A new position paper titled Measuring Matters: Deploying the Indoor Air Quality Procedure with Confidence examines how recent advancements in monitoring technology can address implementation challenges associated with the Indoor Air Quality Procedure (IAQP) in ASHRAE Standard 62.1. This blog summarizes the key insights from this paper.
The Evolution of the Indoor Air Quality Procedure
ASHRAE Standard 62.1's Indoor Air Quality Procedure has become significantly more prescriptive following the 2019 and 2022 updates. The paper highlights how the IAQP has evolved from an alternative approach to a well-defined methodology that allows for reduced outdoor airflow rates while maintaining healthy indoor air quality through the right balance of source control, air cleaning, and outdoor air ventilation.
Despite the IAQP's potential to reduce mechanical equipment costs and energy consumption while improving indoor air quality, its adoption has been limited. The position paper explores why.
Implementation Challenges in Practice
While the ASHRAE standard provides comprehensive guidance with defined target values and validation methods, the paper identifies that practical implementation has historically faced challenges. Traditional implementations lack continuous monitoring capabilities, creating an "open loop" operation where changes in conditions or degradation in equipment performance may go undetected.
The paper notes that designers and building owners may hesitate to adopt the IAQP not because of limitations in the standard itself, but due to concerns about long-term performance verification as space use changes and equipment effectiveness varies over time.
Closed Loop Control: Addressing Implementation Limitations
The integrated solid-state sensing technology in smartIAQ™ can address these implementation challenges by providing closed loop control for air quality management. This approach is analogous to how temperature and humidity are already regulated in buildings.
By continuously monitoring air quality parameters and adjusting cleaning capacity in response to changing conditions, such systems ensure ongoing compliance with ASHRAE 62.1 requirements without manual intervention. This continuous validation builds confidence in IAQP implementation.
Standards-Based Approach to Air Quality Management
The paper underscores the importance of using technologies that align with ASHRAE standards. It notes that smartIAQ has been tested and validated according to ASHRAE Standards 145.2, 52.2, and 241, ensuring that it delivers air cleaning performance that meets or exceeds requirements while maintaining safety.
This standards-based approach extends to the monitoring capabilities, where the system can detect when filters reach end-of-life or when air quality anomalies occur, enabling timely maintenance and ensuring continuous compliance.
Beyond ASHRAE 62.1
Closed loop air quality control systems can be configured to meet additional standards beyond ASHRAE 62.1, including LEED v5 and the WELL Building Standard. This enables buildings to meet increasingly stringent air quality requirements while still realizing the energy efficiency benefits of the IAQP approach.
By addressing the practical implementation challenges associated with the IAQP, closed loop monitoring and control systems represent an important advancement for the building industry in balancing indoor air quality with energy efficiency goals.
