SEPP 65 - Apartment Design Guide

04 I Building4Q Natural ventilationNatural ventilation is the movement of sufficient volumesof fresh air through an apartment to create a comfortableindoor environment. Sustainable design practiceincorporates natural ventilation by responding to the localclimate and reduce the need for mechanical ventilation andair conditioning. To achieve adequate natural ventilation,apartment design must address the orientation of thebuilding, the configuration of apartments and the externalbuilding envelope.Xceilingheightvery goodX2X2.5Xgood OK poor3XNatural cross ventilation is achieved by apartments havingmore than one aspect allowing air to be drawn throughthe apartment using opposing air pressures, rather thanrelying on purely wind driven air. Apartment layout andbuilding depth have a close relationship with the ability ofan apartment to be naturally ventilated. Generally as thebuilding gets deeper, effective airflow reduces.Figure 4Q.1 The depth of a single aspect apartment relative to the ceilingheight directly influences the quality of natural ventilation anddaylight accessFigure 4Q.2 Prevailing winds vary for different locations and depend on local conditions. For coastal areas in NSW, cooling sea breezes in summer tend to comefrom a north-easterly direction112 DRAFT | Apartment Design Guide I September 2014