Roof Void Ventilation

Airtrak assists specifiers builders and specialist contractors in helping them to meet the requirements of the building regulations in relation to the important issue of roof void ventilation and the control of condensation.

Roof void ventilation.

Before we explore how to ventilate an attic space it is prudent to understand how much ventilation is needed. Inadequate venting causes moisture and heat to get trapped in your attic. Ventilation can be accomplished using various products and techniques. In cold climates snow can enter the soffit and ridge vents melt and potentially cause rot.

What is less straightforward is the ventilation of the roof void above. Beyond the decreased capacity for insulation when venting the roof deck venting the roof deck or the attic has some other drawbacks worth considering. To be sure your roof is getting enough ventilation there are simple calculations that you can follow. Duo pitch roofs greater than 200 pitch or greater than 10m span should have additional ventilation at the ridge to assist airflow through the roof void equivalent to at least a 3 mm wide continuous gap.

Water vapour can pass through most building materials and will permeate the roof space through plasterboard ceilings service holes downlight fittings and loft hatches etc. The outside air that s taken in disperses through higher parts of the roof. Condensation encourages rot and mould growth. Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca.

Airtrak roof void ventilation system airtrak is a proprietary range of ventilators designed specifically for the ventilation of roof voids. Roof voids must be ventilated in order to stop warm air condensing on cold surfaces.