A STUDY ONVENTILATION REQUIREMENT IN STANDARD

UNIVERSITY LECTURE THEATRE CASE STUDY OF 750 CAPASITY LECTURE THEATRE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AKURE.

BYAKINMABOGUNJE ADENIYI

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SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTFOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY IN

ARCHITECTURE

TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGYFEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE

COURSE LECTURER: PROFESSOR OLU OLA OGUNSOTE

SEPTEMBER 2011

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ABSTRACT

Causes of the sick building syndrome are mainly linked with the trend of making

highly insulated airtight houses, which lowers the amount of natural ventilation

(Iwashita et al., 1997). The key index of indoor air (IA) pollution is the CO2

concentration. If the indoor CO2 level is high, the risk of the sick building syndrome

rises .The degree of contamination of indoor air quality can be evaluated by

measuring CO2 levels. Appropriate room ventilation is necessary to maintain an

appropriate environment for indoor air or to decrease the level of toxic chemical

substances. The aim of this write up is to look at ventilation requirement in

standard university lecture theatre using 750 capacity lecture hall in FUTA as a

case study, And finally, to exclusively propose appropriate solutions to the issue of ventilation in

buildings.

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INTRODUCTION

Ventilation systems heat and cool occupied spaces for thermal comfort and provide outdoor air to

dilute contaminants generated by building occupants and their activities and by building materials

and furnishings. The outdoor air intake rate is determined from building codes and standards.

Designing a space for teaching and learning requires careful planning and organization. It requires

close collaboration between the architect and the engineers. A well designed space with adequate

ventilation is as a result of careful coordination of information gathered from architectural and

engineering disciplines as well as established instructional technology principles. Ventilation is the

replacement of used inside air with outside air and it has three major functions, supply of fresh air

body cooling and structural cooling or heating. Air movement through building can be induced by

the stack effect, wind pressure or mechanical means such as fans. Evaporative coolers, air

conditioners .The factor that affect air flow through buildings are external features and factors,

number and size of openings. Position of opening and components. Air flow around buildings is

determined by the shape, height orientation and planning of buildings ventilation is predicted by

mathematical formulae or with the aid of models. Minimum ventilation standards provide for

supply of fresh air for body cooling and structural cooling

BASIC CONCEPT IN VENTILATION

Ventilation is the replacement of used inside air by outside air. Cross ventilation is

ventilation achieved by placing opening in opposite walls of an enclosure. Natural

ventilation is ventilation achieved without mechanical aids, but by stack effect and wind

pressure. Comfort cooling is the use of air movement for body cooling. Air movement

refers to the circulation of air within a space and is not necessarily associated with

ventilation. Infiltration is un controllable air flow into or through a building especially via

gaps indoors and windows. Ventilation is measured in air changes per hour; ventilation has

three major functions -those of supply of fresh air body cooling and structural

cooling/heating. See table below.

VENTILATION FUNCTION AND REQUIREMENTS.

Function Fresh air Body Structural

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cooling cooling

Required In all occupied buildings

In warm humid conditions

In hot dry conditions

Suitable building

All buildings

Single banked buildings

High internal heat capacity

Adequacy of methods

Stack effect Adequate Not adequate

Adequate

Wind pressure Adequate Good if available

Adequate

Mechanical Not necessary

May be desirable

Not necessary

Change per hour

1 100 10

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

LOCATION

The 750 capacity ETF lecture theatre located in Obanla, FUTA was

commissioned by the President Olusegun Obasanjo on the 4th of December

2004. Since then it has been a major venue for lectures within the school, the

building is located within the Academic core of the Obanla campus of the

Federal University of Technology Akure. It is bounded on the right side by the

SAT Building, on the left by the SEET building, on the rear by the BIG lecture

theatre building, and facing the road that leads to SET building

NB This is achieved taking a cue from the front Elevation.

ARCHTECTURAL DESIGN

The building is designed as a Lecture theatre with a maximum capacity of 750

persons seated. It has a rectangular geometry with the longer side parallel to

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the big LT. On the interior space, a podium is provided at the front of the

theatre for lecture purpose. The theatre is divided into three rows by middle

and two side aisles which provide for easy circulation. There is a 150mm riser

demarcating each pews in the sitting area .These is done so there will not be

any obstruction in the circulation of air and individual will have direct access

to ventilation for. The space has two escape routes at the back of the seating for

access for ventilation and easy evacuation of users in case of emergency.

The area of the ETF is approximately 568.7sq m. with a ceiling height of

7200mm at the lowest floor level and 3600mm at the highest floor level. It is

rectangular with chamfers at the rear corners and at the stage.

THE FLOOR PLAN OF ETF LECTURE THEATRE SHOWING POSITION OF OPENINGS

Arrangements of opening

From the floor plan above it is clear that the air that comes in into the building

are cross ventilated and are placed in such a way that the sitting arrangement

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cannot obstruct the air that comes into the building, another factor that can

influenced this is the height of the building because we need to equate the

capacity of the building with the height of the building so that when the place

is crowded the co2 emitted can have a space to stay before it finally goes out.

ETF interior showing openings and arrangement of furniture

SITE PLAN SHOWING DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT OF AIR THAT HAS EFFECT ON THE BUILDING

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South west trade wind

North east trade wind

THE ORIENTATION AND PLANNING OF THE BUILDI

SIDE VIEW OF THE BUILDING SHOWING ARRANGEMENT OF OPENINGS

SIZE OF OPENING

The size of opening of this building is 1200mmx3000mm and there are five of it on side elevation arranged in ascending order which make a total of 10 number of 1200mmx3000mm opening in the building and are opposite each other, but this size of opening has no significant effect on the amount of air that enters the building because of the choice of window where half of it are fixed which brings it down to 600mmx3000mm opening that air flow can pass through, this can be seen in the picture above.

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FRONT VIEW SHOWING SOME OPENINGS

PICTURE SHOWING CEILING THAT COMPLEMENT THE NATURAL VENTILATION

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OPENING

OPENING

OPENING

OPENING

OPENING

AIR CIRCU

MOVEMENT OFAIR COMING THROUGH THE OPENINGS

CEILING FAN TO COMPLEMENT THE NATURAL VENTILATION

SECTION OF ETF BUILDING SHOWING AIR FLOW THROUGH THE BUILDING

FINDINGS AND DISCUSIONS

Since ventilation is the replacement of indoor air with outdoor air, the

orientation of the lecture theatre was accurate in such a way that the north east

trade wind and the south west trade wind will be able to penetrate the building.

The openings of the lecture hall was directly opposite which provide a cross

ventilation in the building

The height of the building is enough for air circulation within the building

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The arrangement of the opening is functional in such a way that you cannot be

distracted with activities going on outside the buildings

The shape of the building allows easy access of ventilation and easy outlet of

the co2 emitted.

The planning is in such a way that the adjoining buildings cannot disrupts the

air flow into the building because they are in a considerable distance away

from each other

The choice of window in the building cannot provide a good ventilation

compare to the number of user if the building because half of the window are

fixed which do not allow for 100% ventilation in the building.

There is a provision of electric fan to complement the natural ventilation but

this is not adequate compare to the number of intending user.

RECOMMENDATION

Since ventilation can be predicted by mathematical formula or with the aid of

models to provide a minimum ventilation standard, all this are things to be put

into consideration before embarking on a construction of lecture theatre so as

to make the place comfortable for intending users

Ventilation is ventilation achieved by placing openings in opposite wall of the

enclosure, this should not be jeopardized with the choice of window, i.e.

making use of 100% ventilated window.

Natural ventilation should be the priority in designing any lecture hall in this

part of the country because of the epileptic supply of electricity which will

allow for mechanical aid.

The form of the spaces should generally suit the function. There should be

minimal fenestration to walls near or at the front of the theatre so as not to

detract from the main focal point i.e. Lecturer and boards and screens.

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CONCLUSION

The treatment of ventilation is an important issue to be considered in an interior space of every

building. From preliminary design to detailed design stage, ventilation should be considered while

planning the building layout. Idiosyncrasy of the area as pertaining to ventilation should also be

put into consideration. The facilities in the building should also be maintained and replaced when

needed to curb the present challenge in the LT. This report has clearly stated the present situation

at the 750 capacity lecture theatre could be transformed to meet up with its present challenges, so

as to create an ideal environment for learning.

REFERENCES

Clements-Croome DJ, Awbi HB, Bakó-Biró Zs, Kochhar N, Williams M.(2008). Ventilation rates in

schools. Building and Environment;43:362–367.

Griffiths M, Eftekhari M.(2008). Control of CO2 in a naturally ventilated classroom. Energy and

Buildings. 40:556–560

Iwashita G, Sakamoto M, Akasaka H. (1997).Pilot study on the occupancy condition and the time

fluctuation of ventilation rate and indoor air pollution in the housing complex during summer season.

Ogunsote O. O. (1993). An Introduction to building climatology. A Basic course for Architecture

students. Ahmadu Bello University Press, Zaria.

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