Mechanical Room Ventilation as

per ASHRAE standards

By: Muhammad Faheem Shahbaz

HVAC Design Professional
 Mechanical Room

A mechanical room or a boiler room is a space in a

building dedicated to the mechanical equipment and its
associated electrical equipment.
Total Mechanical & electrical space requirements range
between 4 & 9 % of gross building area.
Mechanical Room Machinery

Mechanical rooms typically house the following equipment:

Air handlers, Boilers, Chillers, Heat exchangers
Water heaters and tanks
Water pumps (for domestic, heating/cooling, and firefighting
water)
Main distribution piping and valves
Sprinkler distribution piping and pumps
Back-up electrical generators
Elevator machinery
Other HVAC equipment
 Ventilation

Ventilation is intentional introduction of air from the

outdoors in to the building.
Types:
•Natural ventilation
•Mechanical ventilation
 Why Ventilation is necessary for
Mechanical room?
• Supply Air required for fuel burning .
 Why Ventilation is necessary for
Mechanical room?
• Maintain air flow requirement to meet Standards
for refrigeration machinery room in case of
refrigerant leaks.
•Ensure Mechanical room temperatures are at
workable levels.
 Temperature increasing factors

•Heat gains from equipment placed in Mech. Room

like, pump motors, compressor motors, radiated
heat from heating equipment etc.
 standards

• All mechanical rooms must be mechanically

ventilated to maintain room space conditions as
indicated in
•ASHRAE 62, (Ventilation for acceptable indoor air
quality)
•ASHRAE 15.(safety standard for refrigeration
systems)
 Recommended & Minimum
Criterias (standard 15)
•
 Recommended & Minimum
Criterias
• 1 cfm/2400 btu of fuel burning equipment
(international mechanical code)
Recommended & Minimum Criterias for
refrigeration equipments (standard 15)

•
 Manufacturer Recommendations

•Most boiler and burner manufacturers have

procedures for sizing combustion air supplies
included in their installation instructions. These
instructions can be followed, however, caution is
required as local codes may supersede the
manufacturer's instructions
 Location for Outdoor Air Intakes

•Shall be minimum 25’ distance from any exhaust

air source or contaminant source to prevent cross
contamination.
•Opening shall be min. 6’ above ground level.
•Close to Mech room
Mechanical room & outdoor air
opening locations
•Mechanical rooms Below Grade
•Mechanical rooms partialy or
entirelyAbove grade
Mechanical Rooms below grade
Mechanical room partially or
completely above grade
 Permanent & temporary openings

•Provide permanent openings.

•Avoid using door & windows
•Less air supply will lead to smoke production, less efficient fuel burning &
generation of carbon monoxide.
•If the fire goes out before the flame detection system acts to close the fuel
safety shutoff valve, accumulated fuel may re-ignite when oxygen seeps in
through cracks and crevices. A furnace explosion may occur with disastrous
effects on personnel and property.
Interlocking Mechanical equipment
& ventilation system
•Each of the appliance served shall be electrically
interlocked to the mechanical forced air system so
as to prevent the operation of the appliances when
the ventilation system is not in operation.
Air distribution of the ventilation air

•Shall be able to maintain Uniform temperatures

throughout the Mech room
 Cooling requirements if required

•If ventilation air is not enough for maintaining

workable or desired temperatures, cooling
arrangements shall be employed
Control system
Control system for Mech room
ventilation
QUESTIONS
THANK YOU