TSA Technical Series: Interzonal Air Flow in High-Rise MURBs

When designing buildings, a lot of attention is paid to the overall air tightness of the envelope, separating interior from exterior conditions. However, interzonal airflow—the movement of air between different distinct zones, rooms or suites—is also an important phenomena which is far less studied and purposely controlled, despite its impacts on indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, thermal comfort, odour transfer, and even fire safety. Having a good handle on interzonal airflow and how to control it can help us design buildings that are more comfortable, healthier, and energy efficient, particularly in high-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs).

Join us and Marianne Touchie, Director of the Building Energy and Indoor Environment Lab at the University of Toronto, as we explore the importance of air flow between households in high-rise residential buildings and the multitude of impacts it has on building performance. Topics covered in this webinar will include:

• How ventilation systems and partition air tightness impact uncontrolled air movement
• How to reduce building energy use and odour transfer via internal airtightness measures
• How to adjust existing ventilation system performance to improve energy use

This is a great opportunity for anyone working on MURBs, whether in the GTA, elsewhere in Ontario, or beyond!

TSA MEMBERS: This event is free for TSA Members using the discount code found in the TSA Bulletin and on your Member Dashboard. Not a member yet? Membership is open to everyone and you can join here (student memberships are free!).

OAA MEMBERS: This lecture is eligible for 1 OAA Structured Learning Hour and meets the OAA criteria for mandatory structured learning hours focused on Climate Action as part of the 2024-2026 Continuing Education cycle. When registering, please include your full name as registered with the OAA to ensure your certificate of participation is credited properly. Please also include an email address you check frequently to ensure you receive our certificate in a timely manner.

Above photo by Kurtis Chen.