an element for ventilating a housing containing an electrical , mechanical , electromechanical or similar member includes a rigid body having an outer cylindrical wall , closed at a first end by a closure part , the cylindrical wall being open at a second end coupled to the housing , the body containing an internal member of at least partly yieldable material having a first end close to the closure part of the rigid body and carrying a filtering membrane , and an open second end facing the housing . from the closure part an internal cylindrical portion projects containing the member and couples to this latter by interference so as to retain it within the body .