Aerodynamic efficiency of smoke ventilators in light streets and shed-type roofs

Abstract Low-rise industrial buildings in continental Europe have usually no or very little window area in the sidewalls. To provide the necessary daylight, translucent surfaces are fitted in the roof. Well known examples are shed roofs or curved and shed-type light streets in flat roofs. For economic reasons smoke ventilators are then integrated into the light surfaces. This paper gives typical examples of smoke ventilators installed in shed roofs and in curved or shed-type light streets. The measurement of the aerodynamic free areas on full scale apparatus is not possible due to the large dimensions of the relevant roof surfaces. Therefore, tests have to be conducted in model scale. The relevant similarity considerations for such model tests are discussed and the applicability of model scale tests is demonstrated. Finally, the most important parameters influencing the aerodynamic efficiency of typical ventilator installations in shed-roofs and curved or shed-type light streets are described for the cases without and with side wind.