ASHRAE Ventilation and IAQ Standards: A Short History

Building ventilation has long been recognized for its role in occupant health, comfort and productivity, with recommendations on ventilation rates first published in the 19^th century. These recommendations were transformed into more rigorous standards in the 20^th century, with the first version of ASHRAE Standard 62 published in 1973. Since that time, Standard 62 has dealt with an increasingly challenging range of issues as research and practice have progressed. This presentation reviews issues in the development of ASHRAE ventilation and IAQ standards, including: the scientific bases for ventilation requirements, airborne contaminant limits, indoor carbon dioxide concentrations, and performance-based design.