Whats code for Fresh Air/Air flow in large comm bldg?

[frank shelley]

My buddy who owns several comm properties including a movie theater just asked me if there was a specific code that requires constant airflow (blowers on) when the public is present in the bldg and asked me to forward him where he could read and review the code.

Can you help a brother out?

[big johnson]

You'll have to contact the city that the theater is in and find out what they require. One thing you can count on is you'll have to be moving air if the space is occupied. As you may know, codes will be different regarding osa percentage depending on the space usage. I do mostly commercial shops and code here requires 5 air changes per hour, 3 air changes per hour in office spaces.

[beenthere]

International Mechanical Code.

[Carnak]

International Mechanical Code is brutal, the next code cycle they are going to yield to what ASHRAE says.

ASHRAE would say 5 CFM a person plus 0.06 CFM per square foot and every 1000 square feet would be 150 people.

So for a 1000 square foot theatre 5 x 150 + 0.06 x 1000 =1350 CFM

2006 IMC would say 15 CFM a person and 150 people in 1000 square feet

So according to IMC 150 x 15 = 2250 CFM for a 1000 square foot theatre

[beenthere]

This is true. But till then, which one is his AHJ enforcing.

[Carnak]

http://www.ecodes.biz/list_sub.cfm?m_cat_id=36

http://openpub.realread.com/rrserver/browser?title=/ASHRAE_1/ashrae_62_1_2007_1280

[blackbelt3677]

Check out the Grainger catalog as it gives air changes per hour. I just happen to always have that catalog with me.