Basic Documentation

Table Of Contents
Applicable Definitions (Alphabetical Listing)
Siemens Industry, Inc. 15
Term Definition Commentary
Time Weighted
Average
(TWA)
Ventilation System:
CAV and VAV
Ventilation System:
Two State Control
or
Two State CAV
The concentration value of an airborne toxic substance obtained by averaging the
concentration level over a specified period of time.
These are common abbreviations for a Constant Air Volume (CAV) and a Variable Air
Volume (VAV) ventilation system respectively. A CAV system is a fan driven ventilation
system that essentially keeps its airflow at a constant rate and has no provision to
enable varying the airflow rate. It is the most common type of ventilation system and
the least complex to control. A VAV system is a fan driven ventilation system that can
vary the overall airflow rate (normally by automatic controls) to meet the actual airflow
needs of the rooms or spaces served. It is a less common type of ventilation system
and somewhat more complex to control. Both types of systems generally consist of a
supply side that provides conditioned (heated, cooled, humidified or de-humidified) air
and an exhaust side to remove contaminated air. Both types of systems can be
designed for utilization as a laboratory ventilation system.
A two state ventilation system is a CAV system designed to provide two separate levels
of ventilation airflow rather than the one level of an ordinary CAV system. The two
levels typically consist of a higher level of ventilation airflow that is normally used during
regular occupancy periods when research activities in laboratory rooms and the active
use of fume hoods would normally benefit from a higher level of ventilation airflow (Air
Changes per Hour ACH). The lower level is normally applied when a laboratory room
is unoccupied and therefore a lesser amount of ventilation air is usually sufficient. Two
state CAV systems are utilized for energy efficiency since less ventilation airflow also
requires less heating or cooling. (Also see Ventilation Systems: Ventilation Rates for
Chemical Laboratories and Fume Hoods: Minimum Exhaust.)
CAV ventilation systems are usually less
complex than VAV systems. However, CAV
systems normally consume more energy
because a CAV system has no provision for
reducing airflow to meet reduced ventilation
requirements that typically occur during milder
weather. VAV systems can significantly
reduce energy consumption since they can
provide only the amount of conditioned airflow
needed to meet ventilation requirements
during periods of decreased demand.
To use Two-state CAV systems, all CAV fume
hoods in a laboratory room must have their
sashes closed when the room is unoccupied
so both the room supply airflow and the fume
hood exhaust airflow can be reduced. The
CAV system controller must receive
confirmation that all fume hood sashes are
closed (usually by sash position switches)
before the unoccupied ventilation mode can
be initiated. Laboratory personnel must be
sure to close all sashes at the end of the
occupied period. Laboratory rooms that have
long unoccupancy periods (such as academic
teaching labs) will receive the greatest benefit
from a Two-state CAV System.