Report on Ductless Exhaust Fan

Background:
Indoor Air Pollutants
There are two primary sources of air pollutants that can affect the air quality:
1. Particulate matter including mold, pet dander, dust, tobacco smoke (including
secondhand smoke), particles from dust mites and cockroaches, pollen, bacteria,
viruses, combustible pollutants from fireplaces, heaters, furnaces, wood burning
stoves and water heaters.
2. Gaseous pollutants such as carbon dioxide, benzene and formaldehyde, are
released from gas cooking stoves, vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, building
materials, household furnishings, adhesives, paints, varnishes, cleaning products,
pesticides and personal care products.
Air Purifiers/Air Cleaning
There are several types of air cleaning devices:
1. Mechanical air filters, including the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter,
remove particles by capturing them onto paper, fiber or mesh filters.
2. Electronic air cleaners trap particles through a process called electrostatic attraction.
3. Gas-phase air filters use sorbents like activated carbon to remove gases and odors
from the air; they are limited to only one, or a very small number, of indoor
pollutants
4. UVGI cleaners claim to destroy viruses, bacteria, allergens and molds with
ultraviolet (UV) light. They are not meant to replace air filtration systems, but to be
used with them.
5. PCO cleaners convert gaseous pollutants into harmless products using a UV lamp
and a substance that reacts with the light. They are not designed to capture particle
pollutants.
6. Ozone generators use UV light or an electrical discharge to purposely produce
ozone, a harmful lung irritant that can wreak havoc upon your health. At
concentrations that meet public safety standards, they play can play a role in the
removal of indoor air pollutants.
7. Dilution/ventilation. The more effective and recommends means of air purification
is increasing ventilation, and reducing or eliminating sources of indoor pollution.
Cleaning air through: air dilution, filtration, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI),
photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), plasmacluster ions and other technologies for air disinfection
and purification have their own merits and drawbacks.
Pros and Cons of Some Cleaning Methods:
A)

HEPA
Pros

 Removes dust, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and other

allergens.
Removes most bacteria
Solid particles captured are not released into the air again
Cons
Does not remove chemical fumes, cigarette smoke, or odors.
Not as effective in capturing the smallest viruses
Micro-organisms captured in filter can breed or reproduce,
resulting in increased micro-organism populations
B)

Activated Carbon Filters

Pros
The most absorbent filter available
Captures chemical fumes, gases, cigarette smoke, and odors
Does not release contaminants back into the air
Cons
Does not remove dust and other allergens
Does not remove micro-organisms
4. What are the pros / cons of germicidal irradiation?

C)

Ionic Filter
Pros
Removes ultra-fine particles as small as 0.01 microns
Sterilizes bacteria, viruses, smoke, and other toxic fumes
Very quiet because there are no fans or motors
Cons
Removes particles from the air, but not from the room. Particles
land on floors, walls, & furniture and may be easily put back in
the air.
Produces ozone as a by-product
Does not remove odor
D) UVGI
Pros

Ability destroy micro-organisms, such as germs, bacteria and

mold.
Helps prevent illness and disease

Cons
UVGI is an extremely effective form of disinfection, but it is
dependant on a few factors. The effectiveness of the lamp will be

lessened if the radiation is blocked by particles in water vapor or

dust or film coating the outside of the bulb.
Does not remove most allergens, dust, or solids in the air
Does not remove chemical fumes, gases, or cigarette smoke
There are also potential dangers to human health that go along
with exposure to UVC radiation. It causes sunburn in the skin and
can, in extreme cases, cause skin cancer. It also causes painful
inflammation of the cornea in the eye and can temporarily blind
and even permanantly blind by damaging the retina.
Ozone ios also a by-product of UV.

Air purification is an effective way of removing some indoor air pollutants, but not single type
remove all of them. Some off-shelf air purifiers have been proven to aggravate the problem
even further. That said, a single type of purification does not fit all and to overcome this
limitations, some product manufacturers combined the different types to target a broad band of
different types of air pollutants. Sometimes, such combination do work. But then again, not
100%.
Ductless Exhaust Fan
The proposed bathroom ductless fan belongs is a combined filtration (max of 5 microns as
stated in the demo), UVGI (ultra-violet band C as stated in the demo) and PCO (though, this was not
specifically mentioned in the demo but evident in the illustration shown during the demo).
There were test claims but unfortunately, they are ad-hoc and anecdotal. No certified laboratory
test data that can withstand AHJ scrutiny were provided. (The handout brochures showed the
ASHRAE and LEED logos among others. These are misleading since ASHRAE is not in the business
of certifying and LEED certifies only for the whole building and not for any particular product or a
component of a building. CSA does certify products for consumer protection but the logo is not the
valid CSA logo).
Ultimately, our final consideration, however, should be compliance to code requirements.
Below are a list of possible Code issues:
1. National Building code requires a ceiling height of 2700 for naturally ventilated rooms. Less
than 2700, mechanical ventilation is required. (see Code Execerpts below).
2. As defined, ventilation is supplying fresh outdoor air or a combination of recirculated, treated
air and outdoor air. Ventilation requires outdoor air as one of the component of supply air.
3. ASHRAE 62.1. Local exhaust is required for bathrooms and kitchen to deal with moisture and
odors at source. The standard requires that these spaces be mechanically exhausted directly to
outdoors (see Code Excerpts below).
4. The proposed bathroom exhaust fan disharges the air into the ceiling which is specifically not
allowed by IMC code (see Code Excerpts below).
The presence of moisture has been proven as breading ground for bacteria, molds and mildew
and can even damage ceiling tiles, supports etc. This is a big possibility when using ductless
exhaust fans especially in bathrooms and kitchen.

Recirculation do not exhaust pollutants to the outside and cannot be used to meet the
requirements of ASHRAE since ASHRAE requires that the air used for ventilation purposes
come from the outdoors.!!! Furthermore, it is specific that air from bathrooms and kitchen
cannot be recirculated.
5. The kitchen exhaust visited is not really an ductless fan since it is tapped to the main exhaust
duct of the mall. As per the sales rep, its capacity is 2000 CFM which is about right for normal
kitchen hood caapcity per IMC requirements for medium to light duty.
6. While it is used in quite a number of projects (some are obviously high-end units) and had been
tested by project engineers (PER SALES REP: in sites prior to use), it does not mean it
complies with the PMEC and will not be subject to comments by AHJ.
Conclusion
The Code does not prohibits the use of new technology. Instead of the prescriptive path,
performance path may be used. You just have to prove that it is comparable or better to the the
prescriptive requirements. Performance compliance is a little complicated. In the demo, the supplier
assured us that they will assist us in getting the permit. (This should be a complete demostration and
certification of the effectiveness of ductless exhaust fan.) Even with a permit, from the National
Building code does not assure us freedom from probems later.

Appendix (Excerpts from Code):

1. From the National Building Code:
Section 213. Penal Provisons.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, ... to cause the same to be done contrary
to or in violation of any provision of this Code.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this Code ...be
punished by a fine ... or by imprisonment... or by both...in the case of a corporation firm, partnership or
association, the penalty shall be imposed upon its officials responsible for such violation...
Section 305. Validity of Building Permits
The issuance of a building permit shall not be construed as an approval or authorization to the
permittee to disregard or violate any of the provisions of the Code.
Whenever the issuance of a permit is based on approved plans and specifications which are
subsequently found defective, the Building official is not precluded from requiring permittee to effect
the necessary corrections in said plans and specifications or from preventing or ordering the stoppage
of any or all building operations being carried on thereunder which are in violation of the Code.
Section 801. General Requirements of Light and Ventilation
Section 805. Ceiling Heights
1. Habitable rooms provided with artificial ventilation shall have ceiling heights not less than
2.40 meters measured from the floor to the ceiling; provided that for buildings of more than one (1)
storey, the minimum ceiling height of the first storey shall be 2.70 meters and that for the second story
2.40 meters and the succeeding stories shall have an unobstructed typical head-room clearance of not
less than 2.10 meters above the finished floor. Above-stated rooms with natural ventilation shall have
ceiling heights of not less than 2.70 meters.
Section 807. Air Space Requirements in Determing the Size of Rooms.
Section 808. Window Openings
SECTION 1302. Mechanical Regulations
1. All mechanical systems, equipment and installations mentioned in the Code shall conform to
the provisions of the Philippine Mechanical Code, as adopted by the Board of Mechanical Engineering
pursuant to RA-8495 as amended, otherwise known as the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Law.
2. Philippines Mechanical Engineering Code
Philippines Mechanical Engineering Code (PMEC) effectively included ASHRAE in the code
when it required:
" 2.2 The indoor air quality in such occupy shall all times be free from toxic, unhealthful. of

disagreeable gases and fumes and shall be relatively free from odors and dust; and shall
conform with internationally accepted standards, e.g., American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers(ASHRAE) "
3. Furthermore, when PMEC included "shall conform with internationally accepted standards", this
also can be said to include International Mechanical Code which is the model code particularly for
most of US states other some countries.
IMC 2012 states:
301.7 Listed and labeled. Appliances regulated by this code shall be listed and labeled for the
application in which they are installed and used, unless otherwise approved in accordance with Section
l05.
301.8 Labeling. Labeling shall be in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 301 .
8.l through 301.823.
301.9 Label information. A permanent factory-applied nameplate(s) shall be affixed to
appliances on which shall appear in legible lettering, the manufacturers name or trade-mark, the model
number, serial number and the seal or mark of the approved agency...
401.2 Ventilation required. Every occupied space shall be ventilated by natural means in
accordance with Section 402 or by mechanical means in accordance with Section 403. Where the air
infiltration rate in a dwelling unit is less than 5 air changes per hour when tested with a blower door at
a pressure of 0.2-inch water column (50 Pa) in accordance with Section 402.4.l.2 of the International
Energy Conservation Code, the dwelling unit shall be ventilated by mechanical means in accordance
with Section 403.
401.3 When required. Ventilation shall be provided during the periods that the room or space is
occupied.
401.6 Contaminant sources. Stationary local sources producing airborne particulates, heat,
odors, fumes, spray, vapors, smoke or gases in such quantities as to be irritating or injurious to health
shall be provided with an exhaust system in accordance with Chapter 5 or a means of collection and
removal of the contaminants. Such exhaust shall discharge directly to an approved location at the
exterior of the building.
SECTION 403
MECHANICAL VENTILATION
403.1 Ventilation system. Mechanical ventilation shall be provided by a method of supply air
and return or exhaust air. The amount of supply air shall be approximately equal to the amount of
return and exhaust air. The system shall not be prohibited from producing negative or positive pressure.
The system to convey ventilation air shall be designed and installed in accordance with Chapter 6.
403.2 Outdoor air required. The minimum outdoor airflow rate shall be determined in
accordance with Section 403.3. Ventilation supply systems shall be designed to deliver the required rate
of outdoor airflow to the breathing zone within each occupiable space.

403.2.l Recirculation of air. The outdoor air required by Section 403.3 shall not be recirculated.
Air in excess of that required by Section 403.3 shall not be prohibited from being recirculated as a
component of supply air to building spaces, except ...
403.2.2 Transfer air. Except where recirculation from such spaces is prohibited by Table 403.3,
air transferred from occupiable spaces is not prohibited from serving as makeup air for required
exhaust systems in such spaces as kitchens, baths, toilet rooms, elevators and smoking lounges. The
amount of transfer air and exhaust air shall be sufficient to provide the flow rates as specified in
Section 403.3. The required outdoor air?ow rates specified in Table 403.3 shall be introduced directly
into such spaces or into the occupied spaces from which air is transferred or a combination of both.
403.3 Outdoor airflow rate. Ventilation systems shall be designed to have the capacity to supply
the minimum outdoor airflow rate determined in accordance with this section. The occupant load
utilized for design of the ventilation system shall not be less than the number determined from the
estimated maximum occupant load rate indicated in Table 403.3.
Table 403.3 MINIMUM VENTILATION RATES
Private dwellings, single and multiple
Garages, common for multiple units
Garages. separate for each dwelling
Kitchens
Living areas (Nbr+1) Occup. Density
Toilet rooms and bathrooms (g)

0.75 cfm/FT2
(b) Exh.
100 cfm/car
(b) Exh.
25//100 (b,f)
Exh.
0.35 ACH and not less than 15 CFM/person
(Outdoor flow rate)
20/50 cfm (f)
Exh.

(b) Mechanical exhaust required and recirculation of air from such spaces is prohibited (Section 403.1,
Item 3).
(f) Rates are per room unless otherwise indicated. The hiogher rate shgll be provided when the exhaust
system is designed to operate intermittently, The lower rate shall be poermittred only where the exhust
system is designed to operate continously while occupied.
(g) Mechanical exhaust is required and recirculation is prohibited except that recirculation shall be
permnirtted where the resulting supply air stream consist of not more than 10% air recirculated from
these spaces (Section 403.2, Items 2 and 4).
403.4 Exhaust ventilation. Exhaust airflow rate shall be provided in accordance with the
requirements in Table 403.3. Exhaust makeup air shall be permitted to be any combination of outdoor
air, recirculated air and transfer air, except as limited in accordance with Section 403.2.
SECTION 505
DOMESTIC KITCHEN EXHAUST EQUIPMENT
505.1 Domestic systems. Where domestic range hoods and domestic appliances equipped with
downdraft exhaust are located within dwelling units, such hoods and appliances shall discharge to the
outdoors through sheet metal ducts constructed of galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum or copper.
Such ducts shall have smooth inner walls, shall be air tight, shall be equipped with a backdraft damper,
and shall be independent of all other exhaust systems.

Exceptions:
l. Where installed in accordance with the manufacturers installation instructions and where
mechanical or natural ventilation is otherwise provided in accordance with Chapter 4, listed and labeled
ductless range hoods shall not be required to discharge to the outdoors.