Ventilation effectiveness
03. Ventilation effectiveness
This feature sets a foundation for ventilation rates, which can be adjusted according to measured concentrations of carbon dioxide. It is based on ASHRAE requirements for adequate ventilation, which include separate options for mechanically ventilated and naturally ventilated buildings. The requirements in this feature—and other ventilation-related features—follow that same division.
Routine indoor activities including cooking, cleaning, building operations and maintenance and even the presence of occupants themselves can degrade air quality. Many indoor pollutants resulting from such activities, including particulate matter and VOCs can cause discomfort and trigger asthma and eye, nose and throat irritation. Because it is difficult to test for every potential pollutant, and because carbon dioxide is easy to detect, carbon dioxide levels serve as a proxy for other indoor pollutants.
One of the following requirements is met for all spaces:
After the HVAC system is installed, the following requirement is met:
Depending on ventilation methods, one of the following is met:

Applicability Matrix
Core & Shell | New & Existing Buildings | New & Existing Interiors | |
---|---|---|---|
Part 1: Ventilation Design | P | P | P |
Part 2: Demand Controlled Ventilation | P | P | P |
Part 3: System Balancing | - | P | P |
Commercial Kitchen | Education | Multifamily Residential | Restaurant | Retail | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part 1: Ventilation Design | P | P | - | P | P |
Part 3: System Balancing | P | P | - | P | P |
Part 4: Ventilation Rates for Residences | - | - | P | - | - |
Verification Methods Matrix
Letters of Assurance | Annotated Documents | On-Site Checks | |
---|---|---|---|
PART 1 (Design) Ventilation Design |
MEP | ||
PART 3 (Design) System Balancing |
Commissioning Report | ||
PART 4 () Ventilation Rates for Residences |
MEP |
3.1.a | ASHRAE's Standard 62.1: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality provides guidelines for ventilation rates. |
3.1.b | ASHRAE's Standard 62.1: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality provides ventilation rates. |
3.4.b | ASHRAE's Standard 62.1: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality provides guidelines for ventilation rates. |
3.2.a | The IDPH's Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality recommend properly ventilated buildings should have carbon dioxide levels with a floor or building average of 800 ppm or less. |
3.2.b | The IDPH's Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality recommend properly ventilated buildings should have carbon dioxide levels with a floor or building average of 800 ppm or less. |
3.4.a | ASHRAE's Standard 62.2 provides guidelines for ventilation rates for single family homes and low-rise multifamily units of three or fewer floors. |