Assessing and improving ventilation system performance in Canadian multi-unit residential buildings

Assess performance of the centralized pressurized corridor ventilation system vs. decentralized ERV system in two architecturally similar side-by-side high-rise MURBs in Toronto and investigate methods to improve performance through coupled energy and airflow simulations.

Status: Current

Research themes: Health and comfort Energy and GHG emissions

Research areas: Building design and retrofits for performance improvement; Solutions for air leakage, ventilation and filtration; HVAC control and component characterization and optimization

Project Objective

To assess and improve mechanical ventilation system performance within MURBs as it relates to ventilation delivery, energy consumption, thermal comfort, IAQ, and resident perceptions and interactions.

Approach

Through field studies, model development, and parametric analyses, the performance of various MURB ventilation systems will be compared: two neighbouring MURBs in Toronto that are architecturally similar (12 and 13 storeys), but contain different ventilation systems and levels of airtightness; and one MURB in Vancouver (13 storeys), which will undergo a ventilation system and building envelope retrofit mid-way through the project. Then, models for developing and testing novel technologies and variations to the installed ventilation systems will be created and validated.

Findings

We hypothesize that decentralized ventilation systems more effectively deliver outdoor air to suites (i.e., consistently meet standards), more efficiently deliver outdoor air to suites (on an energy per unit of outdoor air basis), reduce contaminant transmission between suites (by removing central exhaust systems that can lead to reverse flow), positively affect resident interactions (by reducing window operation during winter), and improve resident comfort and well-being.

Publications

Journal Publications

Fylak, N., Touchie, M.F., “Addressing Overventilation in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs) to Reduce Energy Use and Operational Carbon Emissions,” Building and Environment, 291, (2026), 114238, doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114238
Stopps, H., Lozinsky, C., Touchie, M.F., “Data-Driven Modelling of Pressurized Corridor Ventilation System Performance in a Multi-Unit Residential Building,” Journal of Building Physics, (2025), doi: 10.1177/17442591251317727
Berquist, J., Cassidy, N., Touchie, M.F., O’Brien, W., Fine, J. “High-rise residential building ventilation in cold climates: A review of ventilation system types and their impact on in-situ building performance,” Indoor Air (2022) 10.1111/ina.13158

Conference Publications

Fylak, N., Stopps, H., Lozinsky, C.H., Touchie, M.F., “Depressurization risk assessment in multi-unit residential buildings using pressurized corridor ventilation systems” in the Building Simulation 2025 Conference, Brisbane, Australia, August 24-27, 2025
Berquist, J., Touchie, M.F., O’Brien, W., “Measuring The Performance Of A Centralized And Decentralized Ventilation System In Two Multi-Unit Residential Buildings” in the IEQ 2025: Rising to new challenges: Connecting IEQ to a sustainable future 2025 Conference, Montreal, Canada, September 24-25, 2025
Stopps, H., Lozinsky, C.L., Touchie, M.F. “Data-driven modelling of pressurized corridor ventilation system performance in a multi-unit residential building” in eSim 2024 Conference, Edmonton, AB, June 5-7, 2024