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Mechanical Room Ventilation as per ASHRAE standards

By: Muhammad Faheem Shahbaz HVAC Design Professional

Mechanical Room
A mechanical room or a boiler room is a space in a building dedicated to the mechanical equipment and its associated electrical equipment. Total Mechanical & electrical space requirements range between 4 & 9 % of gross building area.

Mechanical Room Machinery


Mechanical rooms typically house the following equipment:

Air handlers, Boilers, Chillers, Heat exchangers


Water heaters and tanks Water pumps (for domestic, heating/cooling, and firefighting water) Main distribution piping and valves

Sprinkler distribution piping and pumps


Back-up electrical generators Elevator machinery Other HVAC equipment

Ventilation
Ventilation is intentional introduction of air from the outdoors in to the building. Types: Natural ventilation Mechanical ventilation

Why Ventilation is necessary for Mechanical room?


Supply Air required for fuel burning .

Why Ventilation is necessary for Mechanical room?


Maintain air flow requirement to meet Standards

for refrigeration machinery room in case of refrigerant leaks. Ensure Mechanical room temperatures are at workable levels.

Temperature increasing factors


Heat gains from equipment placed in Mech. Room

like, pump motors, compressor motors, radiated heat from heating equipment etc.

standards
All mechanical rooms must be mechanically

ventilated to maintain room space conditions as indicated in ASHRAE 62, (Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality) ASHRAE 15.(safety standard for refrigeration systems)

Recommended & Minimum Criterias (standard 15)

Recommended & Minimum Criterias


1 cfm/2400 btu of fuel burning equipment

(international mechanical code)

Recommended & Minimum Criterias for refrigeration equipments (standard 15)

Manufacturer Recommendations
Most boiler and burner manufacturers have

procedures for sizing combustion air supplies included in their installation instructions. These instructions can be followed, however, caution is required as local codes may supersede the manufacturer's instructions

Location for Outdoor Air Intakes


Shall be minimum 25 distance from any exhaust

air source or contaminant source to prevent cross contamination. Opening shall be min. 6 above ground level. Close to Mech room

Mechanical room & outdoor air opening locations


Mechanical rooms Below Grade Mechanical rooms partialy or

entirelyAbove grade

Mechanical Rooms below grade

Mechanical room partially or completely above grade

Permanent & temporary openings


Provide permanent openings.
Avoid using door & windows Less air supply will lead to smoke production, less efficient fuel burning &

generation of carbon monoxide.


If the fire goes out before the flame detection system acts to close the fuel

safety shutoff valve, accumulated fuel may re-ignite when oxygen seeps in through cracks and crevices. A furnace explosion may occur with disastrous effects on personnel and property.

Interlocking Mechanical equipment & ventilation system


Each of the appliance served shall be electrically

interlocked to the mechanical forced air system so as to prevent the operation of the appliances when the ventilation system is not in operation.

Air distribution of the ventilation air


Shall be able to maintain Uniform temperatures

throughout the Mech room

Cooling requirements if required


If ventilation air is not enough for maintaining

workable or desired temperatures, cooling arrangements shall be employed

Control system

Control system for Mech room ventilation

QUESTIONS

THANK YOU

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