanical engineer for your project include in the specifications that the contractor must clean out the duct system before project turnover. Religious buildings can often have very high quality of finishes, including fine wood and other materials. We have found that during the installation of such finishes the building needs to be carefully conditioned, which presents the opportunity for even more contaminants. To prevent this we require return grilles to be covered and any air systems to only run at 100% outside air.