Influence of open windows on the interzone air movement within a semi-detached dwelling.

A multicell air flow computer program is used to determine the influence of 1) open windows and 2) closed internal doors on the ventilation rate of a semi-detached house. The changes in interzone air movement and room air change rates are also examined. Tracer gas field measurements used to validate the multicell program show good agreement with the predicted values. Results show that opening windows can alter significantly, not only the overall ventilation rate of the building, but also the individual air change rates in rooms. The results also show that these rates are also noticeably altered by whether or not the internal doors upstairs are kept open or are shut.