Ventilation is a necessary process to have an inflow of fresh air and replaces the stale air. Without proper ventilation, the space, residence or any structure for that matter starts developing stagnant air. Infused with bacteria and carbon begins to pollute the indoor air.

We have two kinds of ventilation processes, one is through Natural Ventilation and the other one is through mechanical ventilation. Good ventilation systems have a positive impact on the health and well-being of a person. Indoor air impurities may lead to many health issues like headaches, allergies, asthma, rashes and sinus. This can be avoided by installing a proper ventilation system. Either natural ventilation or mechanical ventilation according to the design.

Under natural ventilation, you make use of the structures like windows and doors present in your home or your workplace. In this process, there is a movement of fresh air from outside to the indoor space through the windows and doors. It refers to the flow of external air to indoor space as a result of natural forces present. The air inside the home has a higher pressure and the outside air has lower pressure when you start the ventilation process. The stagnant air inside your space moves outwards to the lower pressure areas. Thus creating a convection channel for fresh air to pass through.
Therefore, the structures or houses we live in can also be termed as ‘Breathable
structures’ as they tend to exhale the stagnant and harmful air outside and inhales the fresh air from the outside just like any human does. It is a natural process of cleansing the air quality around you. Ventilation is necessary for buildings as it removes the stale air and replaces it with fresh air.

Mechanical ventilation is when a force is created through a technical system, like fans, air conditioners or HVAC systems. HVAC or Heating, Ventilation and Air Condition is an indoor and vehicular technology, providing comfort and acceptable indoor air quality.
This is a system used for moving air between the outdoor to indoor areas, having a system for both heatings and cooling in residential and commercial buildings. It also maintains air quality in our space and where we live. Cleans the indoor air to keep the surroundings clean and maintains an optimum level of humidity. In buildings, the mechanical ventilation process is installed and is managed by the Air Handling Units or AHU. Circulation of internal air and replacing with outside air is the function of an HVAC system.

Ventilation is the most important element of the HVAC System. Influencing the air quality and other properties of the air around our residence, space and structure are regulated by a proper form of the ventilation system.

Why is Ventilating the indoor air a required process?

1. Comfortable indoor environment – Natural and Mechanical ventilation both
regulate the humidity of the air inside the building. Ensuring the perfect amount
of moisture in the air. It lowers the humidity thus keeping the moisture in control.
Proper ventilation systems remove dust mites and other dust particles in the air,
thereby also preventing breathing diseases like asthma or eczema. The
importance of ventilation cannot be emphasised more, it is necessary for us to
breathe in the fresh air and it is good for the body. In buildings or workplace, it is
always required that fresh air is present in the space. As it would increase
productivity and also maintain the health of those breathing in the air. A proper
ventilation system reduces the number of pollutants, bacteria and odours in a
building or space where you live in. HVAC systems provide and maintain
standards of air quality and prevent any more pollutants from increasing.

2. Improving Air quality – Unless you do not have a proper ventilation system
installed in place, the control of air quality will always be lacking. Ensuring a
proper system for ventilation is required for space we live in or buildings where
the workplace is situated. Property owners, architects and interior designers
make sure that the proper ventilation is installed in the building. Good ventilation
keeps the air quality good, when there is an inflow of fresh air from outside, this
circulation envelopes the structure. Keeping the required health and safety
levels. Fresh air is the essence of why we install openings in our home. Where we live, there should always be an inflow of good air. And it is also necessary for the rooms to have an outflow of the stale air sitting inside our home. This convention would bring in healthy air from outside and remove all the unwanted air to the outside.

Like in our kitchens and bathroom, we install exhaust fans that are a ventilation system to eliminate smells and other air pollutants. Ventilation also removes the excess moisture that can make the home stuffy and uncomfortable, encouraging pests growth.

3. Energy efficiency- Ventilation reduces the room temperature by creating a
current of moving air. This current keeps the room temperature at the optimum
level and thereby controlling and being energy efficient. When the room is
packed, the air around us may become warmer and stuffy. When there is a
convention of air inflow, this reduces the room temperature thus aiding in making the room more comfortable and creates a relaxed environment. Also making a more productive workplace and living quarters.

Through natural forces, the air around us remains healthy and fresh thereby allowing a sustainable energy source. Ventilation creates a lighter air and thereby becomes more energy efficient.

4. Reduces Moisture – Moisture in a residential space or workplace may create an uncomfortable atmosphere for you to stay in. Moisture and condensation create moulds, dust mites, and thus making the air inside more polluted and harder to live in. Ventilation system filters the incoming air to make it fresh and safe for us to breathe and live in.

Thus, the importance of ventilation and opening your doors and windows for the fresh air to come in, cannot be over-emphasised. The health factors outweigh all other reasons for proper ventilation but this does not mean that other reasons are not important. Each of us wishes to live in a space where the air is light and not just only feels fresh but is reminiscent of freshness from the outside. The inflow and outflow of air provide a better living quarter or workspace. And this is what the architects and interior designers propose. A healthy living space is transformational, it transforms your mind and body to work more efficiently. Whereas a stale and stagnant air will make it difficult to produce better results.