ASHRAE STANDARDS 55-1981 and 55-1992, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
Request from: Eileen P. Senn, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1034, 321 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08618
Reference: This request refers to the requirements given in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-1981, paragraph 2.1 (renumbered 2.3 in ASHRAE Standard 55-1992, publication pending).
Background: Paragraph 2.1 of the standard states:
'2.1 This Standard specifies thermal environmental conditions for the comfort of healthy people at atmospheric pressures equivalent to altitudes to 3000 m or 10,000 ft in spaces designed for occupancy of 15 or more minutes.'
Ms. Senn's letter states, 'No exemption is mentioned for spaces without mechanical heating or cooling,' and interprets that if a space doesn't meet the thermal requirements set out in the standard, mechanical heating and/or cooling should be provided.
Question: Is Ms. Senn's interpretation correct?
Answer: No.
Comment: This standard can be used to evaluate indoor thermal environments, whether controlled or not.