Mandatory Requirements for Ventilation as per ECBC

Ventilation

The process of supplying air to or removing air from a space for the purpose of controlling air contaminant levels, humidity, or temperature within the space.

Following are types of ventilated spaces as per ECBC:

1. Natural Ventilation

Ventilation provided by thermal, wind, or diffusion effects through doors, windows, or other intentional openings in the building.

2. Mechanical Ventilation

Ventilation provided by mechanically powered equipment, such as motor-driven fans and blowers, but not by devices such as wind-driven turbine ventilators and mechanically operated windows.

3. Demand Control Ventilation

Any means by which the breathing zone outdoor airflow (Vbz) can be varied to the occupied space or spaces based on the actual or estimated number of occupants and/or ventilation requirements of the occupied zone.

ECBC Mandatory Compliance

All habitable spaces shall be ventilated with outdoor air in accordance with the requirements of table 5.2.1 from ECBC 2017 and guidelines specified in the National Building Code 2016 (Part 8: Building Services, Section 1: Lighting and Natural Ventilation, Subsection 5: Ventilation).

1. Natural Ventilation Design Requirements

Naturally ventilated buildings or spaces in a mixed mode building shall

(a) Comply with guidelines provided for natural ventilation in NBC.

NBC:

Ventilation of buildings is required to supply fresh air
for respiration of occupants, to dilute inside air to
prevent vitiation by body odours and to remove any
products of combustion or other contaminants in air
and to provide such thermal environments as will assist
in the maintenance of heat balance of the body in order
to prevent discomfort and injury to health of the
occupants.

Full table can be accessed in NBC: Part 8: Building Services, Section1, Part 5.

(b) Have minimum BEE 3-star rated ceiling fans, if provided with ceiling fans.
(c) Have exhaust fans complying with minimum efficiency requirements of fans given below, if provided.

– Fans in un-ducted air conditioning unit where fan efficiency has already been taken in account to calculate the efficiency standard of the comfort system.
– Fans in Health Care buildings having HEPA filters.
– Fans inbuilt in energy recovery systems that pre-conditions the outdoor air.

        <h4>2. Mechanically Ventilated Buildings</h4>       
                                    <img width="400" height="238" src="https://dcsgroups.in/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mechanical-ventilation.jpg" alt="" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mechanical-ventilation.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i2.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mechanical-ventilation.jpg?resize=286%2C170&amp;ssl=1 286w, https://i2.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mechanical-ventilation.jpg?resize=200%2C119&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i2.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mechanical-ventilation.jpg?resize=150%2C89&amp;ssl=1 150w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />                                           
    <p>Buildings that are ventilated using a mechanical ventilation system or spaces in mixed-mode ventilated buildings that are ventilated with a mechanical system, either completely or in conjunction with natural ventilation systems, shall:<br />(a) Install mechanical systems that provide outdoor air change rate as per NBC.<br />(b) Have a ventilation system controlled by CO sensors for basement carpark spaces with total car park space greater than or equal to 600 m2.</p>      
        <h4>3. Demand Control Ventilation</h4>      
    <p>Mechanical ventilation systems shall have demand control ventilation if they provide outdoor air greater than 1,500 liters per second, to a space greater than 50 m2, with occupant density exceeding 40 people per 100 m2 of the space, and are served by one or more of the following systems:<br />(a) An air side economizer<br />(b) Automatic outdoor modulating control of the outdoor air damper<br />Exceptions to § 5.2.1.3: Following shall be exempt from installing demand control ventilation systems:<br />(a) Classrooms in Schools, call centers category under Business<br />(b) Spaces that have processes or operations that generate dust, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases and are provided with exhaust ventilation, such as indoor operation of internal combustion engines or areas designated for unvented food service preparation, or beauty salons<br />(c) Systems with exhaust air energy recovering system