What's inside the room/building?
If the potential exists for contaminants to accumulate in a space when it is unoccupied, ventilation may be required even when the space is unoccupied. Standard 62 states: “When spaces are unoccupied, ventilation is not generally required unless it is needed to prevent accumulation of contaminants injurious to people, contents, or structure.” (Section 6.1.3.1)
In this case, the term “contaminants” seems to include humidity, due to the reference to a contaminant which is “injurious to contents or structure,” as well as those listed in Tables 1, 3, B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-4 of the standard. The unoccupied ventilation rate is determined by the contaminant emission rate. Indoor humidity can be measured and controlled by mechanical systems, but many of the other contaminants listed cannot be easily or reliably monitored. This leaves the designer with limited options, the most basic of which is
time-of-day scheduling of ventilation during unoccupied periods.
See
page 14
Does the room contain Hydrocarbon/flammable or toxic inventory?
NFPA 30 provides guidance on ventilation requirements from the chemical process plant perspective.
Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE