With the help of this checklist you can easily check whether everything around the ventilation system has been installed correctly.

• Ventilation system:
• Controllability: At least 3 operation modes (‘boost’ +30%, standard, basic -30%)?
  • Are all rooms ventilated, either by means of SUP, ETA or transfer air (also utility rooms, mechanical room itself etc.)?
  • Excessively low relative indoor air humidity (< 30%)? Countermeasures taken?
  • Sound level?
  • Draughts?
• Ventilation unit:
  • Accessibility for maintenance checked?: Filters, condensate pan and drain, heat exchanger, summer bypass
  • Structure-borne sound decoupling of the ventilation unit?
  • Are silencers planned for SUP and ETA, possibly ODA and EHA?
  • Condensate drain with double siphon connected to drain pipe (check slope and filling level of siphons)?
  • Is frost protection temperature for pre-heating set to the point considered in the energy balance calculation (PHPP)?
  • If subject to frost (outside installation): Condensate drain heated and insulated?
  • Intermitted operation: Filter drying before switching off fans possible?
• Filters:
  • ODA filter (at least F7): correctly mounted (check fit and air flow direction)?
  • ETA filter (at least G4): correctly mounted (check fit and air flow direction)?
  • Do “pre-filter” and “grease filter“(kitchen) correctly fit in ETA?
  • Accessibility and maintainability of the filters possible?
• Outdoor air (ODA) and Exhaust air (EHA):
  • ODA intake: Clean air (at least 3 m above ground, air pollution, odour sources)?; Protected from manipulation, rain, snow?
  • Avoid „short-circuiting“ between EHA and ODA (odours, direction of flow, distance)
  • Don’t direct EHA outlets at building assemblies (risk of condensation).
  • Outside wall penetrations: vapour tight? Thermally insulated? Connected to the airtight layer?
  • Unit within thermal envelope: ODA and EHA ducts insulated up to the insulation layer of the thermal envelope with at least 50 mm, thermal bridge free and vapour tight? Short duct length?
  • Unit outside thermal envelope: SUP and ETA ducts insulated up to the thermal envelope with at least 50 mm and thermal bridge free? Short duct length?
  • ODA and EHA valves accessible for cleaning and inspection?
  • Intermitted operation: Airtight ODA and EHA valves installed?
  • ODA and EHA air volume flow calibrated and imbalance lower than 10%? Information to be filled in the commissioning report.
• Supply air (SUP) and extract (ETA) air ducts:
  • Structure-borne sound decoupling of the ventilation ducts?
  • Are supply air heating ducts sufficiently insulated?
  • Are supply air cooling ducts sufficiently insulated and vapour tight?
  • Do the ventilation ducts have a smooth interior surface?
  • Duct system with minimal pressure loss? Duct crossing avoided?
  • Are SUP and ETA ducts equipped with cross-talk silencers?
• Supply (SUP), extract (ETA) and transfer air valves:
  • SUP and ETA air volume flows are adjusted as planned for each room? Information to be filled in the commissioning report.
  • Are the SUP and ETA valves and their adjustment documented? Information to be filled in the commissioning report.
  • Jet nozzles mounted approx. 15 cm below ceiling (from the middle of the jet)?
  • Are the openings for air transfer planned in all designated rooms (e.g. 1.5 cm door gap) (pressure loss of max. 1 Pa, check by measuring the air flow velocity (< 1m/s))?
• Additional components:
  • Kitchen hood planned with recirculation air?
  • Kitchen hood planned with exhaust to outside? Additional supply air flow available? Not recommended for Passive Houses!
  • Safety equipment checked for combined operation with a wood stove (if applicable)?
  • Supply air heating coil tested (max. supply air temperature 52 °C, avoid dust smouldering).
  • Room temperature adjustable independently from SUP air flow rate?
• Fire protection:
  • Fire and smoke safety dampers clean and operation checked?
• Inspection of the subsoil heat exchanger:
  • Check ductwork for leaks (pressure test).
  • Check duct system for sloping (no unwanted basins)?
  • Drainage (condensate) by means of a double siphon.
  • Ensure accessibility (cleaning).

Checklist: Ventilation system for download

Overview of Passipedia articles on ventilation