Do you need forced ventilation in the bathroom: rules and procedures for arranging an air exchange system

Musty air in the bathroom and fungus on the walls are all consequences of insufficient air exchange. Breathing stale air or just taking a shower in such a room is not only unpleasant, but also harmful to health. Do you agree? But it is possible to avoid the listed negative phenomena if you equip an effective air exchange system.

And how to do this, we will talk in detail in our article - we will find out whether forced ventilation in the bathroom is needed or it will be enough to use natural ventilation. Let us analyze the regulatory requirements and features of the arrangement of the ventilation system.

Bathroom ventilation requirements

What should be an effective, practical and reliable air exchange system is said in a number of domestic by-laws:

• GOST 30494-2011where it is described what the microclimate in the premises should be;
• SP 60.13330.2012, which sets out the requirements and rules that indicate what ventilation should be.

In addition, air exchange is mentioned in SP 55.13330.2016 and SP 54.13330.2016but they refer to the Code of Practice above.

The listed by-laws state that air exchange is necessary to maintain air quality at the required level.

It will be such if the content of harmful substances does not exceed moderate values. For example, when the amount of carbon dioxide in each cubic meter is not more than 400 cm³. The average is considered to be 400-600 cm³, not comfortable, but acceptable - 600-1000 cm³, and over 1000 cm³ - this is a very low air quality.

At the same time, when organizing air exchange in residential and office premises, including the bathroom, it should be remembered that it should contribute to the creation of comfortable living conditions.

For this, the following must be maintained at the required level:

• air temperature;
• the speed of air movement in the premises;
• air humidity;
• resulting temperature and its local asymmetry.

All these indicators comprehensively characterize the impact on a person of the above indicators, as well as thermal radiation. That is, the temperature in the bathroom should be 24-26 ° C, which is the optimal value. And it is guaranteed not to fall below 18 ° C, since the indicated value is considered the minimum acceptable. In this case, the resulting temperature should be in the range of 23-27 ° C, and the permitted values ​​of its asymmetry are between 17 ° C and 26 ° C.

The relative humidity in the bathrooms is not regulated, but usually hoods are installed there, designed to remove air from the entire private house, apartment outside the building. What affects the characteristics of living quarters. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account that the humidity in the rooms where people are located should be in the range of 30-45% (in summer), and in winter it can reach 60%.

In any of these cases, the air velocity (optimal) should not exceed 0.15 m / s. The acceptable value of the specified parameter is 0.2 m / s.

In this case, significant differences in the above values ​​are unacceptable. For example, living conditions can be considered optimal if the temperature fluctuates within 2 ° С, and acceptable - with sharp changes that do not exceed 3 ° С.

Temperature characteristics should also be similar across the entire height of the room. So, if the differences exceed 2 ° C, then the living conditions cannot be called optimal.

And maintaining all the above characteristics without organizing an effective air exchange system is an impossible procedure.

When is forced ventilation needed?

In the relevant guidance documents, it is said that air exchange in residential and any other premises can be carried out in various ways. Namely, with the help of natural, forced or mixed ventilation.

And what type of air exchange to choose depends on the conditions of a particular room. So, whether a fan is needed or not needed in a particular bathroom depends on the performance and stability of natural ventilation. More precisely, on whether it can provide sufficient air exchange to maintain optimal or at least acceptable conditions.

Proper ventilation should remove at least 25 m³ of air from the bathroom every hour, and at least 90 m³ of air from living quarters and the bathroom. This indicator is relevant if there is an extractor hood in the bathroom, which provides ventilation of the rooms in which the residents are regularly staying and resting.

Moreover, these values ​​are considered to be the minimum possible, and in reality air exchange should often be more efficient and productive. The reason for this is the insufficient quality of the supplied outdoor air. For example, due to the significant amount of carbon dioxide, the amount of which in large cities may well reach 400 cm³, and in small cities - 375 cm³ per cubic meter of air.

As a result, in order to reduce CO₂ to optimal values, a much larger amount of outdoor air may often be needed. For example, to maintain optimal conditions in the bathroom, you may need not a minimum of 25 m³ of air per hour, but up to 150 m³.

But the biggest challenge is that the natural ventilation system is not stable. And if outside the window the air warms up to 15 ° C, then with the windows closed, its effect will become practically zero.

In addition, the effectiveness of natural ventilation is quite difficult to identify - for this you will have to take measurements indoors, and at the moment when the outside air temperature is 5 ° C. In addition, this requires special equipment. Therefore, in most cases, the indicators that it is time to get a fan are fungus or mold in the bathroom (for example, in the joints between tiles, other secluded places) or an unpleasant smell. After all, most negative processes proceed without visible signs and become apparent only at advanced stages.

Another important disadvantage of natural air exchange is the inability to effectively regulate its performance.

In addition, the use of energy efficient windows and doors significantly affects the performance of a traditional system. The tightness of which is disturbed by the natural processes of air exchange.

As a result, it can be pointed out that natural ventilation is structurally reliable, not costly and is able to cope with the functions assigned to it. But with the exception of critical moments caused by the instability of natural air exchange and significant loads when using the bathroom.

Taking into account all these points, an alternative solution is optimal - the use of a mixed ventilation system. It will permanently remove polluted air and moisture naturally, and with significant loads - forcibly, that is, with the help of a fan.

This is more likely to make living conditions comfortable and non-hazardous to health, and at moderate costs.

At the same time, it is not worth using the fan on a permanent basis. Since this significantly increases operating costs, it reduces fire safety.

The procedure for arranging the air exchange system

Ventilation in the bathroom is a responsible procedure. After all, it is necessary to ensure effective air exchange with minimal heat loss. In addition, the system must be safe, especially when a fan will be used. Since it is electric, and in the bathroom there is traditionally high humidity and splashes are present during hygiene procedures.

To take into account all of the above and other points, the creation of any ventilation system should begin with the preparation of a technical task.

Then they move on to the practical part, which consists of 3 stages:

• design;
• mounting;
• performance check.

Let's consider each of the stages of arranging ventilation in more detail

Stage # 1 - drawing up a project

Such a stage as design should not be ignored even when creating a ventilation system in an apartment. And even in one where all the necessary channels and many other structural elements are already provided. Since it is at this stage that it is decided whether the system will be safe and effective.

In addition, it is the design that will make the ventilation system:

• constructively simple, which will ensure reliability, durability;
• easy to maintain, which will enable all the necessary work to be performed by the tenants themselves, and this will reduce operating costs;
• maintainable, which will allow you to quickly and without significant costs to replace the faulty unit, element of the system.

And also the design will eliminate the decrease in the aesthetic qualities of the interior of the room.

In this case, it is advisable to use the fan in tandem with a humidity sensor. Since the presence of this device will effectively influence the air quality and the microclimate in general. And without the participation of tenants and excessive consumption of electricity. We examined in detail about connecting a fan with a humidity sensor. in this article.

In addition, for arranging an efficient air exchange system, it is not enough to know why a modern fan in the bathroom, you also need to have special knowledge that will help to make correct selection of a suitable fan.

For example, the noise level of the device should not exceed 35 dB, since ignoring such a standard threatens with negative health effects. In this case, the electric motor must be protected from splashes. To find a silent fan, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with rating of the best models.

Stage # 2 - installation and connection of the fan

Installation of modern ventilation equipment is a procedure no less responsible than design. The reason is that it is quite difficult to create a project in reality, especially for people who do not have a sufficient supply of skills, experience and equipment. But it depends on the quality of work and punctuality of the performers whether the characteristics of the ventilation system will correspond to the provisions of the project.

The efficiency of the ventilation system can be reduced by cracks, holes, and other changes in the structure that have arisen during poor-quality installation. And also often the wrong selection of components affects the air exchange. For example, when a fan is installed in the system, it will lead to the need to install ventilation valves in metal-plastic windows or walls, which will ensure the flow of outdoor air in optimal quantities.

If at the same time a decision is made to simplify the system or carelessness is shown when choosing a fan and devices to ensure air flow, then you should expect trouble. For example, in the form of reverse thrust and associated costs to eliminate it.

Therefore, it is advisable to trust all work on the modernization of the ventilation system in the bathroom exclusively to specialists and conclude appropriate contracts with them. This is necessary to avoid responsibility for improperly done work, for example, poorly drilled boxes, damaged structures, etc.

To perform the installation itself, a number of operations should be performed:

1. Dismantling the old ventilation grillinstalled on an outlet;
2. Determination of places for drilling holes for screws that secure the fan;
3. Drilling holes, which is done with a hammer drill or hammer drill;
4. The fan is fastened using the screws supplied with the unit.

If there is no power tool, then the fan can be installed using liquid nails or high-quality silicone glue. But for this it is necessary to clean the seat of plaster and other materials that will reduce the quality of work.

The last stage of work on the installation of the specified product is the wiring of electrical wires for connecting to the power supply, which must be hidden in the wall. If this rule is ignored, then the operation of the fan will not be safe enough. And the aesthetic properties of the premises are low.

Since connecting the fan to the electrical network is a laborious and costly procedure, it is advisable to perform it simultaneously with the repair in the bathroom.

If you prefer to independently install and connect a fan in the bathroom, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the popular diagrams and tips for installation.

Stage # 3 - Checking System Health

The performance check should not be ignored under any circumstances, because it will help to detect problems in a timely manner and prevent the onset of negative consequences.

The reason is that it allows you to identify in a timely manner:

• errors and inaccuracies;
• decrease in the safety of living if there is a gas water heater in the bathroom.

Moreover, the most important procedure is to monitor the performance of the ventilation system as a whole.

The ventilation system should be checked not with the attached piece of paper or a lighted match, but using special equipment that makes it possible to determine the effectiveness of the system.

Such diagnostics are especially important when installing a fan and other mechanical devices that significantly affect the change in air exchange. Therefore, specialists should be involved in the performance check.

We talked about the rules for checking the operation of ventilation ducts in our other article.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video below explains how to create a ventilation system:

Air exchange in the bathroom must be efficient. And this can be achieved by using a reliable and inexpensive natural ventilation system with a fan installed in its duct. Which will increase the efficiency and stability of ventilation at critical moments. Since most of the time there is no need for forced air exchange.

Would you like to share your experience with bathroom ventilation systems? Or would you like to supplement the above material with useful information? Ask questions, share experiences, participate in discussions - the feedback form is located below the article.