ASHRAE Standard 62.1

ASHRAE Standard 62.1
Name	ASHRAE Standard 62.1
Subject	Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
Organization	ASHRAE
First published	1973
Latest revision	2019

ASHRAE Standard 62.1 ASHRAE Standard 62.1 is a consensus standard that establishes minimum ventilation and indoor air quality requirements for commercial and institutional buildings, aiming to protect occupant health and comfort. The document influences codes and practices used by organizations such as the International Code Council, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and national bodies in countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Major users include architects from firms like Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, engineers from Arup, and public agencies such as the General Services Administration and the Department of Energy.

Overview

The standard provides quantitative ventilation rates and qualitative procedures for design, operation, and verification for spaces in offices, hospitals, schools, and retail facilities. It interacts with building codes promulgated by the International Code Council, design guides published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and sustainability programs like LEED administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. The document is produced by a committee comprising members from industry stakeholders including manufacturers such as Carrier and Trane, consulting firms like WSP and AECOM, and research institutions like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Scope and Objectives

The scope defines applicability to commercial and institutional buildings and exclusions such as single-family dwellings regulated by other standards or codes. Objectives include protection of occupant health by mitigating contaminants addressed in guidance from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reduction of exposure pathways noted by the Environmental Protection Agency, and support for energy efficiency goals shared with the Department of Energy. The standard sets performance targets used by professional societies including the Royal Institute of British Architects and certification programs like WELL Building Standard administered by the International WELL Building Institute.

Ventilation Requirements and Procedures

Ventilation rate procedures provide outdoor airflow per person and per unit area derived from epidemiological and exposure studies referenced by the National Academies of Sciences, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Pivotal equations and tables are often used by mechanical engineers licensed in jurisdictions overseen by state boards like the New York State Board for Architecture, and by consulting teams at firms such as Jacobs and Fluor. Alternative procedures include indoor air quality (IAQ) procedures that align with testing protocols from ASTM International and measurement approaches used by organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories and the British Standards Institution.

Indoor Air Quality Design and Performance Criteria

Design criteria encompass ventilation effectiveness, contaminant source control, and acceptable concentration limits for certain pollutants referenced against guidelines from the World Health Organization, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists. Implementation involves coordination with building enclosure design practiced by firms influenced by standards from the American Concrete Institute and the American Institute of Architects, and integration with HVAC systems by manufacturers like Johnson Controls. Performance criteria are frequently validated using tools and modeling methodologies from software vendors and research centers such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Compliance, Testing, and Maintenance

Compliance pathways include prescriptive ventilation rates, performance-based demonstrations, and commissioning protocols undertaken by certified professionals from organizations such as the Building Commissioning Association and the Commissioning Group of the National Institute of Building Sciences. Testing methods draw on procedures standardized by ASTM International, ASHRAE test methods, and instrumentation produced by companies like TSI Incorporated and Honeywell. Maintenance requirements reference practices advocated by the International Facility Management Association and operational guidance from the Federal Energy Management Program to ensure long-term adherence to ventilation and filtration performance.

History and Revisions

Originating in the early 1970s, the standard has evolved through multiple revisions reflecting advances in ventilation science, energy conservation trends prompted by the oil crises, and public health events including influenza pandemics and the COVID-19 outbreak. Major revisions have been influenced by research from institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and have engaged stakeholders including manufacturers like Lennox and Daikin, design firms like HOK, and governmental agencies such as the General Services Administration. International dialogues involving the International Organization for Standardization and regional authorities in the European Union and Japan have shaped harmonization efforts and adoption in model codes published by the International Code Council.

Category:Standards