Technical FAQs

ASHRAE Technical FAQs are provided as a service to ASHRAE members, users of ASHRAE publications, and the general public. While every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy and reliability, they are advisory and provided for informational purposes only, and in many cases represent only one person’s view. They are not intended and should not be relied on as an official statement of ASHRAE.

Technical questions not addressed in the Technical FAQs below may be submitted to the ASHRAE Technical Services department at tse@ashrae.net.

Referrals
Engineer/Contractor:

Where can I find a consultant for my project? (3)

Where can I find a good heating and air conditioning contractor? (73)

Products/Equipment:

Where can I get a product for an HVAC application? (4)

Where can I get information on the options for changing the refrigerant used in my automobile air conditioner system? (70)

Where can I find a good air conditioning or heating unit? (74)

Where can I find information on geothermal energy and ground source heat pumps? (80)

Industry Statistics:

What are the size and characteristics of the HVAC market for my product? (5)

Members:

Where can I get a mailing list of ASHRAE members? (6)

How can I get in touch with a particular member of ASHRAE? (7)

License/Certification:

Where can I get information on a refrigeration license? (31)

Where do I get certified for refrigerant removal? (32)

I am manufacturing a filter. can ASHRAE test and certify the filter? (49)

How are laboratory fume hoods certified? (69)

How do I get certified to remove and handle refrigerants? (71)

Does ASHRAE certify engineering and professionals working in the HVAC&R industry? (102)

HVAC Publications/Software:

Does ASHRAE sell software for residential load calculations? (14)

Does ASHRAE sell software for commercial load calculations? (15)

Are ASHRAE publications available in languages other than English? (107)

Can I access the ASHRAE Handbooks electronically? (108)
Research
What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding indoor air quality? (45)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding new refrigerants? (46)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding energy efficiency? (47)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding air filtration? (48)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding thermal comfort? (38)

How does thermal comfort affect employee productivity? (50)
Standards and Guidelines
General:

What Is an official interpretation of an ASHRAE standard and how do I request one? (28)

Who enforces the requirements for acceptable levels of contaminants in air in commercial buildings? (37)

What is ASHRAE's standard for aircraft air quality? (39)

How can I report a possible error in an ASHRAE Standard or Guideline? (101)

How can I receive updates, participate in public reviews, to participate or stay current on issues related to ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines? (109)

Where are the code requirements for my building? Am I required to comply with ASHRAE standards or other ASHRAE publications? (106)

Standard 15:

What value of RCL do I use if the refrigerant I am considering in a given application does not appear in Table 4-1 or 4-2 of ASHRAE 34? (25)

How much clearance must I have between the discharge of a refrigerant relief vent line and any opening to the occupied space? (26)

Are self contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA's) required outside of refrigeration machinery rooms? (90)

Standard 34:

What value of RCL do I use if the refrigerant I am considering in a given application does not appear in Table 4-1 or 4-2 of ASHRAE 34? (25)

What is the permissible quantity of refrigerant per occupied building volume for refrigerants not listed in ASHRAE Standard 34-2022 Tables 4-1 and 4-2? (87) (Link for ASHRAE Standard 34-2022)

Standard 52.2:

Does ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2012's MERV method of test consider filter efficiency testing in field service conditions? (112)

Standard 55:

What is the recommended humidity level for occupied spaces? (12)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding thermal comfort? (38)

Standard 62:

What is the current ASHRAE ventilation standard? (1)

I don't know which listing to use in Standard 62.1's Minimum Outside Air Ventilation Rate Table for a space in the building that I am designing. Can ASHRAE tell me which listing to use? (27)

Standard 90:

Does ASHRAE have any instructions on the use of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 that will help a designer, engineer, or architect with the building design? (13)

How can I show compliance to ASHRAE Standard 90.2? (59)

What energy-efficiency requirements are required for new commercial buildings? (60)

What energy-efficiency requirements are required for new residential buildings? (72)

How do I show compliance to ASHRAE Standard 90.1? (85)

Will recent or future versions of Standard 90.1 surpass the 30% better than 90.1-1999 goal outlined in the AEDGs and will the AEDGs still be viable publications? (93)

What is the relationship between ASHRAE Standard 90.1, the Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) series, and Standard 189.1? (94)

I don't know which listing to use in ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2013 Table 9.6.1 for a space in the building that I am designing. Can ASHRAE tell me which listing to use? (111)

Standard 110:

How are laboratory fume hoods certified? (69)

Standard 135:

What is BACnet? (51)

How do I know if a control system is BACnet compatible? (52)

Does BACnet apply to residential and simple control systems? (53)
Design
Load Calculations:

Does ASHRAE have an easy method for heating and cooling load calculations? (21)

How can I calculate heating and cooling loads for a commercial building? (77)

How can I calculate heating and cooling loads for a residential facility? (78)

Weather Data:

Where can I get bin weather data for my area? (40)

Where can I get design weather data for my area? (41)

Where can I get hourly, daily, and monthly weather data for my area? (42)

Where can I get historic weather data for a particular time period to show that it was unusually hot or cold? (43)

Where can I find weather data sources for energy modeling? (63)

Where can I obtain the publication titled "Climatic Data for Region X – Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada"? (104)

Refrigerants:

Where can I find more design information on a new refrigerant? (24)

What is the phase-out schedule for HCFC refrigerants? (33)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding new refrigerants? (46)

Does ASHRAE have information on changing refrigerants in an existing chiller? (66)

How do I run an effective refrigerant management program that meets all applicable requirements? (67)

Where can I get information on the options for changing the refrigerant used in my automobile air conditioner system? (70)

Where can I find information on new refrigerants? (84)

What information is available on the compatibility of lubricants with refrigerants? (86)

Software:

I am having software problems with a program I bought from ASHRAE. Who should I call for help? (30)

Which energy estimating software packages are recommended by ASHRAE? (88)

Which load calculation methods or software packages are recommended by ASHRAE? (89)

Building Envelope:

Where does ASHRAE recommend that a vapor barrier be installed in the wall? (17)

Equipment:

Where can I find a good air conditioning or heating unit? (74)

Solar/Geothermal:

Where can I find information on solar energy and solar heating equipment? (79)

Where can I find information on geothermal energy and ground source heat pumps? (80)

BACnet:

What is BACnet? (51)

How do I know if a control system is BACnet compatible? (52)

Does BACnet apply to residential and simple control systems? (53)

Energy Efficiency:

Does ASHRAE have any instructions on the use of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 that will help a designer, engineer, or architect with the building design? (13)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding energy efficiency? (47)

How can I show compliance to ASHRAE Standard 90.2? (59)

What are the energy-efficiency requirements for new commercial buildings? (60)

What energy efficiency requirements are required for new residential buildings? (72)

How do I show compliance to ASHRAE Standard 90.1? (85)

Will recent or future versions of Standard 90.1 surpass the 30% better than 90.1-1999 goal outlined in the AEDGs and will the AEDG's still be viable publications? (93)

What is the relationship between ASHRAE Standard 90.1, the Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) series, and Standard 189.1P? (94)

What recommendations does ASHRAE have for “green” or “sustainable” building design? (99)

Does ASHRAE publish case studies of high-performing buildings? (110)

Where can I find the criteria for an ASHRAE Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 energy audit? (95)

Where can I find energy benchmark data to compare my commercial or institutional building? (105)

Should residential furnaces utilize a thermostat setback strategy to save energy? (91)

DataCom Facilities:

What temperature and relative humidity level does ASHRAE recommend for data communication (datacom) facilities? (103)
Commissioning/O&M
How does ASHRAE recommend that cooling towers be cleaned to avoid Legionellosis? (18)

Does ASHRAE have recommendations for equipment maintenance procedures and maintenance frequency? (56)

Is there an economic justification for HVAC equipment maintenance? (57)

What is the anticipated service life of my piece of equipment? (58)

How do I prove proper air pressure relationships in a health care facility? (83)
IAQ
General

Does ASHRAE publish design guidance for indoor air quality in buildings? (96)

Legionellosis:

How does ASHRAE recommend that cooling towers be cleaned to avoid Legionellosis? (18)

Cleaning:

How does ASHRAE recommend that cooling towers be cleaned to avoid Legionellosis? (18)

UV Treatment:

What is ASHRAE's recommendation on the use of ultraviolet light in air systems for microbial control? (23)

Thermal Comfort:

What is the recommended humidity level for occupied spaces? (12)

Who enforces the requirements for acceptable levels of contaminants in air in commercial buildings? (37)

How does thermal comfort affect employee productivity? (50)

Is there a thermal comfort standard for the maximum allowable amount of temperature variation between rooms in a residence? (54)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding thermal comfort? (38)

Can HVAC systems and indoor environmental quality have an effect on student performance in schools? (98)

Sick Building Syndrome:

How can I tell if my building is a 'sick building'? (29)

Contaminants:

What is the allowable level of carbon monoxide in an occupied space? (34)

What is the allowable level of carbon dioxide in an occupied space? (35)

What are the allowable levels of contaminants in the air in an occupied space? (36)

Does ASHRAE publish design guidance or a policy on environmental tobacco smoke in buildings? (97)

Ventilation/Pressurization/ACH:

What is the current ASHRAE ventilation standard? (1)

How much ventilation is required by code for my application? (8)

How many air changes are recommended for my application? (9)

How much ventilation is required for my industrial ventilation application? (10)

What does ASHRAE recommend for ventilation of attics, basements, and crawl spaces? (16)

Should attics be ventilated? (75)

Should crawl spaces be ventilated? (76)

What are the proper pressure relationships between different areas in a health care facility? (81)

What are the recommended air changes and ventilation air in health care facilities? (82)

How do I prove proper air pressure relationships in a health care facility? (83)

Does ASHRAE publish guidance related to the role of HVAC systems in the transmission of airborne infectious diseases? (100)

Filtration:

What is ASHRAE's recommendation for residential filtration? (2)

What level of filtration is recommended for my application? (11)

What is ASHRAE's recommendation on the use of filters with microbial inhibitors? (22)

I am manufacturing a filter. Can ASHRAE test and certify the filter? (49)

What are ASHRAE's recommendations for filtration efficiency for commercial applications? (61)

What are ASHRAE's recommended filtration efficiencies for medical applications? (62)

How are HEPA filters certified? (68)

Does ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2012's MERV method of test consider filter efficiency testing in field service conditions? (112)

Humidity

What is the recommended humidity level for occupied spaces? (12)

What is the recommended indoor humidity level for homes? (65)

What are the recommended indoor temperature and humidity levels for homes? (92)

Research

What is ASHRAE's standard for aircraft air quality? (39)

What new recommendations regarding indoor air quality is ASHRAE presently developing? (44)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding indoor air quality? (45)

What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding air filtration? (48)

Technical FAQs

Share This

Engineer/Contractor:

Products/Equipment:

Industry Statistics:

Members:

License/Certification:

HVAC Publications/Software:

General:

Standard 15:

Standard 34:

Standard 52.2:

Standard 55:

Standard 62:

Standard 90:

Standard 110:

Standard 135:

Load Calculations:

Weather Data:

Refrigerants:

Software:

Building Envelope:

Equipment:

Solar/Geothermal:

BACnet:

Energy Efficiency:

DataCom Facilities:

General

Legionellosis:

Cleaning:

UV Treatment:

Thermal Comfort:

Sick Building Syndrome:

Contaminants:

Ventilation/Pressurization/ACH:

Filtration:

Humidity

Research