A REPORT ON

LIGHTING & VENTILATION OF COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL AND

INDUSTRIAL BUILDING
PREPARED BY
AMIL MEMON (150080717001)
AJAY ANDODARIYA (150080717002)
JAIMIN PATEL (150080717009)
KAUSHAL PATEL (150080717011)
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERIG
In
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDHYALA, V.V.NAGAR

AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTE

FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDING

LIGHTING
Lighting is an essential provision for any workplace. It is preferable to provide uniform
illumination over the entire workplace by combining both natural and artificial lighting.
Localized lighting may be required in certain cases to cut costs and improve illumination. Good
lighting helps us to see and to recognize hazards. It can reduce visual strain and discomfort. Poor
lighting may affect workers' performance and health as poor visibility increases the chances of
errors being made. It also means that people work slower. Besides, natural working posture may
not be possible under poor lighting, thus resulting in muscular-skeletal strain.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
The employer shall ensure that each work area and walkway is adequately lighted whenever an
employee is present.
For landside areas, the employer shall provide illumination that meets the levels set forth
in Table F-1 to 1915.82.
Lumens
(foot-candles)
3...................
5...................
5...................
5...................
10.................

Area or operation

General areas on vessels and vessel sections such as accessways, exits, gangways, stairs, and w
General
landside
areas
such
as
corridors,
exits,
stairs,
and
w
All
assigned
work
areas
on
any
vessel
or
vessel
Landside tunnels, shafts, vaults, pumping stations, and underground work
Landside work areas such as machine shops, electrical equipment rooms, carpenter shops, lo
rooms,
warehouses,
and
outdoor
work
10................. Changing rooms, showers, sewered toilets, and eating, drinking, and break
30................. First aid stations, infirmaries, and offices.

When adequate illumination is not obtainable by permanent lighting sources, temporary lighting
may be used as supplementation.
The employer shall ensure that neither matches nor open-flame devices are used for lighting.
TEMPORARY LIGHTS:- The employer shall ensure that temporary lights meet the following
requirements:
Lights with bulbs that are not completely recessed are equipped with guards to prevent
accidental contact with the bulb;
Lights are equipped with electric cords designed with sufficient capacity to safely carry the
electric load;

Connections and insulation on electric cords are maintained in a safe condition;

Lights and lighting stringers are not suspended solely by their electric cords unless they are
designed by the manufacturer to be suspended in this way;
Lighting stringers do not overload branch circuits;
Branch circuits are equipped with over-current protection with a capacity that does not
exceed the rated current-carrying capacity of the cord used.
Splices have insulation with a capacity that exceeds that of the original insulation of the
cord; and
Exposed, non-current-carrying metal parts of lights are grounded. The employer shall ensure
that grounding is provided either through a third wire in the cord containing the circuit
conductors or through a separate wire that is grounded at the source of the current.
Grounding shall be done in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910, subpart S.

PORTABLE LIGHTS

In any dark area that does not have permanent or temporary lights, where lights are not
working, or where lights are not readily accessible, the employer shall provide portable or
emergency lights and ensure that employees do not enter those areas without such lights.
Where the only means of illumination on a vessel or vessel section are from lighting sources
that are not part of the vessel or vessel section, the employer shall provide portable or
emergency lights for the safe movement of each employee. If natural sunlight provides
sufficient illumination, portable or emergency lights are not required.

EXPLOSION-PROOF, SELF-CONTAINED LIGHTS

The employer shall provide and ensure that each employee uses only explosion-proof, selfcontained temporary and portable lights, approved for hazardous conditions by a nationally
recognized testing laboratory (NRTL), in any area that the atmosphere is determined to contain
a concentration of flammable vapors that are at or above 10 percent of the lower explosive limit
(LEL) as specified in 29 CFR part 1915, subparts B and C.

Based on the findings of a consultancy study to review the standards of the lighting and
ventilation requirements in buildings, the Building Authority (BA) is prepared to accept the
following alternative performance standards on the provision of natural lighting and ventilation
in habitable rooms and domestic kitchens for the purpose of regulations 30, 31 and 32 of the
Building (Planning) Regulations (B(P)R):

(a) Natural Lighting

Daylighting Side-Lighting Analysis:
1. Calculate floor to window height (ft).

Assume that daylight from side lighting can go 1.5 to 2 times the height of the window into
space.

Lighting schematic in a room with stepped lighting controls.4 1997 by Ernest Orlando
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; reprinted with permission.

Count the number of fixtures located within this area.

Record light levels next to windows and make sure glare prevention (e.g., blinds) are
blocking any direct sun.
Determine rough zoning recommendations (model energy savings in eQUEST).

Day lighting Top-Lighting Analysis:

1. Calculate top floor area.
2. Analyze the roof construction to determine applicability for top lighting.
3. Skylight to floor area ratio should be 3%5%
Central Lighting Control System Assessment Tasks:
1. Determine if a central lighting control system is applicable (usually for larger commercial
buildings):

Count the number of lighting panels and lighting breakers per panel.
Determine the number of different lighting schedules that will be needed.

Site Assessment Tools:

1. Use an luminance meter to record light levels, a roller wheel or ultrasonic range finder to
measure space dimensions, and a tape measure to measure floor to window height.

Count the number of fixtures located within this area.

Record light levels next to windows and make sure glare prevention (e.g., blinds) are
blocking any direct sun.
Determine rough zoning recommendations (model energy savings in eQUEST).

Daylighting Top-Lighting Analysis:

1. Calculate top floor area.
2. Analyze the roof construction to determine applicability for top lighting.
3. Skylight to floor area ratio should be 3%5%.

Final Energy Savings Recommendations*Lighting

VENTILATION
Achieving good indoor air quality in large residential and commercial buildings continues to be a
top priority for owners, designers, building managers and occupants alike. Large buildings those
outside the scope of Part 9 of the National Building Code present a greater challenge in this
regard than do smaller buildings and houses. The challenge is greater today because there are
many new materials, furnishings, products and processes used in these buildings that are
potential sources of air contaminants.
There are three strategies for achieving acceptable indoor air quality: ventilation, source control
and cleaning/filtration. Depending on the building and the specific characteristics of its location,
these strategies may be used singly or in combination.
Ventilation is the process of supplying outdoor air to an enclosed space and removing stale air
from this space. It can control the indoor air quality by both diluting the indoor air with less
contaminated outdoor air and removing the indoor contaminants with the exhaust air. Source
control refers to the use of environmentally friendly building materials and furnishings (such as
natural wood), and low emission floor coverings, paints, adhesives and cleaning products.
The primary function of source control is to keep the levels of indoor air contaminants as low as
possible by minimizing the use of materials and products that have the potential for off-gassing
(i.e., emitting chemical compounds). Air cleaning is the use of filtration techniques to remove
contaminants from both the ventilation (outdoor) and indoor air. It is essential for buildings
located in urban centers or near industrial plants where the quality of the outdoor air may be
worse than that of the indoor air. The most frequently used strategy, and in most cases the only
one available to building operators, is ventilation.
Mechanical ventilation costs money because the outdoor air needs to be heated in winter and
cooled in summer. To conserve energy, care must be taken to maximize the efficiency of the
ventilation system. In this regard, a number of factors come into play.
Ventilation Performance and Energy Use the main factors affecting the performance and energy
efficiency of a ventilation system are: Air distribution Air leakage Local exhaust.
REQUIRED VENTILATION
The ventilation rate required for health and comfort should be calculated separately and the
highest value used for design.
The ventilation required from a health point of view is calculated by this equation:

Where,

Q, = ventilation rate required for health (11s)

G = pollution load of chemical (pgls)
C, = allowable concentration of chemical (pgll)
C, = outdoor concentration of chemical at air intake (pgll)
Ev - ventilation effectiveness
Ci and C, may also be expressed as ppm (vollvol). In this case the chemical pollution load
G has to be expressed as 11s.
The ventilation required for comfort is calculated by this equation:

Where,
Q, = ventilation rate required for comfort (11s)
G = sensory pollution load (019
Ci = perceived indoor air quality, desired (decipol)
C, = perceived outdoor air quality at air intake (decipol)
Ev = ventilation effectiveness

FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

LIGHTING
Lighting design should ensure a uniform distribution of light over the work area to help reduce
visual fatigue and provide for the health and safety of all persons in the place of work. Lighting
should be provided over the entire place of work, including amenity rooms, passages, stairs,
ramps, ladders and gangways, which all should be capable of being lit at such times as people
pass along or use them.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD LIGHTING:
1. Glare
Glare is caused due to an uneven distribution of light sources or due to excessive contrast or
abrupt changes in brightness in space and time or by seeing light sources or sun directly or after
reflection from polished surfaces.
2. Uniformity of Distribution
It is usually desirable to provide reasonably uniform general illumination over the entire work
area. A gradual transition of brightness with diversity ratio of not less than O-7 from one area to
the other within the field of vision not only ensures reasonable uniformity but also minimises
glare. Maximum and minimum illumination at any point should not be more than one-sixth
above or below the average level in the area.
3. Brightness Contrast
The brightness of an object depends upon the amount of light flux incident and proportion of that
light reflected or transmitted in the direction of the eye. Proper brightness ratio or brightness
contrast between adjacent surfaces is an important requirement of good lighting. Excessive
brightness ratios, even though not severe enough to cause glare, may be seriously detrimental to
lighting quality.
4. Direction of Lighting and Diffusion
The light gets diffused when it flows from various random directions. It is measured in terms of
the absence of sharp shadows. The degree of diffusion desirable for a task depends upon the type
of work to be performed.
5. Stroboscopic Effect and nickel from Discharge Lamps
When discharge lamps are operating on alternating current, their light output varies with each
cycle and this produces certain effects known as flicker. It can cause annoyance. Flickering also

occurs due to half-way rectification in fluorescent tubular lamps and causes stroboscopic effect
whereby rotating machinery or other objects appear to slow down in speed and this may lead to
accidents. The flicker in fluorescent lamps is most noticeable at the ends and these should be
shielded from the direct view.
INTERPRETATION
Centre line of street is half distance of the 2 opposite lot boundaries with a street in between.
Cross ventilation means the situation in which outdoor air can flow from the window openings
in the front half of the room (the primary opening), through the room, and out via the other
window openings located in the rear half of the room (the secondary opening) which is not
located on the same plane of the primary openings.

"Height of facade", when used in relation to the natural lighting and ventilation requirements,
means the height of a building measured from the top of the window head at the lowermost
storey in which the window is provided to the top of the parapet of the main roof of the building.
"Illuminance" means the amount of light falling on a surface.
"Open air" has the same meaning as defined in regulation 2 of the Building (Planning)
Regulations (B(P)Rs).
Primary opening means any window opening which satisfies the natural lighting requirements
stipulated under the B(P)Rs or in paragraph 1(a) of PNAP APP-130 or any window opening
locates in or within 1.5m from end of the external wall where the aforementioned window
locates.
Secondary opening means any window opening which is located at an external wall, other
than that defined for the primary opening, in the rear half of the room and facing open air.
"Vertical Daylight Factor" means the ratio in percentage of the total amount of illuminance
falling onto a vertical surface of a building to the instantaneous horizontal illuminance from a
complete hemisphere of sky excluding direct sunlight. It takes into account light coming from
the sky directly and from - 2 - reflected light of surrounding buildings and the ground both
above and below the horizon.

"Window sill", when used in relation to the window for

achieving natural lighting and ventilation, means the lowermost level of the glazing in the room
for which the window is provided.

PROVISION OF NATURAL LIGHTING BY UNOBSTRUCTED VISION AREA

METHOD
The BA accepts the unobstructed vision area (UVA) method as a reliable way to demonstrate
compliance with the performance requirements.
The UVA method is scientifically developed with respect to the daylight characteristics in Hong
Kong as follows :(a) The amount of light receivable at the surface of a building facade is related to the extent of its
exposure to the environment. Most of the natural light for windows of lower floors in the dense,
high-rise development comes from reflected light of the surrounding surfaces. The amount of
this reflected light is dependent on how well these surrounding surfaces are illuminated (which
are in turn dependent on both site and building layouts) and the reflectance of these surfaces.
(b) Moreover, most useful light entering the glazing into building interiors comes from a cone of
light 100o centered to the normal of the glazing.
(c) The above physical phenomena could be simplified as proportional to an aggregated
horizontal open area (i.e. UVA) in front of the window that effectively contributes to the daylight
performance and the height of facade. A higher height of facade will require a larger UVA.
(d) Larger glazing area could also be accounted for scientifically in the calculation of UVA
requirement to allow further design flexibility.

VENTILATION
Ventilation in non-industrial buildings due to stack effect, unless there is a significant internal
load, could be neglected, except in cold regions, and wind action may be assumed to be
predominant. In hot dry regions, the main problem in summer is to provide protection from suns
heat so as to keep the indoor temperature lower than those outside under the sun. For this
purpose windows and other openings are generally kept closed during day time and only
minimum ventilation is provided for the control of odours or for removal of products of
combustion.
In warm humid regions, the problem in the design of non-industrial buildings is to provide free
passage of air to keep the indoor temperature as near to those outside in the shade as possible,
and for this purpose the buildings are oriented to face the direction of prevailing winds and
windows and other openings are kept open on both windward and leeward sides.

In winter months in cold regions, the windows and other openings are generally kept shut,
particularly during night; and ventilation necessary for the control of odors and for the removal
of products of combustion can be achieved either by stack action or by some infiltration of
outside air due to wind action.
Maintenance of Carbon Dioxide Concentration of Air Within Safe Limits and to Provide
Sufficient Oxygen Content in Air for Respiration
Even in the worst ventilated rooms the content of carbon dioxide in air rarely exceeds 0.5 to 1
percent and is therefore incapable of producing any ill effect. The amount of air required to keep
the carbon dioxide concentration down to 1 percent is very small. The change in oxygen content
is also too small under normal conditions to have any ill effects, the oxygen content may vary
quite appreciably without noticeably effect, if the carbon dioxide concentration is unchanged.
The concentration of carbon dioxide or reduction in oxygen content is thus not sufficiently
critical to provide a basis for fixing rates of ventilation for residential buildings.
Control of Odors
Odors are disturbing and when present they cause headache and loss of appetite. It is, therefore,
desirable that rate of ventilation is estimated on the basis of removal of noticeable body odour
and other odors such as from tobacco smoke, cooking, etc.
Removal of Products of Combustion
Products of combustion discharged from chullas, stoves, gas appliances, etc. used in a kitchen
are likely to accumulate there and may also permeate into other rooms. Similarly angihhis used
for heating rooms in certain colder parts of the country result in the production of carbon
monoxide and other gases. Natural ventilation can play here significant role in controlling
concentration of these products of combustion.
Maintenance of Satisfactory Thermal Environment in a Room
Environmental factors like air temperature, humidity and air movement together with some other
factors, such as clothing, level of activity food, etc. have a direct influence upon bodily
processes. Maintenance of thermal equilibrium of the body is very essential for securing thermal
comfort and for avoiding heat stress. Heat transfer between human body and the environment
occurs through conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation; the relative magnitude of each
process varying with changes in ambient conditions. However, under hot environments,
evaporation is most important process of heat loss from the human body for securing thermal
comfort. As the room air or especially the air around body becomes more nearly saturated due to
humidity it becomes more difficult to evaporate perspiration and a sense of discomfort is felt. A
combination of high humidity and high air temperature proves very oppressive. In such

circumstances even a slight movement of air near the gives relief. It would, therefore, be
desirable to consider a rate of ventilation which may produce necessary air movement.
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR VENTILATION
Standards for Permanent Ventilation
Since the amount of fresh air required to maintain the carbon dioxide concentration of air within
safe limits and to provide sufficient oxygen content in the air for respiration is very small, the
minimum standards of ventilation are based on control of body odor or the removal of products
of combustion depending on the requirements of each case.
Where no contaminants are to be removed from air, amount of fresh air required for dilution of
inside air to prevent vitiation by body odors, depends on the air space available per person and
the degree of physical activity; the amount of air decreases as the air space per person increases,
and it may vary from 20 m3 to 30 m3 per person per hour. In rooms occupied by only a small
number of persons such an air change will automatically be attained in cool weather by normal
leakage around windows and other openings and this may easily be secured in warm weather by
keeping the openings open.
Air movement is necessary in hot and humid weather for body cooling. A certain minimum
desirable wind speed is needed for achieving thermal comfort at different temperatures and
relative humidities .Where somewhat warmer conditions can be tolerated without perceptible
discomfort, minimum wind speeds fur just acceptable warm conditions given in Table 2 may be
followed. For obtaining values of indoor wind speed above 2.0 m/s mechanical means of
ventilation may have to be adopted.

GENERAL RULES AND DESIGN GUIDELINES

A few of the important rules of natural ventilation and some of the guidelines for designing
buildings for the best possible utilization of outdoor, wind indoors are given below:
Inlet openings in the buildings should be well distributed and should be located on the
windward side at a low level, and outlet openings should be located on the leeward side.
Inlet and outlet openings at high levels may only clear the top air at that level without
producing air movement at the level of occupancy.
Maximum air movement at a particular plane is achieved by keeping the sill height of the
opening at 85 percent of the height of the plane. The following levels of occupancy are
recommended:
a) For sitting on chair = 0.75 m
b) For sitting on bed = 0.60 m, and
c) For sitting on floor = 0.40 m.

Inlet openings should not as far as possible be obstructed by adjoining buildings, trees, sign
boards or other obstructions or by partitions inside in the path of air flow. The distance of
such obstructions from the openings should conform to local building byelaws.

Greatest flow per unit area of opening is obtained by using inlet and outlet openings of
nearly equal areas at the same level.
For a total area of openings ( inlet and outlet) of 20 to 30 percent of floor area, the average
indoor wind velocity is around 30 percent of outdoor velocity. Further increase in window
size increases the available velocity but not in the same proportion. In fact, even under most
favorable conditions the maximum average indoor wind velocity does not exceed 40 percent
of the outdoor velocity.

Where the direction of wind is quite constant and dependable, the size of the inlet should be
kept within 30 to 50 percent of the total area of openings and the building should be oriented
perpendicular to the incident wind. Where direction of the wind is quite variable the
openings may be arranged so that as far as possible there is approximately equal area on all
sides. Thus no matter what the wind direction be, there would be some openings directly
exposed to wind pressure and others to air suction and effective air movement through
building would be assured.

Windows of living rooms should open directly to an open space. In places where building
sites are restricted, open space may have to be created in the building by providing adequate
courtyards.

In the case of a room with only one wall exposed to outside, provision of two windows on
that wall is preferred to that of a single window.

Windows located diagonally opposite to each other with the windward window near the
upstream corner ( as shown in cases 2 and 7 in Table 4 ) give better performance than other
window arrangements for most of the buildings orientations.

Provision of vertical louvers increases the room air motion, provided that the vertical
projection does not obstruct the incident wind.

Verandah open on three sides is to be preferred since it causes an increase in the room air
motion for most of the orientations of the building with respect to the incident wind.

FOR INDUSTRIAL BUILDING

LIGHTING
In a hot country like India, special attention should be given to the requirements of ventilation in
the design and layout of factory buildings so as to maintain such thermal environments as are
conducive to the efficiency and wellbeing of workers. This aspect is of particular importance in
the case of factories, as in addition to the heat transmitted into the buildings from the sun, heat is
added within the buildings as a result of manufacturing processes carried on in factories. When
the temperatures inside the factory buildings are raised due to this excessive heat gain and the
workers are required to perform heavy jobs manually, they not only suffer discomfort and heat
stress, but their efficiency is also likely to be adversely affected.
In every factory, the amount of ventilating openings in a work-room below the caves shall,
except where mechanical means of ventilation as required by clause (II) of Gujarat factories act
below are provided, be of an aggregate area of not less than 15% of the floor area and so located
as to afford a continued supply of fresh air Provided that this requirement shall not apply in
respect of work rooms of factories.
LIGHTING OF INTERIOR PARTS
(1) The general Illumination over those inter parts of a factory where persons are regularly
employed shall be not less than 30 meters candles measured in the horizontal place at a level of
91.4 cm above the floor Provided that in any such parts in which the mounting height of the light
source of general illumination necessarily exceeds 7.6 meters measured from the floor or where
the structure of the room or the position or construction of the fixed machinery or plant prevents
the uniform attainment of this standard, the general illumination at the said level shall be not less
than 10 meters candle and where work is actually being done the illumination shall be not than
30 meters candles.
(2) The illumination over all other interior parts of the factory over which persons employed pass
shall, when and where a person is passing, be not less than 5 meters candles at floor level.
(3) Artificial lighting in accordance with the following standards shall be provided and used in
the interior of cotton ginning factories at time when artificial lighting necessary and is ordinarily
used :(i) By means of electricity, to the satisfaction of the inspector, one lamp per six gins, each lamp
of not less than twenty-five candles power;
(ii) By candles placed in glass lanterns of pattern approved by the Inspector, not less than one
such lantern for every two gins.
(4) The standard specified in this Rule shall be without prejudice to the provisions of any
additional illumination required to render the lighting sufficient and suitable for the nature of the
work.

PREVENTION OF GLARE
(1) Where any source of artificial light in the factory is less than 4.9 meters above floor level, no
part of the light source or of the lighting fitting having a brightness greater than 1.5 candles per
square centimeter shall be visible to persons whilst normally employed within 30.48 meters of
the source, except
where the angle of elevation from the eye of the source or part of the fitting as the case may be
exceeds 20
(2) Any local light, that is to say, an artificial light designed to illuminate particularly the area or
part of the area of work of a single operative or small group of operatives working near each
other shall be provided with a suitable shade of opaque material to prevent glare or with other
effective means by which the light source is completely screened from the eyes of every person
employed at the normal working place, or shall be so placed that no such person is exposed to
glare there from.
Schedule Part I
Parts of factories in which light sensitive photographic materials are made or used in an exposed
condition or where such exposing operations are carried on.
Part II
Cement works.
Works for the crushing and grading of limestone.
Gas Work.
Coke Oven Works.
Electrical stations.
Flour Mills.
Maltings and Breweries.
Parts of factories in which the following processes are carried on :
Concrete or artificial stone making.
Conversion of iron into steel.
Smelting of iron ore.
Iron or steel rolling.
Hot rolling or forging, tempering or annealing of metals.
Glass blowing and other working in molten glass.
Tar distilling.
Petroleum refining and blending.
LIGHTING EVALUATION CHECKLIST
Very small objects magnified in addition to good lighting Moving machinery parts painted a
color which contrasts with the background Adequate lighting in storage rooms, stairways and
hallways Simple background behind tasks.

VENTILATION
In the case of an industrial building having a significant internal heat Load due to manufacturing
processes, the following items may be considered when designing for the maximum possible
control of thermal environment:
a) Orientation of the building with respect to the direction of the prevailing winds and of the path
of the sun in the sky and to the location of adjoining buildings.
b) Configuration of the building and the manufacturing processes in it.
c) Proper inlets (windows and other openings) and their location with respect to outlet
openings.
d) Mechanical ventilation including selection and disposition of fans, inlet grilles and
arrangement of ducts. In the case of industrial buildings wider than 30 m, the ventilation may be
augmented by roof ventilation.
Very small objects magnified in addition to good lighting Moving machinery parts painted a
color which contrasts with the background Adequate lighting in storage rooms, stairways and
hallways Simple background behind tasks.
The BA accepts a room used for habitation or as a kitchen as shown in Diagram F to have met
the performance standard of ventilation if the following conditions are satisfied:(a) The total area of the primary openings provided in the room is not less than 1/16 of the floor
area of the room;
(b) The primary openings face into a clear and unobstructed area complying with at least the
open air requirement; and
(c) In the case of a kitchen, 5 ACH mechanical ventilation is provided in addition to the
requirements in (a) and (b) above.
For the purpose of assessing the sizes of the primary and secondary openings for ventilation in
paragraphs above and below, the effective area of the primary and secondary openings,
irrespective of the height of the window head and window sill is counted.
PURPOSE
This criterion defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical ventilation systems
in new low-rise residential buildings.
SCOPE
This criterion applies to spaces intended for human occupancy within single-family houses and
multifamily structures including apartment buildings, condominiums, townhouses, manufactured
and modular houses.

DEFINITIONS
Acceptable indoor quality: air toward which a substantial majority of occupants would have no
dissatisfaction with respect to odor and sensory irritation.
air cleaning: the use of equipment that removes particulate, microbial, or gaseous contaminants
(including odors) from air.
AIR EXHAUST: air discharged from any space to the outside by an exhaust system.
AIR INDOOR: air in an occupiable space.
AIR OUTDOOR: air from outside the building.
AIR TRANSFER: air moved from one occupiable space to another, usually through doorways
or grilles.
AIR VENTILATION: outdoor air delivered to a space that is intended to dilute airborne
contaminants air change rate: airflow in volume units per hour divided by the volume of the
space on which the air change rate is based in identical units (normally expressed in air changes
per hour.
ATMOSPHERICALLY VENTED: combustion appliance venting that is not powered by a fan
and relies on air inside the pressure boundary to replace the vented air.
BALANCED SYSTEM: two or more fans that simultaneously supply outdoor air and exhaust
building air at substantially equal rates such that both the total supply and total exhaust flow rates
meet the required fan flow rate. If the supply and exhaust points are both connected to a central
forced air distribution system then the central system fan must operate simultaneously with the
ventilation fan.
BATHROOM : any room containing a bathtub, a shower, a spa, or a similar source of moisture
or a toilet, urinal, or similar sanitary device.
CONDITIONED SPACE: the part of a building that is capable of being thermally conditioned
for the comfort of occupants.
CONTAMINANT: a constituent of air that may reduce acceptability of that air.
DIRECT-VENTED: combustion appliance venting that is powered by a fan and does not rely
on air inside the pressure boundary to replace the vented air.
DIRECT EXHAUST-VENTED: combustion appliance venting that is powered by a fan and
relies on air inside the pressure boundary to replace the vented air.

DISTRIBUTED VENTILATION SYSTEM: a ventilation system that supplies outdoor air

directly to the common area and each bedroom.
FORCED AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM: an air duct and fan system whereby ducts supply
air to all habitable spaces and a provision for return air exists from all habitable spaces served
with supply air.
EXHAUST SYSTEM: one or more fans that remove air from the building, causing outdoor air
to enter by leakage paths through the building enclosure.
EXHAUST FLOW NET: flow through an exhaust system minus the compensating outdoor
airflow through any supply system that is interlocked to the exhaust system.
HABITABLE SPACE: building space intended for continual human occupancy; such space
generally includes areas used for living, sleeping, dining, and cooking but does not generally
include bathrooms, toilets, hallways, storage areas, closets, or utility rooms.
HIGH-POLLUTING EVENTS: isolated and occupant-controllable events that release
pollutants in excess quantities. Typical cooking, bathing, and laundry activities are not
considered high-polluting events.
INFILTRATION: uncontrolled inward leakage of air through cracks and interstices in any
building element and around windows and doors of a building.
KITCHEN: any room containing cooking appliances.
MECHANICAL COOLING: reducing the temperature of a fluid by using vapor
compression, absorption, desiccant dehumidification combined with evaporative cooling, or
other energy-driven thermodynamic means. Indirect or direct evaporative cooling alone is not
considered mechanical cooling.
MECHANICAL VENTILATION: the active process of supplying or removing air to or from
an indoor space by powered equipment such as motor-driven fans and blowers but not by devices
such as wind-driven turbine ventilators and mechanically operated windows.
MIXED: a forced-air system that provides at least 70 percent recirculation turnover each hour.
NATURAL VENTILATION: ventilation occurring as a result of only natural forces, such as
wind pressure or differences in air density, through intentional openings such as open windows
and doors.

OCCUPIABLE SPACE: any enclosed space inside the pressure boundary and intended for
human activities, including, but not limited to, all habitable spaces, toilets, closets, halls, storage
and utility areas, and laundry areas.
PRESSURE BOUNDARY: primary air enclosure boundary separating indoor and outdoor air.
For example, a volume that has more leakage to the outside than to the conditioned space would
be considered outside the pressure boundary. Exposed earth in a crawlspace or basement shall
not be considered part of the pressure boundary.
READILY

ACCESSIBLE: capable

of

being

quickly

and

easily

reached

for

operation, maintenance, and inspection.

RECIRCULATION TURNOVER:

the volume of house air moved through a forced-air

distribution system divided by house volume.

SOURCE: an indoor object, person, or activity from which indoor air contaminants are released;
or a route of entry of contaminants from outdoors or sub-building soil.
SUPPLY SYSTEM: one or more fans that supply outdoor air to the building, causing indoor air
to leave by leakage paths through the building enclosure.
SYSTEM: equipment and other components that collectively perform a specific function, such
as mechanical cooling or ventilation.
UTILITY ROOM: any space containing a laundry, sink, or other washing equipment not part
of a bathroom, toilet room, or kitchen.
VENTILATION: the process of supplying outdoor air to a dwelling by mechanical means. Such
air may or may not have been thermally conditioned.
WHOLE-BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEMS
Ventilation Flow Rate
Outdoor air shall be mechanically supplied to each dwelling unit using a ventilation system
providing no less than the rate specified in Equations 4.1a and 4.1b. The whole-building
ventilation system may be balanced, intermittently balanced, or unbalanced.
Qv=0.01 Afloor + 7.5(Nbr + 1)

(4.1a)

where
Qv = ventilation flow rate in cubic feet per minute (cfm)
Afloor = floor area in square feet (ft2)
Nbr = number of bedrooms; not to be less than one.

Qv=0.05 Afloor +3.75(Nbr + 1)

(4.1b)

where
Qv = ventilation flow rate in liters per second (L/s)
Afloor = floor area in square meters (m2)
Nbr = number of bedrooms; not to be less than one.
Fan Flow Rate
The required ventilation flow rate specified in Equations 4.1a and 4.1b, shall be provided by fan
flow rate as follows:
Qfan = QvCs

(4.2)

where
Qfan = fan flow rate (cfm)
Cs is the system coefficient
System Coefficient based on system type

System Type

Distributed

Not Distributed

Balanced or Mixed

0.75

1.0

Not Balanced or Not Mixed

1.0

1.25

DELIVERED VENTILATION
The delivered ventilation rate shall be calculated as the larger of the total supply or total exhaust
and shall be no less than specified in Section 4.1 averaged over each two hours of operation. For
intermittent ventilation systems, the fan flow rate shall be calculated according to Equation 4.2.
Qfan.intermittent = Qfan/ f

(4.2)

where
Qfan.intermittent = fan flow rate during the intermittent operation on-time (cfm)
f = fractional on time, defined as the on-time for one total cycle (on + off) divided by the total
cycle time [i.e. fractional on time = on-time/(on-time + off-time)].

LOCAL EXHAUST SYSTEMS

Local Mechanical Exhaust
A local mechanical exhaust system shall be installed in each kitchen, bathroom, and toilet room.
KITCHEN EXHAUST
Each kitchen exhaust shall be an Energy Star compliant range hood that exhausts directly to
outdoors per the manufacturers instructions. Each exhaust outlet or kitchen exhaust fan must be
equipped with a back-draft damper.
Electrical control shall be a minimum of an on/off switch readily accessible to the cook.
Exhaust airflow when the appliance is on shall be a minimum of 100 cfm.
BATHROOM EXHAUST
Each bathroom exhaust system shall be an Energy Star compliant fan that exhausts directly to
outdoors per the manufacturers instructions but with no less than 1 inch larger diameter duct
size than the exhaust fan outlet diameter, or equivalent rectangular section, and with no less than
a 6 inch diameter wall or roof cap, or equivalent exhaust outlet termination. Each exhaust outlet
and exhaust fan must be equipped with a back-draft damper. Electrical control shall be a
minimum of an on/off switch readily accessible to the bathroom occupant. The exhaust airflow
when the fan is on intermittently shall be a minimum of 50 cfm. Alternatively, when the exhaust
fan is on continuously the exhaust airflow shall be a minimum of 25 cfm.

MULTIBRANCH EXHAUST DUCTING

If multiple exhaust fans in a dwelling unit share a common exhaust duct, the common exhaust
duct must be sized to accommodate the total exhaust flow when all fans are running at the same
time without causing the system static pressure to exceed 0.3 inch w.c. In multi-family
dwellings, exhaust fans from more than one dwelling unit may empty into a combined exhaust
stack if that stack is served by an exhaust fan designed and intended to run continuously.

AIRFLOW MEASUREMENT
The airflow required by this section is the quantity of indoor air exhausted by the ventilation
system as installed and shall be measured using a powered or unpowered flow hood, flow grid,
or other airflow measuring device.

Exception: The airflow rating at a pressure of 0.25 in. w.c. (62.5 Pa) may be used, provided that
the airflow is HVI certified and provided that for bathroom and toilet room exhaust the duct
sizing meets the requirements.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Adjacent Spaces Measures shall be taken to minimize air movement across enclosure
components separating dwelling units, and to dwelling units from garages, unconditioned crawl
spaces, and unconditioned attics.

MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS
All doors between dwelling units and common hallways shall be gasketed or made substantially
airtight with weather stripping.

INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELING

Information on the ventilation design and/or ventilation systems installed, instructions on their
proper operation to meet the requirements of this criterion, and instructions detailing any
required maintenance (similar to that provided for HVAC systems) shall be provided to the
owner and the occupant of the dwelling unit. Controls shall be labeled as to their function unless
that function is obvious.

CLOTHES DRYERS
Clothes dryers shall be exhausted directly to the outdoors.

COMBUSTION AND SOLID-FUEL BURNING APPLIANCES

Combustion and solid-fuel burning appliances shall be direct exhaust-vented or direct-vented.
Venting shall be installed in accordance with manufacturers installation instructions, NFPA
54/ANSI Z223.1, National Fuel Gas Code, NFPA 31, and Criterion for the Installation of OilBurning Equipment, or NFPA 211, Criterion for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid-Fuel
Burning Appliances, or other equivalent code acceptable to the building official.
Atmospherically vented combustion appliances or solid-fuel burning appliances are not
permissible inside the pressure boundary.

AIR TIGHTNESS / SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS

GARAGES
When an occupiable space adjoins a garage, the design must minimize migration of contaminants
to the adjoining occupiable space. Air seal the walls, ceilings, and floors that separate garages
from occupiable space. To be considered air sealed, all joints, seams, penetrations, openings
between door assemblies and their respective jambs and framing, and other sources of air
leakage through wall and ceiling assemblies separating the garage from the residence and its attic
area shall be caulked, gasket, weather-stripped, wrapped, or otherwise sealed to limit air
movement. Doors between garages and occupiable spaces shall be gasket or made substantially
airtight with weather stripping. Install an automatic door closes on all connecting doors between
living spaces and attached garages.
SPACE-CONDITIONING SYSTEM DUCTS
All air distribution joints located outside the pressure boundary shall be sealed. HVAC systems
that serve occupiable space shall not be designed to supply air to, or return air from, the garage.
HVAC systems that include air handlers or ducts located outside the pressure boundary shall
have total air leakage of no more than 6% of total fan flow when measured at 0.1 in. w.c. (25 Pa)
using California Title 24 or equivalent. Air handlers and/or ducts shall not be located in a garage
unless they are enclosed such that the enclosure meets the separation requirements of Paragraph
MINIMUM FILTRATION
Mechanical space conditioning systems shall be provided with a filter having a designated
minimum

efficiency

of MERV 9

or

better

when

tested

in

accordance

with ANSI/ASHRAE Criterion 52.2, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning

Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size. If the whole-house ventilation system delivers
outdoor air to the space conditioning system for tempering and/or distribution, the whole-house
ventilation system shall be designed such that the outdoor air is filtered to protect the thermal
conditioning components. All filters shall be located and installed in such a manner as to
facilitate access and regular service by the owner.
VENTILATION SYSTEM AIR INTAKES
Outdoor air intake openings shall be located a minimum of 10 feet (3048 mm) from any
hazardous or noxious contaminant, such as combustion and plumbing vents, chimneys, streets,
alleys, parking lots and loading docks. Where an existing source of contaminant is located within

10 feet (3048 mm) of an intake opening, such opening shall be located a minimum of 3 feet (914
mm) below the exiting contaminant source. The intake shall be placed so that entering air is not
obstructed by snow, plantings, or other material, and shall be provided with rodent/insect screens
(mesh not larger than 1/4 in. [13 mm]).

DUCT INSULATION

DUCT INSULATION FOR WHOLE-BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEMS

All outdoor air intake duct shall be insulated with minimum R4.2 duct insulation.
In IECC Climate Zones 4 and higher, where an exhaust duct passes through unconditioned space
for more than 4 feet, the exhaust duct shall be insulated with minimum R4.2 duct insulation.
DUCT INSULATION FOR LOCAL EXHAUST SYSTEMS
In IECC Climate Zones 4 and higher, where an exhaust duct passes through unconditioned space
for more than 4 feet, the exhaust duct shall be insulated with minimum R4.2 duct insulation.
Building Enclosure
In IECC Climate Zones 3 and lower, no Class II or lower vapor retarder materials shall be
installed on the interior wall or ceiling surfaces to impede drying to the conditioned space.
EXHAUST MAKE-UP AIR
Where kitchen exhaust operation or dryer exhaust operation would depressurize the conditioned
space with respect to outside more than 5 Pa, then an exhaust make-up air system shall be
installed, reducing net exhaust flow, to reduce depressurization due to kitchen exhaust operation
or dryer exhaust operation to less than 5 Pa.

 Reference
1) Thornton, B.; Wang, W.; Lane, M.; Rosenburg, M.; Liu, B. Technical
Support Document: 50% Energy Savings Design Technology Packages for
Medium Office Buildings. PNNL-18774. Prepared by Pacific Northwest
National

Laboratory

for

U.S.

Dept.

of

Energy.

www.pnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-19004.pdf.
September 2009.
2) OConnor, J., Lee, E., Rubinstein, F. Selkowitz, S. Tips for Daylighting with
Windows, The Integrated Approach. Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory. LBNL-39945 1997.
http://windows.lbl.gov/daylighting/designguide/dlg.pdf. 1997
3) OConnor, J., Lee, E., Rubinstein, F. Selkowitz, S. Tips for Daylighting with
Windows, The Integrated Approach. Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley
National

Laboratory.

LBNL-39945

1997.

http://windows.lbl.gov/daylighting/designguide/dlg.pdf. 1997

4) Weber, A and Fischer, T (1980) Passive smoking at work. lnternational Archives

of Occupational and Environmental Health. 47, 209-221.

5) is.sp.32.1986