16 October 2024
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European industry association Eurovent has published its recommended requirements in terms of CO₂ concentration and minimum outdoor airflow rates to ensure indoor air quality (IAQ) in non-residential buildings for human occupation.
The document provides a set of hands-on minimum IAQ requirements, which Eurovent says can be easily applied by policymakers when drafting legislation and by HVAC stakeholders when monitoring IAQ values in buildings.
To achieve healthy IAQ levels, the document identifies maximum acceptable CO₂ levels and minimum outdoor airflow rates.
For CO₂, it recommends < 900 parts per million (ppm), with 900-1200ppm viewed as the minimum acceptable level for human occupancy and > 1200ppm viewed as 'poor. For minimum outdoor airflow rates per person, the recommendation is > 36 m³/h (10 l/s), with 25-36 m³/h (7-10 l/s) rated 'acceptable' and anything below that classed as 'poor'.
Martin Lenz, chair of the Eurovent Product Group - Air Handling Units, said: “While extensive and detailed standards already exist for designing air handling systems to achieve optimal indoor environmental conditions, these procedures, though essential for detailed planning, are often too complex for policymakers to incorporate into building regulations and for the public to easily understand.
"As a result, there are frequently no legislative minimum requirements for IAQ. This highlights the necessity for a simplified, easy-to-understand approach. I’m thrilled that we were able to develop such a document within the Eurovent community. Even in its simplified form, it has the potential to significantly impact building environments once integrated into legislation.”
The document was published by participants of the Eurovent Product Group - Air Handling Units (PG-AHU), which covers AHUs for non-residential applications. It deals with air handling units and their components (e.g. air filters, energy recovery components, fans), often in cooperation with the product groups that cover specific components.
The document is ready for download on the Eurovent website. More information and resources about IAQ are available on the IAQmatters website, a joint initiative of HVAC manufacturers in Europe and the Middle East, which seeks to provide solutions to ensure a healthy indoor climate.
