Minimum indoor air quality performance

Intent

To establish minimum indoor air quality (IAQ) performance to enhance indoor air quality in buildings, thus contributing to the comfort and well-being of the occupants.

Requirements

Case 1. Mechanically ventilated spaces

Option 1. ASHRAE standard 62.1-2007 or non-U.S. equivalent

Mechanical ventilation systems must perform according to the ventilation rate procedure.

Modify or maintain existing building outside-air ventilation distribution system to supply at least the outdoor air ventilation rate required by ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007 (with errata but without addenda¹). Projects outside the U.S. may use a local equivalent to ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007 for breathing zone minimum ventilation rates.

OR

Option 2. CEN standard EN 15251: 2007

Projects outside the U.S. may modify or maintain each outside air intake, supply air fan and/or ventilation distribution system to supply at least the outdoor air ventilation rate required by Annex B of Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) Standard EN 15251: 2007, Indoor environmental input parameters for design and assessment of energy performance of buildings addressing indoor air quality, thermal environment, lighting and acoustics.

If the project team cannot meet the outside air requirements of the above standards, document the space and system constraints that make it not possible, complete an engineering assessment of the system’s maximum cubic feet per minute (cfm) capability toward meeting the requirements of the above standards, and achieve those levels, with a minimum of 10 cfm (0.28 cubic meters per minute) per person. All other requirements must be met.

OR

Case 2. Naturally ventilated spaces

Naturally ventilated buildings must comply with ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007, Paragraph 5.1 (with errata but without addenda¹).