What Is ASHRAE Standard 62?

Focus

• ASHRAE standards cluster by number around themes. Some clusters define control systems, others building ventilation, and others efficiencies of solar thermal systems. Additional topics include air conditioner ratings, HVAC air ducts, and commercial refrigerants. The 62 series of standards, which deal with inside air quality, rank among its most often cited guidelines.

Significance

• Poor interior air quality causes health issues. The World Health Organization says "sick building syndrome" leads the list of culprits for multiple chemical sensitivity and that 30 percent of buildings suffer from poor air quality. ASHRAE 62 sets standards of air quality and defines how to meet those standards, leading to healthier buildings, healthier people, and lowered energy costs.

Standard 62

• ASHRAE 62.1 sets limits on contaminants in the air and provides guidelines on airflow, ventilation, humidity and mechanical air cleaning systems to help an environment comply with the limits. ASHRAE 62.2 does much the same but is focused on low-rise residential buildings. Both provide guidelines for a building's heating and ventilation design.