People spend about 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality is often neglected.
Ventilation Standards
While people spend about 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality is often neglected. To address this, ASHRAE standards have emerged as a major step forward. These standards not only highlight the importance of indoor air quality, but also set stringent requirements to guarantee clean and healthy indoor air for everyone.
What is ASHRAE?
ASHRAE stands for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. It is a professional global organization that focuses on advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.
ASHRAE Standard 62.1
ASHRAE Standard 62.1 is the recognized standard for ventilation system design and serves as the foundational framework for ventilation-related mandates within the International Code Council’s (ICC) Mechanical Code and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Uniform Mechanical Code. The most current version, published in September of 2022, was created to provide minimum ventilation rates to achieve acceptable indoor air quality for building occupants and diminish adverse health effects. This standard applies to new and existing buildings and has already been adopted by state legislatures as the benchmark for building-code requirements.
Compliance with ASHRAE Standard 62.1
There are two methods of ventilation permitted to comply with ASHRAE Standard 62.1.
VRP
VRP or Ventilation Rate Procedure is a prescriptive design procedure in which outdoor air intake rates are determined based on space type/application, occupancy levels, and floor area. This procedure is utilized to determine the minimum required rates for the breathing zone. These rates are generalized to fit all applications and do not include any credit for air cleaning within the space.
IAQP
IAQP or Indoor Air Quality Procedure is an alternate to VRP, which is used to determine the design rate of outdoor airflow to maintain concentrations of design compounds (DCs) and PM2.5 in the indoor environment. The goal is to maintain the indoor environment under the design limits (DLs), based on indoor and outdoor sources, air cleaning, and other variables. Verification of occupant satisfaction and indoor DC concentrations are required to be performed after implementation of the ventilation system.
ASHRAE Standard 241
In response to the valuable insights gained from the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House contacted ASHRAE to help prepare for the upcoming expiration of Title 42 in May of 2023. The government appointed ASHRAE with the responsibility of creating a comprehensive guide to operate buildings in a way that will help prevent the spread of airborne infectious illnesses. This led to the creation of ASHRAE Standard 241 – Control of Infectious Aerosols. This standard acknowledges the limitations of conventional ventilation systems in addressing airborne pathogens and represents new and stricter requirements for indoor air quality, specifically aimed at reducing the risk of disease transmission through exposure to infectious aerosols in new and existing buildings.
Key components of ASHRAE Standard 241
Infection Risk
Management Mode (IRMM)
This mode applies during identified times of elevated airborne disease transmission risk, utilizing compliant air filtration systems for enhanced air output.
Equivalent Clean Airflow Rate
The standard sets a target for 25 space types for the equivalent clean airflow rate per occupant (ECAi) that air cleaning and HVAC devices must produce in order to reduce the risk of airborne infection.
Filtration and
Air Cleaning Technology
Subtractive Technologies utilizing mechanical fibrous filtration, such as HEPA filters, and Additive Technologies that inactivate aerosols and particles, such as UV (ultraviolet) and other technologies should meet the test requirement to establish effectiveness and safety (inclusive of chemical analyte byproducts generation). Note: Subtractive technologies using mechanical fibrous filtration are exempt from safety testing except for noise.
Building Readiness Plan
The standard includes a plan that outlines procedures for evaluating both existing and new HVAC and air filtration systems, ensuring proper function and delivery of clean air.
ASHRAE Standards Ventilation Rate Comparison by Occupancy Category
ASHRAE Guideline 44
ASHRAE Guideline 44 – Protecting Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events provides building recommendations to minimize occupant exposures and health impacts from fine particulate matter (PM2.5) found in smoke. This guideline calls on commercial buildings to create a Smoke Readiness Plan and provides a matrix for determining when to implement it. To be prepared, Guideline 44 urges an upgrade in building filtration, HVAC system repairs, the use of air cleaners with HEPA filters, indoor air quality monitoring, and more.
ASHRAE Standard 170
Health care facilities serve a uniquely vulnerable population exposed to an elevated risk of health and safety hazards. Given the various chemical, physical, and biological contaminants that can affect the safety of patients, residents, health care workers, and visitors, ASHRAE Standard 170 covers temperature, humidity, odor control, asepsis, and ventilation design. This standard sets design requirements for patient care areas, resident care areas, and related support areas in healthcare facilities. It provides minimum design requirements for code-enforcing agencies, not a design guide.
State IAQ Legislation
Experts from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security are calling on states to create legislation aimed at improving indoor air quality in public spaces—and giving them the tools to do so through the Model State Indoor Air Quality Act. The Act goes as far as identifying penalties and citations that the state could enforce for non-compliant business owners or building operators. For the current ASHRAE ventilation standards to become a mandated requirement, an AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) must adopt the standard into their current building code which many states are already doing, but they aren’t stopping there. States are also calling on frequent indoor air quality assessments to be conducted, stringent monitoring systems, incorporation of air cleaning systems, and more.
As states adopt the newest ventilation standards, our team stays up to date with how to comply with every building type. We keep you updated with the most current legislation in your state and make sure our products continue to comply.
Where does your state stand?
Achieve ASHRAE Standard 241
Compliance With AirBox Air Cleaners
AirBox air cleaners are specifically engineered to abide by the strict indoor air quality requirements set forth by both ASHRAE Standard 241 for heightened infectious risk and ASHRAE Standard 62.1 for standard operation.
By harnessing advanced air purification technologies, AirBox systems effectively capture over 99.99% of tested airborne contaminants, including infectious aerosols that can pose significant health risks. Tests are available under request.
AirBox air cleaners apply to a wide range of building types, including corporate offices, construction sites, schools, and healthcare facilities.
AirBox Maintains Compliance
Professional Analysis
Our data-driven Air Quality Assessment takes the guesswork out of what’s going on with your air. It tells you exactly what contaminants are in your indoor air and how much. These steps will lead you from guessing to knowing – and from dirty, unhealthy air to clean.
Asset Protection
By ensuring good indoor air quality, the HVAC system can operate more efficiently, reducing energy costs and extending its lifespan. This, in turn, can also lower the maintenance costs for your building.
Risk and Liability Mitigation
Building owners and managers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for their occupants. Failure to maintain proper IAQ can result in serious liability risks, including lawsuits, fines, and damage to the reputation of the building.
Ready to assure your air
cleaning system’s compliance?
Partnering with a trusted name like AirBox ensures that you’re not only compliant with industry
standards like ASHRAE Standard 241 but also providing the best environment for occupants.
With AirBox, you’re not just installing an air cleaner; you’re making a statement about your
commitment to health, safety, and excellence.
