In this case, the ventilation system is based on two natural means of driving the air flow through planned openings (vents) and unplanned ones (air infiltration):

In Ireland, the air movement resulting from the stack effect is limited due to our relatively mild climate and wind would be the main natural ventilation driver.

The most common approach to natural ventilation in Ireland is to provide a series of vents (through the wall or trickle vents on windows, referred to as background ventilators) and mechanical extract fans in the ‘wet’ rooms (kitchen, bathroom, toilets, utility, etc.). While extract fans are used intermittently to deal with water vapour, smells, etc., it is assumed that the air movement through the vents will provide good cross-ventilation and air renewal throughout the house (see graph below for illustration).

Building Regulations in Ireland and the UK specify a minimum area for background ventilators in different rooms and minimum rates of extraction in wet rooms for the application of natural ventilation, as illustrated in the graph above. It also requires various levels of window opening for purge ventilation.

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