4144 -- Laboratory Measurements of Wind Effects on Ridge Vent Performance PDF

Various commercial and fabricated ridge vents were tested for airflow performance at several wind speeds, static pressures, and wind incidence angles. Winds were simulated with an airflow measurement chamber, which was attached to a wind tunnel. The peak section of a roof with a ridge vent was placed in the wind tunnel. Wind-induced airflow out of the ridge vent section was measured with a second smaller airflow measurement chamber. Residential style ridge vents without up-stand baffles gave no measurable airflow out of the attic. The following trends were observed among the ridge vents that induced measurable airflows out of the attic area: 1. Higher wind speeds induced higher airflow through the ridge vents. 2. A wind incidence angle perpendicular to the ridge vent induced higher airflows than the lower wind incidence angles. 3. The ridge vents with up-stand baffles induced more airflow than ridge vents without up-stand baffles.

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