The First Facility Management Blog

ASHRAE is currently accepting public input on more than 35 proposed addenda to standards as well as a proposal to withdraw Standard 52.1. Addendum to various standards, including 15 (refrigerate safety), 34 (classification of refrigerants), 55 (thermal comfort), 90.1 (energy efficiency), 62.1 (ventilation), 62.2 (residential ventilation), and 135 (BACnet) are open for review, as are seven standards and one guideline. Compete information can be found at www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.
 Among them is the proposed withdrawal of ASHRAE Standard 52.1-1992, Gravimetric and Dust Spot Procedures for Testing Air Cleaning Devices Used in General Ventilation for Removing Particulate Matter.

The most important features of this standard, dust holding capacity and arrestance, have been incorporated into Standard 52.2-2008, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size. The only unique features remaining in Standard 52.1 are the dust spot efficiency tests—now replaced particle size efficiency tests in 52.2—and a renewable filter test not used by the industry for decades, according to Monroe Britt, committee chair.


Among the proposed addenda to Standard 90.1 is addenddum ap, which would modify the requirements for demand control ventilation; adding the demand controlled ventilation requirements to the simplified approach in order to keep the stringency of this path the same as the mandatory plus prescriptive path of compliance. Also proposed is a change to addendum af to modify energy savings requirements to recognized varied piping material pressure drops.


Six proposed addenda to Standard 62.1 are open for comment, including a proposal regarding outdoor air cleaning. Addendum 62.1c adds significant air cleaning requirements in many locations within the United States. Regarding particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller, for buildings in those U.S. locations established as non-attainment for PM2.5 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 62.1c would require that the ventilation system include particle filters rated at least MERV 11 (installed between the outdoor air intake and the occupied zone). Regarding ozone air cleaning, the proposed addendum would require that the ventilation system include ozone air cleaners rated for at least 40% ozone removal efficiency. 

A proposed addendum to ASHRAE’s energy standard will allow for increased energy savings by modifying envelope requirements to allow the use of more daylight-friendly skylight materials in certain climate zones and require photocontrols with certain skylights.

The current wording of the standard limits the use of high solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) plastic skylights that transmit high levels of light in climate zones 1 through 3. This restricts one of the potentially most energy efficient ways to use skylighting, according to Eric Richman, chair of the 90.1 lighting subcommittee.

The proposed addendum would provide an exemption to the SHGC requirements when high-diffusion skylights are used in conjunction with a multi-level photocontrol system. Photocontrol systems regulate lighting and save energy by reducing the artificial lighting in buildings when natural lighting reaches a useful level.

“One result of this change will be to allow for more flexibility in designing skylight systems for energy savings and facility enhancement,” says Richman. “The requirement for lighting controls when daylight is available will create electricity energy savings while reducing inner cooling loads.”

Other proposed addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 include:
• Addendum a, which will clarify that the current cooling tower requirements in the standard apply to open circuit cooling towers only, as the standard is now written.
• Addendum b, which now references Standard 62.1-2004 for minimum ventilation requirements rather than a specific section of the standard. This addendum also provides an exception that allows a regulating body to require more stringent ventilation rates for specific types of facilities when the safety of the occupants is a major design factor that is more important than complying with the fan power limitation requirements.
• Addendum c, which would add vivarium to the list of spaces that require specific humidity levels to satisfy process needs in section 6.5.2.3
• Addenda e, which would modify energy recovery requirements by expanding them to cover the use of energy recovery by weather zone and for outside air percentages equal to or greater than 30%.

For the first time in over 18 years, ASHRAE has proposed increases to the minimum required roof and wall insulation levels in Standard 90.1 – the national model energy code for commercial buildings. The more important news at this writing is that the Standard 90.1 committee has approved these proposed changes for the next version of the Code.

What does this mean?
The above-deck roof insulation requirements currently at R-15 go to R-20 – a 33% increase in roof insulation levels. Similar increases are proposed for walls. The next step in this process is ratification of the committee’s approval by various levels of the ASHRAE Standards development process, culminating in acceptance by the ASHRAE Board of Directors – expected in June of this year.

Why is the ASHRAE Board expected to adopt these new values?
The Board charged the 90.1 committee to deliver a new commercial building energy standard that is 30% more efficient than the 2004 version by 2010!

The actual changes are climate zone and building type specific. The ASHRAE Standard has various performance compliance mechanisms – from prescriptive requirements to computer simulations and trade-offs. But regardless of the code compliance approach used, these new insulation values establish a new benchmark for commercial building energy efficiency.

This is ASHRAE’s first step to support the emerging trend to make buildings significantly more efficient. In many ways these new insulation levels are long overdue. Architects across the country are already installing insulation at levels that exceed these values. Those architects and designers seeking beyond-code recognitions (such as LEED, Energy Star, Building America, etc.) will now go even further to deliver advanced building envelopes and higher levels of insulation. While issues of implementation and timing are yet to be fully resolved, once approved by the ASHRAE Board these new values will represent a new national standard against which all codes will be compared. Architects, specifiers and other certifying professionals will have a new standard of care to meet regarding commercial building energy efficiency.

ASHRAE Climate Zone Map
In all climate zones, insulation can dramatically help to reduce cooling loads and lower energy costs. This is predicated on existing ASHRAE requirements and independent analysis that concludes that additional roof insulation is cost effective, saves energy, and reduces pollution and carbon emissions.

The ASHRAE Standard addresses building envelope and system requirements for commercial buildings, residential buildings higher than three stories, and semi-conditioned buildings (warehouses, etc.). It is the nation’smodel standard for establishing the energy performance requirements of these building types.