REFERENCED TO APPROVED DOCUMENTS F & L

Ventilation feasibility
in minutes — not hours.

Upload an architect’s drawing and receive an early-stage ventilation feasibility report for RIBA Stage 1–2 — indicative airflow, room and equipment schedules, assumptions and manufacturer-enquiry information.

Includes one free drawing analysis. No credit card required.

REFERENCED TO AD F & L · BS EN 16798-3 · CIBSE GUIDE A

HOW IT WORKS

See how it works in 30 seconds

↑
01

Upload the drawing

Upload a drawing or input room data manually

⚡
02

Confirm project info

Review and confirm the extracted rooms, building type and classification

✓
03

Generate the feasibility pack

Produce the early-stage feasibility report with airflow, schedules and assumptions

↓
04

Send for quotation

Share the report with your consultant or manufacturer for review and quotation

LIVE SIMULATION

From input to report in seconds

Watch VentCalc extract rooms, calculate airflow, and produce a feasibility schedule referenced to AD Part F & L — automatically.

VENTCALC.AI — LIVE CALCULATION
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Upload your drawing
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Drawing Interpretation · Feasibility Coordination · RIBA Stage 1–2
Step 1 — Project type
ResidentialCommercial
Step 2 — Upload or enter your drawing
⬆
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Manual Entry
Drag & Drop Architectural Drawing
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floor_plan_level2.pdf
Your drawings are processed in-memory and not stored on our servers.
Early-stage feasibility  ·  ADF 2021  ·  Part F  ·  CIBSE  ·  BS EN 16798
THE DIFFERENCE

Manual vs VentCalc

MANUAL PROCESS
  • ✗30–60 minutes calculations
  • ✗Spreadsheet errors
  • ✗No standard output
WITH VENTCALC
  • ✓2–5 minute output
  • ✓Part F aligned results
  • ✓Export-ready report
ENGINEERING REVIEW

Engineering Review Remains In Control

VentCalc generates structured feasibility assessments. Engineers review, adjust and approve outputs before export.

①
Assessment generated

VentCalc interprets project information and generates a structured feasibility assessment.

②
Engineer reviews

The engineer reviews airflow assumptions, room schedules and project-specific requirements.

③
Engineer approves

The engineer approves the output before PDF and Excel exports are generated.

REVIEW SCREEN — CONFIDENCE LEVELS
Open-plan office — Level 2285 l/sACH × area × heightHIGH
Toilet extract — 4 WCs40 l/sPart F Table 1.1bHIGH
Plant room — B118 l/sRule-of-thumb rateMEDIUM
Corridor extract12 l/sEstimated defaultLOW — REVIEW
LOW confidence rows must be reviewed before the report can be generated.

VentCalc is an engineering support tool.
All outputs must be reviewed and approved by a qualified engineer.

BUILT FOR THE INDUSTRY

Who uses VentCalc?

RIBA STAGE 1–2

M&E Consultants

Run rapid feasibility checks before committing to detailed design. Generate SFP-checked duty points for early-stage reports and client presentations.

  • → Airflow and pressure at concept stage
  • → SFP checked against AD Part L2 Table 6.9
  • → Manufacturer enquiry–ready output
TENDER & BUDGET

Contractors & Estimators

Size equipment for budget quotations without waiting on a consultant. Get indicative AHU duty points in minutes, not days.

  • → Central AHU, MVHR, and extract sizing
  • → Equipment space estimates included
  • → Excel workbook for cost build-up
EARLY-STAGE COORDINATION

Architects

Support early-stage coordination and plant space planning before detailed building services design begins.

  • → Indicative plant space requirements at concept stage
  • → Supports building services coordination
  • → Reduces late-stage design changes
OUTPUT PREVIEW: 6-BED STUDENT CLUSTER
INDICATIVE SFP CHECK — PASS AGAINST CITED BENCHMARK
TOTAL DUTY
90 l/s
CALC SFP
0.55 W/l/s
INDEX PRESSURE
304 Pa
Methodology: Darcy-Weisbach friction loss & BS EN 16798-3
Regulation: Approved Document F (2021 Edition)
UK-FIRST

Built for UK building services professionals

✓ Approved Document F
✓ Approved Document L2
✓ CIBSE guidance
REGULATORY COVERAGE

Compliance standards referenced

AD Part F
Approved Document F — Ventilation
2021 Edition (Vol 1 & Vol 2)

Whole-building ventilation rates, extract flow rates by room type, intermittent and continuous strategies.

AD Part L2
Approved Document L — Conservation of Fuel & Power
2021 Edition · Table 6.9

SFP limits for central AHUs and local units. Checked automatically against duty point on every calculation.

CIBSE Guide A
CIBSE Guide A — Environmental Design
8th Edition

Occupancy-based fresh air rates (l/s per person) used as secondary check against ACH-governed results.

BS EN 16798-3
BS EN 16798-3 — Ventilation for Buildings
Non-residential performance requirements

Duct sizing and pressure loss methodology. Darcy-Weisbach friction loss applied to indicative duct runs.

Engineering review and approval required prior to implementation.

DELIVERABLES

What you get

Produced to RIBA Stage 1–2 Feasibility Standards
📄
PDF Feasibility Report

Professional A4 report. White background, black borders, PASS/FAIL highlighted. Suitable for design-team review and manufacturer enquiry.

📊
Excel Calculation Export

Clean, no-fill workbook: Summary, Fan Systems, Airflow Breakdown, Assumptions. Drop straight into your own company template.

📋
CSV Raw Data

Plain text export with PASS/FAIL written as text. Import into any tool, database, or cost plan.

OUTPUT

This is what you receive

VentCalc_Feasibility_Report.pdf
VENTCALCVentilation Calculation Report
Indicative early-stage design support · RIBA Stage 1–2 · Tender · Manufacturer Enquiry
Generated 06 Sept 2026 · UK-referenced methods (ADF 2021, Part L, CIBSE)Output mode: Manufacturer Enquiry
PROJECT REF:Office Block Level 2 — Feasibility Stage
PROJECT USE NOTICE
This report provides indicative ventilation calculations to support early-stage design, feasibility assessment, and manufacturer enquiry. It is not a substitute for detailed design or final compliance verification.
DRAWING INTERPRETATION SUMMARY
DETECTED BUILDING FUNCTION
Commercial Office
Open-plan office — Level 2  ·  Primary strategy: Central AHU supply + mechanical extract
Secondary: Local WC extract  |  Kitchen KEF  |  Corridor transfer
High confidence
Detected project typeCommercial
Overall confidenceHigh
Estimated interpreted area420–510 m² (medium confidence)
Total zones detected9
Included in airflow6
Infrastructure / excluded2
Equipment detected4
TABLE A — FULL DETECTED DRAWING SCHEDULE
Every labelled space on the drawing — confirms drawing was read correctly.
Space / Zone NameVentilation TreatmentApprox AreaConf.
Open-plan office — Level 2Primary airflow zone~285 m²High
Kitchen extractGrease extract (KEF)~22 m²High
WC extract × 4Local extract (EF)~18 m²High
Corridor Level 2Transfer air~38 m²Medium
Reception lobbyAHU supply zone~42 m²Medium
Store roomNatural or local ext.~15 m²Low
Riser / plantroomInfrastructure — excl.—High
TABLE B — VENTILATION CALCULATION SCHEDULE
Spaces contributing to airflow. Infrastructure excluded.
Space / ZoneTreatmentAreaEst. FlowConf.
Open-plan officePrimary airflow~285 m²~190 l/sHigh
Kitchen extractKEF~22 m²~50 l/sHigh
WC extract × 4Local EF~18 m²~24 l/sHigh
CorridorTransfer air~38 m²~21 l/sMedium
Reception lobbyAHU supply~42 m²—Medium
Total indicative: 285 l/s  |  Est. flows are proportional/fixed-rate estimates — verify at detailed design.
1. PROJECT SUMMARY
SectorCommercial
System typeCentral AHU
Output modeManufacturer Enquiry
RIBA stageStage 1–2
Total airflow285 l/s
Duty pressure385 Pa
SFP (calculated)0.69 W/(l/s)
SFP (limit)0.80 W/(l/s) [AD L2 T6.9]
SFP checkPASS — Indicative compliance check (Part L ref)
SYSTEM DUTY POINT SUMMARY
System ComponentAirflowStatic P.SFP calcSFP limit
Central AHU (SF+EF)285 l/s385 Pa0.690.80
Kitchen grease extract50 l/s180 Pa0.540.80
WC local extract × 424 l/s120 Pa0.440.80
1C. INDICATIVE UNIT RECOMMENDATION
Generic rule-of-thumb sizing for architect coordination. Not a manufacturer selection.
Suggested systemCentral AHU with heat recovery (MVHR-type)
Indicative airflow285 l/s
Install typeRoof plant / dedicated plant room
Indicative unit envelope — from face velocity (2.0 m/s) + component build-up:
Length (sections)
3.20 m
Face Width
0.85 m
Height (+ plinth)
0.75 m
RECOMMENDED PLANT ROOM FOOTPRINT
Floor Length
5.2 m
Floor Width
3.4 m
Min Ceiling
2.8 m
2. SYSTEM BREAKDOWN
Central AHU (SF+EF)1× Unit
Airflow285 l/s
Airflow basisACH × floor area × height
Airflow confidence[***] High
Static pressure385 Pa
Pressure basisrule of thumb rate
Pressure confidence[**-] Medium
Duct diameter315 mm
Fan power198 W
SFP0.69 W/(l/s) (limit 0.80) PASS
3. ASSUMPTIONS
• Ceiling height assumed 3.0 m where not specified
• Occupancy: 1 person per 10 m² (CIBSE Guide A)
• SFP limit from AD Part L2 Table 6.9 — central AHU
• Pressure basis: rule-of-thumb index run
4. MANUFACTURER ENQUIRY NOTE
Duty points are indicative. Confirm exact site conditions, duct fittings, acoustic requirements, and thermal loads at detailed design stage. Final duty and ESP to be confirmed by a Chartered Mechanical Engineer.
Confidence: Airflow [***] High  ·  Pressure [**-] Medium  ·  Zoning [*--] Low
5. CONFIDENCE TRACEABILITY
Category-by-category confidence — airflow cannot exceed Medium when area is Low.
CategoryConfidenceValue / Detail
Building Function Detection[***] HighCommercial Office
Room Recognition[***] High9 spaces detected
Occupancy Interpretation[**-] Medium~43 persons
Area / Geometry[**-] Medium420–510 m²
Equipment Recognition[***] High4 items
Airflow Feasibility Basis[***] High285 l/s
Pressure Estimate[**-] Medium385 Pa
Ventilation Strategy[***] HighCentral AHU supply + MEV
6. EXCLUSIONS
• Detailed duct design, sizing, and routing
• Acoustic attenuation and breakout noise
• Fire strategy, fire/smoke dampers, and compartmentation
• Regulatory compliance sign-off or Building Control submission
• Commissioning and HVAC testing (BSRIA)
• Controls and BMS specification
VentCalc  |  Indicative early-stage feasibility output  |  Not a detailed design or compliance certificate.
ventcalc.ai

View a sample report generated by VentCalc using demonstration data.

NO DRAWING? NO PROBLEM

Manual entry built for engineers

Use HVAC room presets — Kitchen, Wet Room, Office, Plant Room — to auto-fill Part F flow rates. No table-hunting, no formula typos.

Manual methodVentCalc.AI manual wizard
✗ Flipping through Approved Document F PDFs✓ Referenced to Approved Documents F & L — applicable requirements must be confirmed by the project engineer.
✗ Hand-typing flow rates from rate tables✓ Room presets auto-fill l/s and ACH targets
✗ Excel formulas prone to typo errors✓ Built-in logic validation flags inconsistencies
✗ SFP checked manually against Part L tables✓ SFP calculated and checked instantly
✗ Output formatted in your own template✓ 📋 Professional PDF + Excel generated in one click
WHAT VENTCALC COVERS
  • ✓ Indicative airflow (ACH + occupancy methods)
  • ✓ Whole-system SFP — checked vs AD Part L2
  • ✓ Duct sizing (velocity & friction loss)
  • ✓ Equipment space estimates with clearances
  • ✓ Manufacturer enquiry duty points
  • ✓ RIBA Stage 1–2 feasibility reports
  • ✓ A separate, non-statutory early-stage feasibility allowance (20%)
  • ✓ PBSA classification — ADF Volume 1 vs Volume 2
OUTSIDE SCOPE — REQUIRES DETAILED DESIGN
  • – Detailed duct design & terminal pressure drops
  • – Attenuator sizing & acoustic verification
  • – Fire strategy & smoke control design
  • – Coordination clash detection
  • – Regulatory compliance and Building Control sign-off
  • – BMS & controls integration
⚠

VentCalc reports are issued for early-stage design support, manufacturer enquiry, and budget costing. They are not compliance certificates or final design specifications. Final sign-off remains the responsibility of a qualified engineer.

USE CASES

Typical Applications

✓Student Accommodation
✓Commercial Offices
✓Residential Developments
✓Mixed-Use Schemes
✓Manufacturer Budget Enquiries
✓Tender-Stage Feasibility Assessments

VentCalc asks the user to confirm whether student accommodation is a hall of residence/cluster arrangement, a self-contained dwelling, or mixed/uncertain, then applies the corresponding feasibility basis (Approved Document F Volume 2, Volume 1, or a review-required flag).

Early Beta Access

VentCalc is in beta. Founding-user pricing will be offered after the beta.

MANUAL PROCESS
  • ✗Review drawings
  • ✗Calculate airflow by hand
  • ✗Build schedule in spreadsheet
  • ✗Inconsistent formatting across team
  • ✗Format and export report
  • ✗30–60+ minutes per job
WITH VENTCALC
  • ✓Upload drawing or enter data
  • ✓Auto-calculate airflow & SFP
  • ✓Export PDF / Excel instantly
  • ✓Generate an early-stage assessment in minutes

Reduce time spent preparing ventilation feasibility assessments.

Early-stage feasibility · Budget costing support · Coordination support

EARLY BETA ACCESS

Try VentCalc free

For engineers, contractors and consultants evaluating VentCalc during beta

  • ✓ One free drawing analysis
  • ✓ No credit card required
  • ✓ Founding-user pricing will be offered after the beta
Analyse a drawingContact us about Pro access
✓ Based on Approved Document F 2021✓ SFP aligned with Part L guidance✓ Uses CIBSE airflow assumptions✓ Early-stage feasibility only (not compliance design)✓ Drawing files are processed for analysis and are not retained by VentCalc after processing. See Privacy Policy.
⚠DISCLAIMERⓘ

Outputs are indicative for feasibility and early-stage design. Not a compliance or construction-ready design.

USED FOR FEASIBILITY / RIBA STAGE 1–2

SAMPLE OUTPUT

See the output before you sign up

View a sample report generated by VentCalc using demonstration data.

↓ Download Sample Report (PDF)Start Free Calculation
Built for consultants, contractors and early-stage feasibility workflows.