# Indoor Environment Quality 2.1 Ventilation - Natural - Apartments
# Applies to
Multi-unit development (Apartments, aged care and hotels)
# Objective
To provide fresh air and passive cooling opportunities.
# Summary
Points are awarded where >60% of dwellings are effectively naturally ventilated. Additional points are awarded where 100% of dwellings are naturally ventilated. To qualify, living areas and bedrooms must meet the rules for either cross ventilation or single-sided ventilation, as follows:
Cross ventilation
- A breeze path between 2 ventilation openings either within the room or from one room to another.
- Breeze path length less than 15m measured between ventilation openings and around internal walls, obstructions & partitions.
- Ventilation openings located either in opposite or adjacent external walls or an external wall and an operable skylight.
- Size of ventilation openings greater than 2% of total floor area or 1m2, whichever is greater. The opening is the maximum allowable clear open area for the window. ie if floor area of room is 55m² then clear open area of window / door must be at least 1.1m²
- No more than 1 doorway or opening <2m² between the ventilation openings.
- Where the breeze path travels through an internal door, that door must be provided with door catches.
- If on adjacent walls, ventilation openings must be at least 3m apart at their closest point. This is to ensure the space has reasonable ventilation throughout and not just in one corner.
- If relying on a courtyard adjacent to a ventilation opening the courtyard must have a minimum depth of 3m from the window or be a minimum size of 9m2
Single-sided ventilation
- Maximum permissible depth of room 5m.
- Separated openings high and low or split across the width of the room/facade, each 5% of the floor area are preferred.
Mechanically Assisted Natural Ventilation
- Delivering fresh air rates of between 2.5 - 5 L/s/m2 (results should be supported by calculations)
# Documentation & evidence required
- Floorplans with compliant dwellings marked, or a list of dwellings that comply.