Tips on Application of Natural Ventilation in Prevalent Buildings in Iran

Methods of using natural ventilation in the architecture of the buildings have been studied. Architectural elements such as: the atrium, the ceiling light aperture, the courtyard, the staircase, dome roof, duct of the installations, and vertical channels of the building such as channel of the elevator are widely used in Iranian buildings. Feasibility of using these elements for natural ventilation has been studied taking into account the relevant standards. Significant results of the study are the sizes of the openings suitable for each case of ventilation.  For the ventilation based on vertical paths such as the installation duct or the atrium, the ratio of the path area to the opening to it should be 0.78 times of the hydraulic diameter of the path. The area of the opening of the room to outdoor should 1.5 times of the opening of the room to the path. For ventilation using the light ceiling aperture the area of the opening to outdoor is independent of building area and should be 1 m2.  In ventilation using duct and staircase the should be an opening on the doom roof with area equal to the area of the duct.