Ensuring Safe & Compliant Car Parks: The Crucial Role of CO Extraction and CFD
Operating safe and compliant car parks requires meticulous attention to air quality, particularly concerning 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗱𝗲 (𝗖𝗢) 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀. Elevated CO can pose significant health risks to users and staff.
𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦:
Both national and international regulations set strict limits for CO concentrations and dictate the required air changes per hour (ACH) in car park environments. These standards are in place to safeguard public health and ensure operational safety. While specific values can vary by jurisdiction, common benchmarks focus on maintaining CO levels well below hazardous thresholds and ensuring sufficient air circulation.
While I cannot provide an exhaustive list for every country, here are 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗥𝗔𝗘 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 (𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗶𝗿-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀):
𝙰̲𝚂̲𝙷̲𝚁̲𝙰̲𝙴̲ ̲𝚂̲𝚝̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚍̲𝚊̲𝚛̲𝚍̲ ̲𝟷̲𝟻̲:̲ ̲𝚂̲𝚊̲𝚏̲𝚎̲𝚝̲𝚢̲ ̲𝚂̲𝚝̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚍̲𝚊̲𝚛̲𝚍̲ ̲𝚏̲𝚘̲𝚛̲ ̲𝚁̲𝚎̲𝚏̲𝚛̲𝚒̲𝚐̲𝚎̲𝚛̲𝚊̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲ ̲𝚂̲𝚢̲𝚜̲𝚝̲𝚎̲𝚖̲𝚜̲: While primarily for refrigeration, it often touches upon ventilation requirements in spaces containing equipment that could impact air quality.
𝙰̲𝚂̲𝙷̲𝚁̲𝙰̲𝙴̲ ̲𝚂̲𝚝̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚍̲𝚊̲𝚛̲𝚍̲ ̲𝟼̲𝟸̲.̲𝟷̲:̲ ̲𝚅̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚕̲𝚊̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲ ̲𝚏̲𝚘̲𝚛̲ ̲𝙰̲𝚌̲𝚌̲𝚎̲𝚙̲𝚝̲𝚊̲𝚋̲𝚕̲𝚎̲ ̲𝙸̲𝚗̲𝚍̲𝚘̲𝚘̲𝚛̲ ̲𝙰̲𝚒̲𝚛̲ ̲𝚀̲𝚞̲𝚊̲𝚕̲𝚒̲𝚝̲𝚢̲: This is a highly influential standard for general ventilation design and often provides guidance on minimum ventilation rates for various occupancy types, including parking garages. It sets criteria for both exhaust and supply air.
𝗖𝗜𝗕𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 (𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 – 𝗨𝗞):
𝙲̲𝙸̲𝙱̲𝚂̲𝙴̲ ̲𝙶̲𝚞̲𝚒̲𝚍̲𝚎̲ ̲𝙱̲:̲ ̲𝚅̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚕̲𝚊̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲ ̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚍̲ ̲𝙰̲𝚒̲𝚛̲ ̲𝙲̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚍̲𝚒̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚒̲𝚗̲𝚐̲: This comprehensive guide provides detailed recommendations for ventilation design in various building types, including multi-storey car parks. It often specifies CO monitoring and demand-controlled ventilation strategies.
𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 (𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀):
𝙴̲𝙽̲ ̲𝟷̲𝟹̲𝟽̲𝟽̲𝟿̲:̲ ̲𝚅̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚕̲𝚊̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲ ̲𝚏̲𝚘̲𝚛̲ ̲𝚗̲𝚘̲𝚗̲–̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚜̲𝚒̲𝚍̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚊̲𝚕̲ ̲𝚋̲𝚞̲𝚒̲𝚕̲𝚍̲𝚒̲𝚗̲𝚐̲𝚜̲ ̲–̲ ̲𝙿̲𝚎̲𝚛̲𝚏̲𝚘̲𝚛̲𝚖̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚌̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚚̲𝚞̲𝚒̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚖̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲𝚜̲ ̲𝚏̲𝚘̲𝚛̲ ̲𝚟̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚕̲𝚊̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲ ̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚍̲ ̲𝚊̲𝚒̲𝚛̲ ̲𝚌̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚍̲𝚒̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚒̲𝚗̲𝚐̲ ̲𝚜̲𝚢̲𝚜̲𝚝̲𝚎̲𝚖̲𝚜̲ ̲(̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚍̲ ̲𝚝̲𝚑̲𝚎̲𝚒̲𝚛̲ ̲𝚌̲𝚘̲𝚖̲𝚙̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲𝚜̲)̲: This standard provides guidance on ventilation for comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. It often refers to other standards for specific pollutant control.
𝚂̲𝚙̲𝚎̲𝚌̲𝚒̲𝚏̲𝚒̲𝚌̲ ̲𝚗̲𝚊̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚊̲𝚕̲ ̲𝚜̲𝚝̲𝚊̲𝚗̲𝚍̲𝚊̲𝚛̲𝚍̲𝚜̲ ̲𝚍̲𝚎̲𝚛̲𝚒̲𝚟̲𝚎̲𝚍̲ ̲𝚏̲𝚛̲𝚘̲𝚖̲ ̲𝙴̲𝚞̲𝚛̲𝚘̲𝚙̲𝚎̲𝚊̲𝚗̲ ̲𝚍̲𝚒̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚌̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚟̲𝚎̲𝚜̲: Many European countries transpose EU directives into their own national legislation.
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗢 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗖𝗛:
𝙲̲𝙾̲ ̲𝙻̲𝚒̲𝚖̲𝚒̲𝚝̲𝚜̲: A very common benchmark is to keep CO levels below 25 ppm (parts per million) for an 8-hour average and below 35 ppm for any 15-minute period. However, these can be lower in some regulations. Always check your local codes.
𝙰̲𝙲̲𝙷̲ ̲𝚁̲𝚎̲𝚚̲𝚞̲𝚒̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚖̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲𝚜̲: This is where it gets highly variable.
Some codes might specify a fixed ACH rate (e.g., 4-6 ACH for general ventilation, potentially higher during peak usage or based on traffic density).
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘍𝘋 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
Evaluating and optimizing car park ventilation systems to meet these stringent requirements can be complex. This is where Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis becomes invaluable. By simulating airflow patterns, contaminant dispersion, and temperature distribution within the car park, CFD allows us to:
- Accurately assess ventilation effectiveness: Visualize how air moves and where CO might accumulate.
- Predict CO concentrations: Understand potential peak levels under various traffic conditions.
- Optimize fan placement and performance: Identify the most efficient locations and capacities for supply and extraction fans.
- Validate compliance: Ensure the ventilation strategy meets regulatory ACH and CO limits across the entire space.
𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘍𝘖𝘈𝘔 𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘏𝘗𝘊:
The results showcased in the accompanying GIF demonstrate the power of parametric studies in understanding ventilation performance.
These simulations were 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗙𝗢𝗔𝗠, a leading open-source CFD toolbox, 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗛𝗣𝗖 (https://cloudhpc.cloud). This powerful combination allowed for a comprehensive 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺, 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘴. The GIF visually represents how different ventilation strategies impact CO dispersion and concentration within a car park environment.
CloudHPC is a HPC provider to run engineering simulations on the cloud. CloudHPC provides from 1 to 224 vCPUs for each process in several configuration of HPC infrastructure - both multi-thread and multi-core. Current software ranges includes several CAE, CFD, FEA, FEM software among which OpenFOAM, FDS, Blender and several others.
New users benefit of a FREE trial of 300 vCPU/Hours to be used on the platform in order to test the platform, all each features and verify if it is suitable for their needs
