Ventilation Blocks
Ventilation Blocks
A ventilation block (or grating/insert) in a pavement light is a metal, cast-iron, or perforated insert integrated into the sidewalk-level glass-and-concrete panel. It allows fresh air and passive ventilation to reach the basement or vault below while maintaining the structural grid designed primarily to let in daylight.
Purpose and Function
Air Circulation:
Provides continuous or occasional airflow in the basement.
Emergency Venting:
Can serve as an auxiliary outlet for heat or smoke relief during a basement fire.
Water Management:
Often paired with an internal drip tray underneath the pavement frame to catch and drain moisture or debris before it drops straight into the room below.
The ventilator blocks are only placed in the row nearest the building to provide them with shelter from rainfall.
The ventilator blocks installed, as in the photo above, it is common to have ‘Drip Trays’ suspended immediately below on chains. These are made from sheet aluminium and are 25mm in depth. They catch the small amount of rainfall that passes directly through the vent holes and usually over time this evaporates.
