Green” Building, NYS Code Requirements

ASHRAE GREEN BUILDING VENTILATION REQUIREMENTS

What is “green” building and how does it affect the electrical contracting business? “Green” building refers to the design, construction and operation of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work in. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimates that, at the end of 2007, more than half of its members (who build more than 80% of the homes in the U.S.) were using green practices in the development, design and construction of new homes.

The annual U.S. market for green building products and services exceeds $12 billion. According to the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA), the air WITHIN homes can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air. Since 90% of our time is spent indoors, air pollution inside the home can pose major health risks to children, the elderly and those chronically ill. Indoor air pollution comes from many sources: central cooling/heating systems, humidifiers, carpets, cleaning/personal care products, pets, pesticides, pollen, mold, mildew – an endless list. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers), noting the need for better guidelines for indoor health environment, introduced its Standard 62.2. This set the minimum ventilation requirements for low-rise residential structures, three floors or less, which includes most standard homes, condos and apartment buildings.

The ASHRAE 62.2 identifies two types of ventilation for homes:

Spot ventilation – this is intermittent ventilation used at possible sources of pollution such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry/exercise rooms and workshops. Spot ventilation removes pollutants that occur from specific activities (showers, spas, cooking, laundry).

Whole house ventilation – this is continuous ventilation that changes the air in the home at a rate based on the home size and number of occupants.

BROAN MFG. has products to handle both spot and whole house ventilation such as the SMARTSENSE system utilizing Ultra Silent fans. This system monitors manual usage of the fans and automatically operates them if necessary by digitally communicating over the house electrical lines. Proper ventilation is a major component of “green” building. Help ensure your customers’ health by following ASHRAE 62.2 guidelines.