Wall vents in every room

Sparkobrien77

Lads just wondering if any of ye could update me with the current regs for room vents, I’ve recently moved into a house and there is vents in every room which there is a constant draft through,thus the house is frozen ? In a new build these days what is the norm ? Could I block these up and maybe install the vents in the windows as I’m getting new windows installed soon , any help would be appreciated

Metric Tensor

Vent required in every habitable room.

The way around it is to install MHRV - which many new houses now have but retrofitting it is close to impossible without serious cost.

Window vents will not be enough.

In (well built) modern houses with very few draughts proper ventilation is more important than ever.

P.S. Edit to say if there is that much cold air coming through the house it's not the vents that are at fault - there are air leaks elsewhere - around windows, doors, ceiling lights, skirting, etc. Find these and seal them up and you probably won't have to worry too much about the vents. When you are installing new windows is the ideal time

Visconti

Sparkobrien77 wrote: »

Lads just wondering if any of ye could update me with the current regs for room vents, I’ve recently moved into a house and there is vents in every room which there is a constant draft through,thus the house is frozen ? In a new build these days what is the norm ? Could I block these up and maybe install the vents in the windows as I’m getting new windows installed soon , any help would be appreciated

You can retrofit closable vents on all rooms it will get rid of a lot of draft but not all. You cant close them up, window vents wont suffice.

dathi

Visconti wrote: »

You can retrofit closable vents on all rooms it will get rid of a lot of draft but not all. You cant close them up, window vents wont suffice.

you can not put a close-able vent in a room with a fire place or stove, it must be permanently open to comply with part J of building regs

Lumen

dathi wrote: »

you can not put a close-able vent in a room with a fire place or stove, it must be permanently open to comply with part J of building regs

Unless the stove is room-sealed. Which is a good idea anyway for air quality reasons (i.e. wanting to avoid lung cancer).

Metric Tensor

I was under the impression that the vents could not be closable regardless of what room they are in. Must check that out.

sydthebeat

Metric Tensor wrote: »

I was under the impression that the vents could not be closable regardless of what room they are in. Must check that out.

thats one of my major gripes with the ventilation regs.

they require so much ventilation, but then say shure, you can just close them up thus negating the benefit from them...


its idiocy

dathi

Lumen wrote: »

Unless the stove is room-sealed. Which is a good idea anyway for air quality reasons (i.e. wanting to avoid lung cancer).

Room sealed appliance: appliance
whose combustion system is sealed from
the room in which the appliance is
located

depends on your interpretation of the above a gas or oil boiler combustion system is sealed from the room as you have to dismantle the boiler to access the flame where as a stove requires you to open the "combustion system" ie. the door to put more fuel in it while the fire is burning. so it is not room sealed

Metric Tensor

In this context a room sealed appliance means one that draws its combustion air from outside rather than from the room in which it is located.

It is still possible to open the door of the stove to add fuel provided once you close the door there is no air exchange with the room.