This paper outlines the development of guidelines for the design and installation of ventilation systems installed in energy efficient homes constructed under the R-2000 Home Program of Energy, Mines and Resources Canada. The guidelines represent one of the first initiatives to develop comprehensive requirements for the design and installation of mechanical ventilation systems for residential buildings in Canada. The guidelines outline requirements for a continuous supply of ventilation air to dilute and therefore control contaminants produced from dispersed sources in a home (e.g.
This article presents a brief description of the types of mechanical ventilation systems commonly installed for houses, and the effect of the operation of such a system on the house pressure and the performance of other appliances. It also presents a method for determining the air flow rate of the mechanical ventilation system required for winter operation, which takes advantage of the increased air infiltration in winter, and some guidelines for distributing the ventilation air effectively.