The stack effect is the movement of warm air up a building, creating pressure differences and increasing heating and cooling costs. It can be controlled by insulation, window screens, and climate control. In tall buildings, it can be unavoidable, but can be managed with thoughtful design. For houses, it can be fixed with better maintenance and design.
The stack effect is the tendency for warm air to travel up a building, driving circulation and creating pressure differentials. It is determined by differences in air density and must be taken into account in the design and maintenance of facilities. With very large buildings such as skyscrapers, this can be a significant problem. The stack effect can increase heating and cooling costs, for example by causing heat losses at the top of a building, especially in cold winter months.
Warm air is less dense and tends to move up a building as cooler air descends. This process can be speeded up with ventilation, including opening doors and windows and running fans. In very tall structures it can be particularly acute and to some extent unavoidable. On the upper floors, the air can escape. This creates positive pressure, as air entering from outside cannot enter the building due to the pressure of the escaping air.
Meanwhile, a negative pressure environment is created at the bottom of the building. The air rising to the roof creates an opening for cooler air from outside to enter. This can make the lower stories look much nicer. In a poorly designed building, people can close the windows and turn up the heat to fix this, which can accelerate the chimney effect by heating the air and forcing it out upstairs, sucking in more cold air.
You want some air circulation. Air movement within a building can keep it cooler and make it a more pleasant work environment, especially when fresh oxygenated air enters from outside. Designers can control this by adding insulation to limit air loss, installing screens on windows to minimize heat transfer, and advising building occupants on climate control. For example, it can be useful to insulate a foyer to limit cold air blasts when people open doors.
For houses and small structures, the chimney effect shouldn’t play a significant role unless the structure has been well built or maintained. Some leakage is inevitable, but bigger problems, like seepage around window frames and skylights, can be fixed with measures like better flashing. It can also help to design entryways and doors thoughtfully to discourage draft into a home during the winter months. Designing with the fireplace effect in mind allows architects to create homes that stay breezy, but don’t lose excess heat.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
