AIR LEAK AGE GUIDE | BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

APPENDIX B:
Code Note
Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation
[ASHRAE 62.2-2010, 2012 IECC, 2012 IRC]
PNNL-SA-83104
ASHRAE Standard 62.2, Ventilation and Acceptable
Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings,
defines the roles of and minimum requirements
for mechanical and natural ventilation systems to
achieve acceptable indoor air quality. This material
supplements requirements contained in the national
model energy codes with respect to mechanical
ventilation systems. At this time, the residential
provisions of the IECC do not reference ASHRAE 62.2.
Ventilation
The process of supplying outdoor air to or
removing indoor air from a dwelling by natural or
mechanical means. Such air may or may not have
been conditioned.
Mechanical Ventilation
The active process of supplying air to or removing air from an indoor space by powered equipment.
Natural Ventilation
Ventilation occurring as a result of only natural forces.
CFM
Cubic feet per minute, a standard measurement of airflow.
In the past, no specific requirements for ventilation were imposed for residential buildings because leakage
in envelope components and natural ventilation were considered adequate to maintain indoor air quality.
As envelope construction practices have improved, the need to provide fresh air to homes via mechanical
means has increased.

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