Ventilation air code
Ventilation air code
(OP)
I am working on a renovation project, the building is built in 1984, I assume 1981 BOCA mechanical code is used at that time. Does anyone know what is the outside air and ventilation requirements for office and conference rooms in 1981 BOCA Mechanical code?





RE: Ventilation air code
www.vanderweil.com
RE: Ventilation air code
The local building code authority agree us to follow the ventilation code based on the year the building was built. It make sense, because if one floor is being renovated in a high rise building, it is unfair to ask the tenant or owner to upgrade the oa requirements for the entire building.
RE: Ventilation air code
Almost impossible means that it can be done. I should hope that you make the best engineering decision when designing those office and conference spaces.
www.vanderweil.com
RE: Ventilation air code
Almost impossible means that it can be done. I should hope that you make the best engineering decision when designing those office and conference spaces. "
The best engineeing decision is to bring the building up to code. That is a no-brainer. However, both you and I know that doings thing the proper engineering way equals money. In this case, alot of money. The house system is not set-up for the additional outside air needed to bring the space up to code. Also, since this is located in a high rise...the units are most likely central units that serve multiple floors.
As engineers, we should inform the building owner of the situation and that we recommend they upgrade the units to allow for the current OSA requirement. If they say, "we do not have the money and the local jurisdiction approves of gradfathering in the previous code." At least you performed your due diligence. And thats all we can do.
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A green thought..."We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." (unknown)
RE: Ventilation air code
Engineers are responsible for best practice and 5 cfm/person in a conference room is not best practice.
RE: Ventilation air code
According to their salesmen it can bring the outside air requirements back down to the 5 cfm level. They wouldn't lie to us, would they?
Honestly I haven't tried it. But Its something I'd think about, if forced into a corner.
Mike
RE: Ventilation air code
One is if your jurisdiction will go for it. A lot of codes don't reference 62.1 as a viable way to provide outside air per code. In the case of the International Mechanical Code and several state's derivatives, they have taken Section 6.2, Ventilation Rate Procedure, from 62.1-1999 (I think thats the right year) and made it part of the code. Not by reference but by directly placing that section in the code. This stinks because in my opinion they are requiring way to much outside air and don't give you very much flexibility.
The second is actually being able to meet that approach if the jurisdiction allows it. It takes a lot more work to approach it from that direction. You have to identify and quantify contaminants and then prove that the system you are providing will take care of all those. Even after you have dotted all your i's and crossed all your t's you are still left hanging by section 6.3.1.3 which says: That perception part is enough to scare most people away even if they can get it through the AHJ. Nothing like having to go back and redo your design because the client and/or AHJ just doesn't think the air is clean enough. In my opinion your safety net just isn't there like it is if you follow the ventilation rate procedure.
RE: Ventilation air code
The latest IMC 2006 403.2 Exception allows an "engineered ventilation system" outside of rates stated in section 403.3. I believe this revision to the code is there to allow the engineer to follow ASHRAE 62.1 instead of the more stringent IMC rates.
RE: Ventilation air code
NASA can recycle urine into potable water, I would rather drink the fresh stuff myself.
Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.
RE: Ventilation air code