Natural ventilation of buildings

Reports model scale experiments to investigate the validity of digital analogue methods of predicting natural ventilation. Finds calculated ventilation rates up to 30% higher than observed model ventilation rates. Shows differences between observed and computed results caused by operating efficiency of ventilation openings being less than calibrated efficiencies. Corrected ventilation rates, allowing for changes in efficiency due to pressure fluctuations and lateral air flows over model surfaces showed close agreement with observed results. Discusses current methodologies for predicting infiltration and natural ventilation rates and suggests alternative methods of predicting infiltration heat losses and likely ventilation rates.