Comments on: The Surprising Building Science History Behind the Revolving Door

By: Franklin Menendez

Franklin Menendez — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 06:40:38 +0000

For us raters out there, no
For us raters out there, no doubt about this stuff when you open an attic hatch on a cold day (I'm in Canada), especially in an old three storey Victorian. No worry about insulation in the house! However, sometimes in the summer or other warm times I pressurize the building a bit to keep the insulation out of the house when I open the hatch- always check the hatch. I forget if remrate has an input for stack effect but, in Canada, Hot2000 has a "height of highest ceiling" input that accommodates it. Thanks for the great blogs Allison

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 03:08:05 +0000

In reply to David Eakin. True, David. I know I've seen
True, David. I know I've seen lots of the double-door type at places like airports, but they may use some revolving doors in some low-rise buildings, too. The difference is that you can have a straight-through opening with double doors but not with a revolving door.

By: David Eakin

David Eakin — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:17:23 +0000

I also see this at the
I also see this at the entrance to airports and shopping malls (usually the double-door/entry system similar to old Victorian homes) – but these are not for stack effect elimination due to building height, just draft reduction as keeping an exterior door open (like my wife likes to do when bidding house guests goodbye) will allow a large amount of interior/exterior air exchange as there is enough stack effect in a single story to enable an opening the size of a door to exchange air through both the top and bottom simultaneously. I know some think the additional costs of adding them to residences today do not pay for themselves, but like most things building performance – it is more about the added comfort than the ROI.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:47:09 +0000

In reply to Jim Gunshinan. I agree, Jim. I took it two
I agree, Jim. I took it two years when I was in Boston for the NESEA Building Energy conference. It seemed like a quarter of the buildings downtown were under construction or renovation, so there was no shortage of good stack effect subjects.

By: Jim Gunshinan

Jim Gunshinan — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:42:27 +0000

Allison, the photo of the
Allison, the photo of the blowing and sucking building is the best illustration of the stack effect I've ever seen. That picture is worth a whole chapter in a physics textbook.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 22:31:22 +0000

In reply to Steve Waclo. Thanks, Steve. Yeah, that's a
Thanks, Steve. Yeah, that's a completely different kind of revolving door.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 22:29:56 +0000

In reply to Jonathan K. Jonathan, keeping a tall
Jonathan, keeping a tall building at a constant temperature of 72° F wouldn't reduce the stack effect. Keeping the lower floors at a lower temperature could reduce, though. The bigger the temperature difference between inside and out, the more pressure difference there will be and that's what drives the stack effect.

By: Steve Waclo

Steve Waclo — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 22:21:12 +0000

Another informative and
Another informative and entertaining article, Allison. My favorite kind!

And let’s not forget this definition of revolving doors, as elucidated by Wiki contributors:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolving_door_(politics)

Interestingly, the “warm air” aspect of the topic is not discussed :).

Cheers.

By: Jonathan K

Jonathan K — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 21:31:48 +0000

Really interesting article. I
Really interesting article. I like hearing the unusual history behind many of the things we don't usually give a second thought to. How much does modern heating and air conditioning factor into all this? If all floors are kept at, say 72 degrees, wouldn't that greatly reduce stack effect?

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:38:11 +0000

In reply to John Brooks. But, John, warm air does rise
But, John, warm air does rise! ;~) Glad to see you're still monitoring my stack statements over here!