ventilability

Ventilability is a property describing how readily air can be removed from or delivered to a space or organ. In engineering and environmental health, it refers to the capacity of a room, building, or enclosed volume to be ventilated, i.e., to exchange air with the surrounding environment. Ventilability depends on the design and condition of ventilation systems, the size and placement of openings, and the presence of obstructions, as well as the space’s pressure dynamics and weather conditions. It is typically quantified by metrics such as the ventilation rate or air exchange rate (air changes per hour, ACH), which express the volume of fresh air introduced per unit time relative to the space volume.

In building design, higher ventilability improves removal of pollutants, moisture, and odors, and supports thermal comfort and occupant health. In indoor air quality assessments, natural ventilation and mechanical systems are evaluated to ensure adequate air turnover under various conditions.

In physiology and medicine, ventilability refers to the ease with which air can be moved into and out of the lungs or of a patient on mechanical ventilation. It is determined by airway resistance and lung or chest wall compliance. Clinically, poor ventilability can indicate airway obstruction, restrictive lung disease, or impaired respiratory mechanics, and guides ventilatory strategies such as adjustments in tidal volume, rate, and pressure support.

Measurement methods include direct airflow monitoring, tracer gas techniques, and CO2-based indices. Ventilability is thus a multi-disciplinary concept linking airflow dynamics, health, and safety.