An intake vent is a device designed to bring fresh outside air into the building, which is then distributed throughout the indoor space. Intake vents can be installed in industrial, commercial or residential buildings. They are usually placed on rooftops or building walls, near an air handling unit. The outer end of an intake vent has special louvres or a mesh to prevent the ingress of various objects from the environment such as insects, rain, snow, leaves or other contaminants.

Mechanical ventilation systems can have an intake vent incorporated into the existing system, which may include filters, heat recovery modules and other components. AHUBASE / AHUBASE FLEX rooftop base offered by HVAC Ratherm is an ideal solution recommended by us for fixing frames that support units and systems to flat and sloping roofs. The stability and uniform load distribution provided by AHUBASE / AHUBASE FLEX rooftop base ensures that the intake vent is properly mounted.

It should also be noted that an intake vent cannot be installed just anywhere on the wall or roof of the building. According to Article 152 of the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 12 April 2002 on the design requirements to be met by buildings and their location, intake vents should be located: (…)

“Paragraph 3. Intake vents located at ground level or on the wall along the two lowest aboveground storeys should be, according to a plan view, at least 8m away from any roads and car parks with more than 20 parking spaces, solid waste collection sites, plumbing vents, and other sources of air pollution. The distance between the bottom edge of an intake vent's inlet opening and ground surface should be at least 2 m.

Paragraph 4. Intake vents located on rooftops should have the bottom edge of their inlet opening at least 0.4nm above the surface on which they are mounted, and the distance from any plumbing vents should be at least 6 m.”

Intake vent types

There are various types of intake vents, depending on the installation method and their application.