Shelter VentilationHow Exhaust Works in a Fiberglass Building
One element of customization required by every fiberglass shelter we manufacture is ventilation. Ventilation improves interior air quality by introducing outside air and keeping the air within the shelter moving.
Ventilation Helps to Prevent
- Interior Air Stagnation
- Unpleasant Smells
- Excessive Moisture
- Dangerous Gas Build-Up
Ventilation Helps
- Control the Temperature
- Replenish Oxygen
- Remove Moisture
- Introduce Clean Air
Natural or Mechanical Ventilation
There are two main types of ventilation, natural and mechanical. Natural ventilation utilizes forces of nature like wind and temperature to supply and remove air from a space while mechanical ventilation utilizes fans, HVAC systems or other equipment to help control the environment.
NATURAL VENTILATION
As stated above, natural ventilation utilizes forces of nature like wind and temperature to supply and remove air from a space. Its obvious benefits are that it typically requires no ongoing costs to operate and limited initial investment. However, natural ventilation does not provide a consistent environment inside or do much to align the temperature and humidity to the conditions outside the shelter.
- Bouyancy-driven Ventilation - This is a type of natural ventilation that relies on differences in temperature and air density within the shelter to push warm air up and out through a higher level vent.
- Wind-driven Ventilation - Uses natural breezes to encourage air circulation. When positioned correctly and used in conjunction with one another they create a natural cross flow of air causing the air to circulate.
Windows, vents, doors and wind turbines are all options available from Shelter Works that aid this processes.
MECHANICAL VENTILATION
Mechanical ventilation is a more reliable way to ventilate a shelter when you need consistent results. It uses fans, air conditioners and heaters to force the air to circulate, remove moisture and regulate interior temperature. Mechanical ventilation does have a higher initial cost as well as the higher operating and maintenance costs associated with the equipment.
COMBINATION
In most cases a mixed mode balance of both natural and mechanical ventilation can achieve the desired results you need when protecting your critical field equipment.