In-situ performance of a pressurized corridor ventilation system: A long-term study in a high-rise multi-unit residential building

Pressurized corridor (PC) ventilation systems are commonly used in multi-unit residential build-ings (MURBs) to deliver make-up air to individual suites, and as a means of controlling inter-zonal odour/pollutant transfer. Previous studies have found that PC systems are highly influ-enced by occupant behaviours, as well as climate variables, such as exterior temperature and wind.This paper summarizes the results from a six-month field study in a 17-storey Toronto MURB, which measured corridor-to-suite and exterior-to-suite differential pressures, window/door oper-ation, and interior/exterior temperature and relative humidity, to assess the relative impact of these variables on PC system performance in a newly constructed building. Exhaust fan operation patterns were deduced from suite differential pressure data. System performance was highly de-pendent on occupant behaviours, including fan and window/door operation. The pressures in-duced by these behaviours often far exceeded those generated by the PC system. Corridor-to-suite differential pressure trends (and the underlying causes) are discussed.