Ventilation service details and construction methods adopted in British military structures in Malta between 1864 and 1943

Abstract

For the majority of the British period in Malta, ventilation and climate control was achieved almost exclusively through passive methods. This was especially critical in high occupancy military buildings such as barracks and quarters. However, many of these methods fell out of use with the widespread adoption of electrical air conditioning and mechanical ventilation. This study examines the passive ventilation systems used in the British Period (19th to early 20th Century). The research focused on military accommodation and recreation facilities as these buildings are intended for high occupancy and feature ventilation systems which can be considered typical for the time of their construction. The research was conducted through archival research at the National Archives of Malta and the Public Works Department for drawings. Site visits were made to Mtarfa Barracks, St. Andrews Barracks, Fort Campbell, and St. Nicholas Married Quarters Cospicua. These structures were selected because both the structures and the drawings have survived to the present day. Fort Ricasoli was not accessible for site visits, however the wealth of material presented in the drawings provided ample information. No drawings could be located for Lintorn Barracks, Floriana, however the opportunity presented itself to visit it during its renovation which was invaluable to observe the internals of some systems. Additional references were made to the reports of the Royal Commission for Improving the Sanitary Condition of Barracks and Hospitals (1861 and 1863) as these define the regulations for ventilation systems in military structures built in the period as well as the reasoning and justification for each ventilation feature. All the sites examined were constructed after 1863. Supporting these reports are also additional documents from medical and sanitation specialists of the middle of the 19th Century, such as Nightingale, Farr and Guy, who pioneered sanitary improvements and drove public pressure to implement the improvements in the context of military accommodation. The passive ventilation systems identified in this study are technically practical, and able to support a good level of ventilation. For most part they are still viable for use in the modern context.