Methods Of Wet Area Ventilation

Copyright (c) 2015 Matt Reardon

The Australian Standard AS3740 titled 'Waterproofing of Wet Areas within Residential Buildings' is a primary guideline when ventilating a wet area in a home. Wet areas in the home include the bathroom, which is the dampest, the toilet, laundry room and other drainage areas.

1. Vortex Fan

In physics, a vortex is a mass of rapidly rotating air. A vortex fan, in simple terms, works by creating such a current, so a steady stream of air is supplied and expelled from the room. The air leaving the room carries away the moisture. Their speeds are regulated so the room is not left too dry. They will typically be installed on the roof. For those with respiratory allergies, these fans can be custom made with electrostatic filters that trap dust and such other allergens in the air flowing in. Spot Ventilation is the name given to using localized fans in specific rooms for purposes of ventilation.

The extractor fan should have an average operating speed of 50 cubic feet per minute (CFM) as recommended by the Building Code of Australia. (BCA).

The HCAVR Nation recommends that fans be placed opposite the point of air intake into the room.

2. Moisture Resistant Wallboards And Floor Boards

Non-absorbent material lie plasterboards make sure water does not seep through to the bottom of the bathroom. Therefore, there will be no chances of mould sprouting and damaging your bathroom from below. It can also be placed over walls in a neutral colors.

Examples of water resistant materials are copper and stainless steel. Whichever material used has to match Australian Standard number 4858 titled 'Wet Area Membranes'

3. Superior Water Resistant Tiles

This is something to highly consider when construction if the home is being done. If yours is a relatively old home with chipping tiles, it may be time to replace them with better ones.

4. Using Waterproof Bonding And Sealing Material

It would be useless to use non-waterproofing sealants when fixing tiles and plaster-boards. The water would simply seep through to the bottom and cause much damage.

A heat recovery ventilation system is eco-friendly and energy efficient. Place this as your number one option to consider. You could consult with your fitter and supplier about how to re-use the recovered energy in form of heat.

You can customize your fans by adding lights for extra illumination. There are such combination fans available in the markets. Some also come with inbuilt heaters. A good fitter will recommend a versatile fan that includes humidity detectors so they do not dry out your room.

Being a damp room, poor ventilation will cost you terribly. First of all, high levels of condensation will create a conducive environment for mildew. They sprout and multiply so rapidly that before you know it, your bathroom will be draped in green. They cause structural rot and respiratory infections.

Adjoining rooms also tend to have high humidity because the air in the bathrooms or laundry rooms spill over into them. Do not forget to mechanically ventilate these places as well.


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Matt Reardon works at Mould Buster. The firm supplies and fits quality, efficient and approved ventilation systems. They always have valuable tips handy for their clients who consult them for ventilation solutions. You can also visit our website at http://mouldbuster.com.au/wet-area-ventilation/ for additional details.