This paper describes the results of a collaboration between ENTPE-LASH and LEPTAB within the framework of the IEA Annex 35 "Hybrid Ventilation in New and Retrofitted Buildings". The aim of the work is to carry out a cross-simulation study and to identify optimal control strategies for ventilation systems in order to provide a comfortable thermal indoor environment and a good indoor air quality with energy efficiency. Two models were developed by ENTPE-LASH and LEPTAB in order to carry out hybrid system simulations taking into account air flows, heat transfers and CO2 concentrations, and numerical results are compared in this study. The models were first adjusted to an experimental cell, HYBCELL, created in the same project. The simulations were carried out using a fictive classroom. The test room was assumed to be in Copenhagen and to be equipped with a natural ventilation system (two inlet grilles and an exhaust chimney) or with mechanical ventilation systems (fans with or without heat recovery). This work also reveals what are the differences in results between the two tools and outlines some conclusions on relative performance of the specific control strategies chosen in this study. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.