This document provides an overview of developments in ventilation and infiltration in buildings from 1973 to the present. It discusses the founding and evolution of key organizations like ASHRAE and REHVA. Major events and research initiatives are outlined for each decade, including the oil crisis in 1973, growing focus on airtightness in the 1980s, and natural ventilation in the 1990s. Recent developments include more stringent building energy codes like the EPBD and progress toward nearly-zero energy buildings. The future brings tremendous challenges to achieve high quality, energy efficient ventilation in new and existing buildings stock. International collaboration will remain important to continue addressing these issues.

1. Where are we today with
ventilation and infiltration
in buildings?
Peter Wouters
Manager INIVE EEIG
AIVC – TightVent - venticool

2. Structure of the presentation

3. Structure of the presentation
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

4. ASHRAE
• ASHRAE was founded in 1894
– Until 1954 it was known as the American Society
of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE)
• In 1954, it changed its name to the American
Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers (ASHAE)

5. REHVA
• Founded in 1963, REHVA, The Federation of
European Heating, Ventilation and Air
Conditioning Associations represents a
network of more than 100 000 engineers
from 26 European countries.

6. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

7. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053
First oil crisis

8. 40 years ago? (…1973…)
• Most countries: limited interest and almost no
knowledge on ventilation, air infiltration and
indoor air quality
• Few countries were ahead: SE, CAN, NL, …
• Start of IEA implementing agreement ECBCS:
Energy conservation in Buildings and
Community Systems
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

9. Indoor Air conferences
• 1978 Indoor Climate, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1981 Indoor Air Pollution, Health and Energy Conservation, Amherst
• 1984 Indoor Air '84, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1987 Indoor Air '87, Berlin, Germany
• 1990 Indoor Air '90, Toronto, Canada
• 1993 Indoor Air '93, Helsinki, Finland
• 1996 Indoor Air '96, Nagoya, Japan
• 1999 Indoor Air '99, Edinburgh, Scotland
• 2002 Indoor Air 2002, Monterey, California
• 2005 Indoor Air 2005, Beijing, China
• 2008 Indoor Air 2008, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 2011 Indoor Air 2011, Austin, Texas
• 2014 Indoor Air 2014, Hong Kong
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

10. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

11. 30 years ago (1983)
• ECBCS AIC (Air Infiltration Centre – Annex 5) running
 Annex 1 had indicated that many questions existed
regarding air infiltration
• Policy in several countries: Built tight!
• Airtightness was research topic in some countries
• IEA annex 8 Occupants’ behaviour
• IEA Annex 18 Demand Controlled Ventilation
• In research and in some countries growing interest for
health and comfort
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

13. Annex 8 Annex 9
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

14. IEA EBC Annex 18
Demand Controlled Ventilation Systems
(1987-1992)
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

15. 1986
AIC became AIVC
The ‘Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre’

16. Healthy buildings conferences
1988 Healthy Buildings '88, Stockholm, Sweden
1991 Healthy Buildings/IAQ'91, Washington, DC
1994 Healthy Buildings '94, Budapest, Hungary
1995 Healthy Buildings '95, Milan, Italy
1997 Healthy Buildings '97, Bethesda, Maryland
2000 Healthy Buildings 2000, Helsinki, Finland
2003 Healthy Buildings 2003, Singapore
2006 Healthy Buildings 2006, Lisbon, Portugal
2009 Healthy Buildings 2009, Syracuse, New York
2012 Healthy Buildings 2012, Brisbane, Australia
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

17. • 1985: Seattle – USA
• 1989: Vancouver – Canada
• 1991: Nice – France
• …
• 2015: Hyderabad - India

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19. Environment
• 1988 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) is formed by UNEP and the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• A conference held in Toronto recommends a
set of political targets to reduce
anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide.
– The conference recommends that by 2005,
industrialized countries should reduce their
carbon dioxide emissions by 20 % compared to
1988 levels.
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

20. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

21. 20 years ago (…1993…)
• European Pascool project
… first time focus on summer comfort control…
• European project NATVENT
… renewed attention for natural ventilation strategies…
• Annex 35 Hybvent
… focus on hybrid ventilation
• ISIAQ created in 1992
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

22. EPIC conferences
in Lyon
(1994 – 2006)
Energy Performance
and Indoor Climate
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

23. Environmental concerns
1997 Parties conclude the Kyoto Protocol in
Kyoto Japan, in which they agree to the broad
outlines of emissions targets.
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

24. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

30. European Roadmap to 2050
(COM(2011)112)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
-100%
-80%
-60%
-40%
-20%
0%
Current policy
Power Sector
Residential & Tertiary
Non CO2 Other Sectors
Industry
Transport
Non CO2 Agriculture
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

31. During last 10 years? (2003 …)
• EPBD (European Energy Performance and
Buildings Directive) (2003)
– Also renewable energies directive and energy
services directive…
• Much broader societal and political support
for firm actions
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

32. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

33. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053
Today (…2013…)
• EPBD recast (2010 – now under implementation)
– Much more stringent – ‘cost-optimal’
– Towards nearly-zero energy buildings
• Millions of airtightness measurements
– Towards systematic testing…
• Concerns about quality of systems and
workmanship
• Systems: interaction of functions and
technologies

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35. Sustainable
development!
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

37. Team work

38. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

39. In 10 years from now? (…2023…)
• All new buildings in Europe should be NZEB
– Will there be a difference between theory and
practice?
– In any case strong driver for energy efficient
ventilation
• Strong focus on renovation existing building
stock
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

40. MaximumallowableE-level Developments today are
TREMENDOUS
and
ALMOST NO
LEARNING CURVE

41. Energetic
quality
Quality of
the system
Quality of
execution
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

42. A tremendous
challenge!
Energetic
quality
Quality of
the system
Quality of
execution
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

43. International collaboration
International conferences
…
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

45. 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

47. 2053…
20131973 2053
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

48. Conclusions
• We come from very far…
• Impressive acceleration in terms of energy
efficiency and indoor climate requirements
• Next 5…10 years will be very challenging and
uncertain
• Are there volunteers for a presentation at the
2053 AIVC conference for an update?
1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023 2033 2043 2053

49. www.tightVent.eu
www.AIVC.org
www.venticool.eu