Airflow Tile

An Airflow Tile is a pneumatic building used to create a walkable floor that does not fully seal a room. It is commonly used for ventilation, heat management, and large-scale fluid storage because it lets gases move through it while still acting as a solid tile for dupes and other pathing purposes. In heat exchange, an Airflow Tile behaves like an entity and thermally interacts with both the gas inside the tile and the solid tile below it, so its temperature is affected by both surroundings rather than only one side.

Unlike ordinary tiles, an Airflow Tile does not block sunlight and does not block radiation in Spaced Out!, but it does block other forms of light. It also blocks decor. Because of its open structure, it prevents loss of gases and liquids contained inside it when placed over exposed space in the Space Biome, which makes it especially useful for bridging open areas without immediately venting the contents.

Airflow Tiles are especially valuable for fluid storage and pressure handling:

• They can hold infinite liquid pressure without breaking, making them ideal for large reservoirs and liquid compressors.
• If a gas inside an Airflow Tile condenses into a liquid or item, the material is pushed into the closest open tile, starting from the top-left and moving clockwise.
• If there is enough mass for a natural tile to form, a natural tile will be created over the Airflow Tile, which blocks it.
• If a liquid pipe containing liquid is deconstructed inside an Airflow Tile, the liquid is deposited into the tile. This can also bridge the tile, allowing fluid to flow through as though the tile were not present, which can cause a sudden release of stored liquid if the tile had been holding a high-pressure reservoir.
• They can be used under a vertical wind tunnel to prevent pressure buildup.

There are a few useful quirks to keep in mind. An Airflow Tile can temporarily contain liquids if the gas inside condenses, and this makes it a common choice for compact storage designs. It can also act as a form of insulation when filled with vacuum, although it still conducts heat through the solid tile beneath it, so it is not a true thermal break. In colony loading, Airflow Tiles displace any gas inside them. A known issue is that liquids may become invisible when sitting on top of an Airflow Tile.