Airflow performance of ventilated sub flooring system

This study analyses the airflow performance of a ventilated sub-flooring system that is only 3 mm thick in laboratory and field conditions and with analytical modelling. Measurements and calculations showing good agreement were allowed to determine resultant equations for the sizing of the systems. It is shown that the design airflow keeps the floor under negative pressure, which prevents the penetration of odours and other contamination leakage to indoors. The design recommendations for ventilated sub-flooring systems are given. In the field study, the performance of the wall application of the system was shown. A quality assurance method was developed to ensure the required airflow in the ventilated sub-flooring system. Possible air leakages of the system can be found with a smoke detector and by real air-intake flow measurements to the floor made with an electronic soap film calibrator.